So im ordering a cold air intake soon, probably AEM since i cannot find the Mazdaspeed. Now obviously ive been researching alot about this intake and people gets problems with it but others tend to be problem free. Seems the only time a problem arises is when the filter gets soaked by either rain or an automatic car wash. Some people say if you go a puddle it will cause the same problem.

Since i drive my car daily and throughout the winter. I use the touchless car wash in winter at least twice a week and some people say they have no problems and others say they have had problems with the filter getting soaked. So im trying to figure out a mod to prevent this from happening so i can happily go thru my touchless car wash without any worries.

My idea is to crreate some kind of grill. Im looking into this grill from rotaryfx.http://www.rotaryfx.com/product_p/ext1057.htm My concern is if the water will still get through ?? my other concern is that it will limit air flow to the CAI ??

Its hard to limit water exposue without limiting air flow, if you get what im trying to say. ANy ideas or inputs id really appreciate. Thanks

 

midnight bump

 

I have the MS intake. I can't say too much about it, only because I just pulled my car out of storage, and I drove it for a month before.
But, with all the snow melting, we have a **** ton of water, and I haven't had an issue yet. Mind you, I try to avoid puddles. Regardless, I've had ZERO issues so far. I have the sock overtop the filter.
I hand wash my car, so I don't know about auto washes. But, as long as your car isn't running while you're in there, you shouldn't have a problem. Maybe before going in, you can put something over the filter, like a milk jug? lol

 

OH man i hate you !!! I wanted the MS CAI so bad... i know its the same as AEM... but i like it more cause it says "Mazdaspeed" LOL. Well see thats the thing, certain people say theirs works perfectly fine others say it locks up. I just want to minimize my chances of it happening to me.


The idea of shutting off my car during the touchless car wash isnt a bad idea. Ive thought about it, only thing that scares me is when i turn my car back on if it will hydro lock as well, cause either way the filter gets wet. And i dont want to have to get honked at by the cars behind me waiting next in line and me having to get out of my car and getting the guy to help me push my car LOL.

 

and that's why, prior to driving into the wash, you open your trunk, take out your modified plastic milk jug, squeez it through the nose and pop it on your filter!

 

LOL and freeze my ***** off while doing that in -30 weather

 

Buy the sock for the filter and call it good. Living in the PACNW my car sees a lot of rain. Just be smart how you wash the car and avoid deep puddles.

 

I dont mind rain and puddles cause most people seem be okay in those conditions. Im jsut worried about winters cause i usually buy a touchless car wash pass and thats how i keep the salt off my car. Im just worried it will soak my filter. Do you think the sock will be enough to prevent it soaking in the car wash ?

 

if you are so worried about it... then go to autozone and buy a spare filter (one of the cheapy ones) and when you go to the car wash pop off a section of your intake and put on the cheapy filter and then drive too and from the car wash with that on... then when you get home put the intake back to how it is normally

 

This is not very efficient! Bumper off. remove/ replace filter. Bumper on. Wash car. Bumper off, remove/replace filter. Bumper on.
And try doing THAT when it's cold?!

Also, Rotary-RX8, do you have a Can or US model?
Canadian models have the headlight washers, which are a PITA to remove...

 

There's no need to be that paranoid nor overly careful.

 

I'm unsure who would have trouble with "puddles" considering if your filter was to dip into water the level would be up to your door sill if not higher. The filter does sit low but not THAT low.

Problems with rain or water from vehicles in front of you could be an issue and car washes can pose issues. The stock grill actually protects much of the filter from rain exposure since the bottom of the grill is the only real open part. The sock does protect the filter from most water exposure except for large amounts.

It sounds like the biggest risk would be using the car wash in cold climates where the water could easily freeze.

 

Looks like a pain in the *** to do having to take off my bumper each time i go thru a car wash which is probably twice a week.

US model so no headlight washers for me !!!!!! Which i orginally wanted when i was looking for my 8

LOL trust me. When it comes to my 8, paranoid is my middle name


Yea ive read certain people say theyve had problems with "puddles" but i thought the same thing as you. Cause it would take alot of water to reach the filter.

Thats my biggest concern is using the car wash in winter and having it freeze on me. Its happened to fellow canadian members before. This is why im trying to make a mod to prevent any exposure to water. I plan on using the sock thats FOR SURE but i want to make some kind of secondary grill to prevent water even through the grill.

My concern is that it will limit air flow to the CAI

 

If you're paranoid don't mod your car.

 

If you have nothing helpful to say, dont post in the thread .

 

That was a very helpful piece of advice.
Not being sure about what you do, and worrying about every single mod's risk is the best route to hating a car.

Get the filter on and drive it.

 

When have i worried about every single mod. I just inquire about mods that have caused people problems in the past. And i know you would do the same if you knew the mod could possible cause a CEL. If you dont, you obviously dont care about your car as much as me and other people do ours.

Not trying to pick a fight here but i dont mod carelessly. Appreciate your input though.

 

Ask yourself if the problem was in the filter or in the user

I do care about my car anyway, knowing it discretely well helps you not to worry about such issues

 

Like Flashwing stated, water is not a concern whatsoever for a CAI (or any cone filter intake) unless you legit submerge the cone in water. Thanks to the laws of physics, air prefers the flow of less resistance. Any water/wetness found on the intake, would then shift the flow pattern towards the area with no water where then the intake pressure would increase due to a decrease in flow inlet, and bog down the car a bit. When I had my civic, I had a CAI, and that would come down far lower than the 8's CAI. I would clean it regularly with a blast of water while at the carwash and experienced no issues whatsoever. And im talking full hood open blasting the engine with water and spraying all over the intake cone.

 

So im guessing the grill wouldnt be neccessary. Ill just use the sock in winter then. Thanks for the input guys

 

Best thing I came across for seasonal maintenance is to remove the cone filter, douche it out with some greased lightning, and call it a day

 

I have the ms CAI, If there is a huge rain storm and I'm driving ion the highway, it does suck up some water, and I get the CEL, it trying to stall, also some car washes it will get sucked up aswell, I just turn off the car when I go throught one, best think to do is get a plastic underspoiler to cover the CAI, and yes the canadian models have the headlight washers, but I have the speed kit and its gone

 

^ do you have the sock to cover the filter ?? IM beginning to think most people that experience problems DONT have the sock. Cause why is it that certain people have problems going through a car wash while others have no problems at all even when leaving their car on.

I think its the sock that makes a huge difference on whether the car hydro locks or not.

 

Meh, the sock makes no difference. I know two people with it and you just have to be careful where you go when it is wet.

 

I guess just to be absolutely safe ill use the sock (even though some people say it makes no difference) and add this secondary grill.http://www.rotaryfx.com/product_p/ext1057.htm