Cold air intakes and hydrolock

[thenortherner]

I'm looking to have a cold air intake fitted to an EP3 Type R. I've ruled out the Gruppe M, mostly down to the ridiculous cost, and I'm leaning towards the AEM V2.

I'm not mechanically minded unfortunately, but I've read about the possibility of hydrolock. Obviously it's something I don't want.

Is there a risk of this with all CAIs or are there certain manufacturers/models which are designed to avoid this? I read something about the AEM V2 being a short intake - does this help resolve the issue!?

Again, apologies for being a bit dim.

[Nick_Johnson]

Personally I would go for an AEM V2, although they do preform very well there is always a risk of it sucking up water in bad weather.

Have you heard of a UK company call Tegiwa? They manufacture a unit which is almost a direct copy of the GruppeM and although it is more expensive that a new V2 I think it is worth the extra money. Your other option is to pick up a quality used GruppeM on the Civic Type R forum.

http://www.tegiwaimports.com/eshop/store/eshop_vie...

Nick

[Lewtyper]

Get a bypass valve and a hydro shield and you should be ok with a long ram cai

[itsnotarace]

thenortherner said:

I read something about the AEM V2 being a short intake - does this help resolve the issue!?

Yes but it just sucks in hot air straight from the exhaust manifold, you actually lose a few bhp over stock with the bonnet closed on the dyno. You do gain noise though.

Grab a second hand Gruppe M or one of the Tegiwa GruppeM replica's IMHO.

http://civictype-r.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=28&...

[thenortherner]

itsnotarace said:

Yes but it just sucks in hot air straight from the exhaust manifold, you actually lose a few bhp over stock with the bonnet closed on the dyno. You do gain noise though.

Grab a second hand Gruppe M or one of the Tegiwa GruppeM replica's IMHO.

http://civictype-r.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=28&...

Cheers. So the Gruppe M or their replicas don't hydrolock then?

[itsnotarace]

No, they are sealed boxes with drain holes in the bottom in case any water / snow goes down the scoop. Had my GM fitted for 6.5 years now and it has never been a problem, even when jetwashing the car.

The AEM CAI sits right down in the front wheel arch, which is why it's so easy for it to pick up water.

[hondafanatic]

Just out of interest, has anyone got concrete evidence that an engine has been destroyed as a direct result of the AEM filter?

I went down the GM route when I had my EP3, and I always heard about the risk of the AEM, but I don’t remember anyone that actually lunched the engine as a result of it.

Cheers

[itsnotarace]

Yes plenty. Go onto CTRO and search

Some examples:

http://civictype-r.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&a...
http://civictype-r.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=28&...
http://civictype-r.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=28&...
http://civictype-r.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&a...
http://civictype-r.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&a...
http://civictype-r.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&a...
http://civictype-r.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&a...

[hondafanatic]

itsnotarace said:

Yes plenty. Go onto CTRO and search

Some examples:

http://civictype-r.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&a...
http://civictype-r.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=28&...
http://civictype-r.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=28&...
http://civictype-r.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&a...
http://civictype-r.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&a...
http://civictype-r.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&a...
http://civictype-r.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&a...

Many thanks - seems to be people driving through puddles.

[GingerWizard]

hondafanatic said:

itsnotarace said:

Yes plenty. Go onto CTRO and search

Some examples:

http://civictype-r.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&a...
http://civictype-r.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=28&...
http://civictype-r.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=28&...
http://civictype-r.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&a...
http://civictype-r.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&a...
http://civictype-r.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&a...
http://civictype-r.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&a...

Many thanks - seems to be people driving through puddles.

Very much so. For clarfication I have a AEM CAI kit and I fitted it. To achieve Hydrolock you need to suck up 5 litres of water (to fill the induction manifold) by submerging the whole air filter in water below the level of the top wheel nuts on the car. That means fog lights, radiators, foot wells, cat, silencer, exhaust tips all under water. Its not a land rover, so its not a problem. IMHO.


Gwiz


(oh and they are the best air kits, the air induction temps are always lower, so overall they perform better in the real world.)

[hondafanatic]

GingerWizard said:

Very much so. For clarfication I have a AEM CAI kit and I fitted it. To achieve Hydrolock you need to suck up 5 litres of water (to fill the induction manifold) by submerging the whole air filter in water below the level of the top wheel nuts on the car. That means fog lights, radiators, foot wells, cat, silencer, exhaust tips all under water. Its not a land rover, so its not a problem. IMHO.


Gwiz


(oh and they are the best air kits, the air induction temps are always lower, so overall they perform better in the real world.)

I always prefered the GruppeM for sheer 'trickness', if such a word exists? Although it took a fair bit of messing around to get a decent fit and finish.

[thenortherner]

Thanks for your help guys.

Will hopefully order the Tegiwa tomorrow and hope TGM Sport are able to fit it Saturday...

[thenortherner]

Just a quick update, I had the Tegiwa fitted today at TGM.

TGM were OK - from what I could tell it's run by two brothers. One of which was helpful, the other wasn't. Seemed to have done a decent enough job in fitting it. Not 100% sure I'd return - watched a fair few of them pissing about. I'm usually a fan of non-franchise specialised garages too.

The intake sounds fantastic. Definitely seems a marginal improvement in how it pulls, especially from low speeds in 3rd and 4th.

[itsnotarace]

Nice one, any pics?

[thenortherner]

itsnotarace said:

Nice one, any pics?

Here you go..

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

Sorry about the delay.

[PJ S]

Missed this one, but I'll mention here for future reference, ITG.
If you want carbon bling, they do that version too.

http://www.camskill.co.uk/products.php?plid=m35b0s...

[Grovsie26]

Hehehe, strange, TGM is the place for Honda's lol.

Id personally of got a AEM CAI, really think the gruppe m and tegiwa are a load of bks, 700quid+ for a Gruppe M, you gotta be slighty mental to spend that, espeially if it's just the Filter your doing with no other mods, not gonna gain you anything other than noise, so a CAI is the best option.

You'd have to drive the car into 5 feet of water to have a problem.