i have the aem cai and the other day and i was talking to a few guys who recommended a stainless steel filter. their reasoning was that rain/water will hit it and not be absorbed and get saturated like the "cotton/fabric" type, as i do not have the air bypass valve. the only thing is my front grill is popped out so i worry a little about it getting soaked. anybody running this type of filter on the aem or have any input?

 

the issue is not water on the filter, it is water on the MAF element. If you want to get around water problems, buy a K&N DryCharger. It will keep everything off besides total submersion

 

I had to google SS filter because I wasn't sure how one would make one. Apparently they are made but I'd wonder what the size of the particles they admit would be. I doubt they would out perform a more standard medium. I'm running with a K&N conical in the factory fog light location and it's really a non-issue. I also have no front grill. As long as you don't submerge it, you won't pick up an appreciable amount of water. A sogged water filter is nothing. Maybe if you put the filter in water and then immediately put it on the car, it might take a little more cranking to start. After that, it'd be fine.

In short, I don't think a wet filter is any concern at all.

 

I can't see a SS filtering smaller microns than the AEM.
I would stick with the AEM and make sure you have the sock on it.

 

that was exactly what i was thinking. i can't see it filtering as good as a cotton or fabric element. i haven't had this set up long and was just curious as i have not drove it in hard rain yet, just drizzle type situations. iv heard rain with the aem is not an issue. however, i have no grill so i was just curious. thanks for all the input