Water in the Intake!

[ynitro56]

Sorry if this is the wrong place to post this thread. I'm in socal and we have had a lot of rain in the past few days (by socal standards). This AM on my way a ran through what seem to be a shallow puddle of water, but it wasn't. Like a dumbass I was stepping on it and I'm pretty sure the CAI had something to drink as the engine light came on and the engine stopped. I pulled over and confirmed that water had reached the Air filter as it was soaked. After a couple of minutes the engine started and I was on my way. However the engine was studdering at high rpm range. I'm thinking this was caused by a wet air filter. The engine light is now off and the car is runing fine. My concern is that the engine was relatively cold at the time (only about a block away from my house and a 2-3 minute warm up). Should I be concerned with any damage to the turbo? and what can I do to prevent this in the future (as much rain as we get here in socal(wink)).

Thanks in advance.

 

[SuperStretch18]

You might stutter a bit until the air filter dries, but you shouldn't have any issues. If you were going to hydrolock, it would have happened while you were in the puddle...

 

[ynitro56]

You might stutter a bit until the air filter dries, but you shouldn't have any issues. If you were going to hydrolock, it would have happened while you were in the puddle...

Thanks! I just found the thread about the guy in NJ who had (according to him) Hydrolock. I think I'm ok and I'm only concerned about the turbo getting wet while not hot enough to vaporise the H2O and the water causing some rust or something. This is my first Turbo and I'm just learning all about it.

 

[B1GHAM]

exactly - you should be fine once the air filter dries. If it was hydrolock, you wouldnt have been able to start the car back up.

if you are SUPER paranoid just do a visual check of the engine. Pull the spark plugs and check for water/condition of the spark plugs. If you are seriously paranoid, then change the oil - but based on the fact that it drives fine now, thats a little overboard.

your best prevention methods are A) AVOID puddles (regardless of speculated size) B) goto a short ram intake. C) place factory airbox back on.

 

[B1GHAM]

Thanks! I just found the thread about the guy in NJ who had (according to him) Hydrolock. I think I'm ok and I'm only concerned about the turbo getting wet while not hot enough to vaporise the H2O and the water causing some rust or something. This is my first Turbo and I'm just learning all about it.

actually - you should be more thankful that your turbo WASNT running hot.

You shouldnt rust either.

 

[ynitro56]

exactly - you should be fine once the air filter dries. If it was hydrolock, you wouldnt have been able to start the car back up.

if you are SUPER paranoid just do a visual check of the engine. Pull the spark plugs and check for water/condition of the spark plugs. If you are seriously paranoid, then change the oil - but based on the fact that it drives fine now, thats a little overboard.

your best prevention methods are A) AVOID puddles (regardless of speculated size) B) goto a short ram intake. C) place factory airbox back on.

Thanks for the input BigHam! I can't go back to factory airbox since I bought mine used with the CAI only! I've seen some kind of filter sleeve does that work? and I'm keeping an eye out for the COBB sri. I've seen the MS3 on the MS6, but that is a whole other topic. And for sure I'll be avoiding puddles!

 

[Shagate]

Thanks for the input BigHam! I can't go back to factory airbox since I bought mine used with the CAI only! I've seen some kind of filter sleeve does that work? and I'm keeping an eye out for the COBB sri. I've seen the MS3 on the MS6, but that is a whole other topic. And for sure I'll be avoiding puddles!

You should get an Injen HydroShield for it. I've never had any problems with rain on my CAI. You can put a HydroShield under a running faucet and the water will roll off. Splashes from a puddle won't be a problem with it.

Also, you can purchase a heat shield for the filter (which is a metal shield that shields half of the filter for a SRI install. You can use this same shield as a splash shield. I've never needed one, and never had an issue, but it may be something you could consider.

I know some members have also covered the wheel well vents with a home-made splash guard. Search the forums for some ideas (I prefer a bolt-on alternative though.)

 

[TX Speed 6]

My wife hydrolocked our engine during a bad rain storm w/ our cai. If it drove away, your fine, our died on her then and there and didn't move. +1 on the Injen Hydroshield, bought it for ours after that happened and it works perfect! Its like a condom for your car... always use protection!!

 

[snooky]

just got my CAI this weekend haven’t installed it yet, but thats my biggest fear, having water get in the CAI. i live in Montral, which means lots of SNOW! im beginning to wonder whether buying this thing was so smart....

i want the extra POWER though !!!!!

 

[Raynman]

Probably just shorted out the MAF a bit.

 

[snooky]

What if i put something on the wheel liner to block anything from coming it. if you check, it has like gill slits in it, if i cover it wont it add to the protection"?

like duct tape or something

 

[Shagate]

What if i put something on the wheel liner to block anything from coming it. if you check, it has like gill slits in it, if i cover it wont it add to the protection"?
like duct tape or something

Or, just buy a HydroShield and a Heat Sheild for it. (eyeballs)
If you want your car to be rolling redneck ghetto be my guest. (silly)

 

[snooky]

Or, just buy a HydroShield and a Heat Sheild for it. (eyeballs)
If you want your car to be rolling redneck ghetto be my guest. (silly)

LOL true, but is it one size fits all for the hydro shield? and i cant find it on eBay, where can i get it?

thanks~

 

[TX Speed 6]

They come in diff. sizes, I think I got mine from autoanything.com but you can just look from Injens site and see who their online retailers are, for the MS6 get the size medium, trust me, its all you will need!!!!

 

[Shagate]

LOL true, but is it one size fits all for the hydro shield? and i cant find it on eBay, where can i get it?

thanks~

HydroShield - Medium

You can pick up the heat shield on ebay...
Others have found them at their local auto store, but mine don't seem to have them.

Good luck!

 

[buddhabum]

CP-E Prefilter ftw

I am glad that when I purchased my CP-E CAI I got the water-repellant filter for it as well... I live in Seattle, WA and it can get pretty crazy over here but I have never had any issues with spuddering/hydrolock in very very very wet and terrible weather... Although at the same time I do tend to avoid puddles longer than 4ft on the left hand side of the car

 

[snooky]

THANKS GUYS!, as soon as the snow go's away im deff gonna instal this bad boy!

 

[ynitro56]

Honestly, I was a bonehead to be steping on the gas while going through a puddle. Dumb move! As to using anything to seal the area from water, well it could actually change how air is moving under the hood and cause a cooling issue not to mention you are taking cool fresh air away from your CAI. Maybe that is a bit much but heat is the enemy!

BTW, the car is runing fine!

 

[snooky]

Honestly, I was a bonehead to be steping on the gas while going through a puddle. Dumb move! As to using anything to seal the area from water, well it could actually change how air is moving under the hood and cause a cooling issue not to mention you are taking cool fresh air away from your CAI. Maybe that is a bit much but heat is the enemy!

BTW, the car is runing fine!

Glad to hear the car is okay, what you said makes tatal sence... i guess im gonna get the hydro shield, nut if the COBB SRI comes out b4 the spring im gonna have to get it

 

[Shagate]

Honestly, I was a bonehead to be steping on the gas while going through a puddle. Dumb move! As to using anything to seal the area from water, well it could actually change how air is moving under the hood and cause a cooling issue not to mention you are taking cool fresh air away from your CAI. Maybe that is a bit much but heat is the enemy!

BTW, the car is runing fine!

That's why the HydroShield and the Heat Shield are a good combination. The HydroShield has been proven not to interfere with airflow, only prevent the water from entering.

The Heat Shield does not physically cover the filter or restrict air flow, but acts as a barrier to the water splash. The cool air from under the car and from the vents in the wheel well are unrestricted. So you're all good there too. (rockon)