I am about to purchase an AEM CAI from the defcon guys and the only thing i was wondering is does the Bypass valve really work? I was looking at the aem site and im not really sure what it does. Does it fit on the AEM CAI in the 4th gen?
It will fit on the CAI for the 4th gen, however its not really necessary. It's supposed to block any rain, snow, dirt, etc. that may get into the intake so it doesnt make it into the engine. The bypass valve is really only necessary if you constantly drive in 2 foot puddles or anything else to that extreme. there is almost no chance that any water, dirt, etc will get into your engine through the intake, unless you have no plastic underbody that protects your engine bay and intake. It's not worth the money IMO.
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Warning: Surgeon General states that this car will Smoke V8's!!
"But Officer its only a four cylinder!"
Makes sense, the only thing is, it doesnt rain much here in dallas, but when it does IT POURS. O well i guess i can always buy it later if i find i really need it.
Originally posted by Whitea207 O well i guess i can always buy it later if i find i really need it.
Yeah, one day you'll suck some water into your manifold, then suddenly everything will lock and afterwards, your car doesn't run anymore. Is that the point you mean when you will realize you'll "need it"? J/k man. I really don't think it's necessary, like someone said, it'd take a LOT for anything to get sucked up through the CAI. Waste of money if you ask me.
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Josh's '92 Milano Si (5spd)- The mod list is growing!!
well, not quite a WASTE. You said yourself, you only realize you need it when it's too late... isn't that what insurance is for? Let's say one day in dallas, it's pouring, and dark, and you're driving down a hill and sploosh, you just drive through a puddle you didn't see 'cause it was dark. Without your bypass, you could potentially hydrolock your engine when you try to start it after it stalls. For $40, that bypass valve opens the second there is vacuum in the intake plenum, in other words, the second the entire bottom of your cai is submerged under water. Do I have one? No. Have i made stupid mistakes before? Yes. Should I buy one? I think so. They're called accidents for a reason, I think $40 is more reasonable than an engine overhaul.
i don't think they're worth it either. be careful and don't go out if you'll think you'll submerge it. I know exactly how high my filter is so if the water comes up to my door, i would know to shut off.
the other thing that disturbs me about it is that the bypass does a really ****ty job at filtering. I saw a pic of the CAI when a guy took it apart after 20k and the tube was black all after the bypass part. That didn't look good. I got the iceman cai myself - can change it whenever you want (obviously not on the spot, but seasonally) to give you piece of mind.
Originally posted by Preyluder 4thgen, I guess you're right, but of ALL the people on this site that has the AEM CAI, how many have you heard say they've experience hydro-lock?
What I've heard is inconsequential. I've only been a member here for less than 6 months. But let's say not many people on here have hydrolocked, I'm not one to count on luck for anything, and I'd think it'd be pretty $hitty if whitea went by the lack of hyrdolocked representation and didn't get a bypass, only to hyrdolock his own car the next day. IMO, whitea, just get it, if you never drive through a big puddle for the entire time you own your prelude, I doubt you'll be pissing and moaning over $40, otherwise it's at least peace of mind, and at most your engine's savior. Yield, I don't know what to say, either that guy's bypass wasn't installed properly, or his engine bay was dirty as hell/he drove in a lot of dirt AND his bypass valve was used a lot from him driving through a lot of water. That valve is only supposed to open when vacuum exists in the plenum, otherwise it stays closed, and air comes through the main filter.
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