New Intake or Just A Bunch of HOT Air?….You Decide

[Topless]

Originally Posted by blue2000s

It is interesting to see people talk about hydrolock concerns so often. It is nearly impossible to hydrolock an engine without completely submerging the intake pipe. Don't believe me, try drinking through a straw with half the straw opening outside of the drink. It is nothing to worry about unless you plan to go driving into a three foot deep puddle.

This is why you've never, ever heard of a Boxster hydrolocking.

Interesting. I've never seen anyone mention hydrolock concerns. I certainly never mentioned it in my earlier post. I do believe ingesting large amounts of cold water is bad for Boxster engines but that is a different issue than hydrolock. Of course it wouldn't take much water to hydrolock an 11:1 motor:
http://www.mini2.com/forum/first-generation-faults-fixes/3832-water-damage-engine-air-intake-susceptible-sucking-water.html
http://forum.roadfly.com/threads/8196227-Hydrolock-in-4-6-inches-of-water
http://www.matthewsvolvosite.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=32285

From K&N
"Are Cold Air Intakes safe in the rain?
NO CAR should ever be operated during flooding. Unlike short ram intakes, cold air intakes draw air from a relatively low position. Your vehicle can technically ingest water from rain puddles, streams, floods, etc if your car is lowered or the water is deep enough, and damage your engine. To prevent this, you could install the appropriate sized AEM Bypass valve onto your Porsche 911’s AEM or X3 Cold Air Intake, however, we instead recommend switching to your vehicles stock intake system if you anticipate driving through flood conditions. K&N FIPK Intakes do not require bypass valves since their design is higher than AEM and X3, and are relatively safe from water ingestion."

Yes, water ingestion is a very real potential problem with a modified air intake system especially on a Boxster, which is why our stock intake is so contorted. Choose wisely.

[blue2000s]

Originally Posted by Topless

Interesting. I've never seen anyone mention hydrolock concerns. I certainly never mentioned it in my earlier post. I do believe ingesting large amounts of cold water is bad for Boxster engines but that is a different issue than hydrolock. Of course it wouldn't take much water to hydrolock an 11:1 motor:
Water damage to engine - air intake susceptible to sucking in water - MINI Cooper Forum - MINI2 Mini Cooper Forums
Hydrolock in 4-6 inches of water...
http://www.matthewsvolvosite.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=32285

From K&N
"Are Cold Air Intakes safe in the rain?
NO CAR should ever be operated during flooding. Unlike short ram intakes, cold air intakes draw air from a relatively low position. Your vehicle can technically ingest water from rain puddles, streams, floods, etc if your car is lowered or the water is deep enough, and damage your engine. To prevent this, you could install the appropriate sized AEM Bypass valve onto your Porsche 911’s AEM or X3 Cold Air Intake, however, we instead recommend switching to your vehicles stock intake system if you anticipate driving through flood conditions. K&N FIPK Intakes do not require bypass valves since their design is higher than AEM and X3, and are relatively safe from water ingestion."

Yes, water ingestion is a very real potential problem with a modified air intake system especially on a Boxster, which is why our stock intake is so contorted. Choose wisely.

It sure looks like you're talking about hydrolocking? If not, what exactly are you referring to?

I have a buddy who hydrolocked a HUMVEE, anything can be hydrolocked, but like I said, you have to completely submerge the intake to do it.

Every car is injesting water, especially while driven in the rain. Some even inject it for cooling the intake charge. There's nothing to fear in taking in water droplets.

Has anyone ever heard of a damaged engine on a Boxster due to water? The car is 15 years old now, surely someone must have injested enough water to damage the engine by now?

[Johnny Danger]

The Dangermobile is designed to act as a submarine when needed. I just wrap the intake with cellophane . No problems with hydro-lock here .

[The Radium King]

i don't think hyrolock is the concern, but rather that the oem airbox is purposely convoluted to decel the water before it hits the filter, then drain out the bottom.

more 'direct line' intakes don't do this, so there is opportunity to saturate the filter element. uncertain what this would do - ruin it? wash all the oil off and cancel any filtering abilities? reduce ability to breathe? dunno.

the other concern is where the low point in the intake lies. on the oem box it is before the filter, so any water, condensation, etc., will pool and drain here. in more straight line systems, the low point may lie after the filter which could send a big shot of agua at the motor on start-up, or the low point could be the filter itself, which might cause the problems listed above.

no experience here, just what my concerns might be. that's why i thing the cayman box is the solution - big filter element, straight line for airflow, proper diameter piping, etc.