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Old 06-22-2002, 06:44 PM   #5
BlackDeuceCoupe
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Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: Skull Island
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Re: Ordering AEM Cold Air Intake... Bypass value worth it?

Quote:
Originally posted by Sivik
Hey guys,

I'm ready to order my intake by AEM, just wondering whether or not should I get the bypass value or not. Is it really worth it or should I not bother? Thanks!

Here are my feelings...

One of the reasons you buy a CAI is to increase air velocity. You do this by making the least amount of bends as possible and making them as smooth as possible, with a mandrel yada yada yada. It doesn't make any sense to put a stop sign in the middle of a freeway, and it doesn't make any sense [to me] to put a valve in the middle of a CAI where it WILL disturb the air flow.

Secondly, the valve only opens if you TOTALLY SUBMERGE the air filter. I don't know about you, but I don't drive in bumper-high water and this is the ONLY time the valve will work. Read the AEM hype VERY carefully and you will see what I'm saying; look for the words 'submerge' or 'submerged' . The wording is very craftily done...

And lastly, no matter what AEM wants you to believe, the valve will NOT magically seperate water from air. AFTER the valve has done it's thing [and, once again, that is only after the air filter is totally submerged in water] you will still get plenty of water down your intake when the valve closes because the filter and several inches of pipe will still have water in it.

The best thing to do is don't drive in the rain, especially if there is water standing in the roadway. If you live in a place where it rains a lot, run a 'wetlands' configuration, e.g. a 'short-RAM', not a CAI. That's the ONLY sure way to protect your engine from hydro'ing.
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