Looking at the forecast for the next two weeks, there seems to be a lot of rain coming my way. I can't recall driving through any big storms since I installed my Needwings single CAI about a month ago so I'm wondering if I have anything to worry about with the filter element getting wet since it's tucked right behind the grille?

I drove it in a light rain yesterday and stayed far back from other cars to avoid as much water as possible from hitting the front of my car. I'm just worried about sucking up some water and potentially hydrolocking the engine. Is that possible with my CAI mounted in front of the radiator or am I worrying over nothing?

 

Unless you get hit by a huge wall of water (splashed) into the filter, or drive in a puddle deeper than @30", I think your worrying about nothing.

 

Consider the number of Harleys running around with a similar intake & filter, 100% exposed to the elements - including rain. There is a rain sock available, but I don't know anyone who has ever actually used it. These bikes are ridden in torrential downpours or in a steady rain for hours with no problem.

An Exception - a friend of mine has a cone type intake on her chopper. Hers points straight up (whereas most often you see them pointed forward). In a very heavy rain, riding through some deep puddles, she ended up water locked on the side of the road.

 

Drove in a torenntial downpour a few weeks ago, I'm talking we had several inches of rain in a few hours and was fine. Two days later car was parked into the wind so to speak and another huge rain storm hit. When I left for lunch the car hesitated. Whether it was due to the rain I don't know. It cleared and the next day my check engine light came on pulling a code of 400, EGR Flow Malfunction. We reset the code thinking water may have got into the system because of all the rain, a week later, totally dry out and the code came back. Dealer read the same code and said it was a bad EGR valve. Goes in tomorrow to replace that. Whether its connected to the NW's CAI (dual) I don't know. The service mgr. at the dealership who is a friend of mine said he doubted it. I've driven in tons of rain since installing the CAI this past spring and no problems. Is this something that builds over time I don't know. The few people I have asked say that its a seperate system. Would be interested in Rob's thoughts on this.

 

I have been running the NW dual for a while and I live in Portland, OR. No problems with rain at any time. We have had a big storm going through for the last few days.... it will stop sometime in MAY!

 

AS long as you don't do this, you should be fine.

 

What about snow? can it freeze? first heavy rain, then extreme cold temperature. in Sweden it can happen over night giving up to minus 35'C.. (salted)

 

Shouldn't be an issue. I have my single CAI on the car for going on 3 years & have driven through heavy rains, snow, -20 degree temps, etc. Never a problem.
Worry not!

 

Take a look at my thread from the UK section, as I had the same questions.

https://www.crossfireforum.org/forum...wings-cai.html

After some great posts from very knowledgeable people I am convinced that the CAI will not let in any more water than the stock system and I will be ordering mine shortly. Bear in mind that the openings for the stock system are in roughly the same place as the CAI anyway!

I will also be ordering a 'pair of socks' too, so I'll give feedback on those, although the system probably won't be on the car until next spring :-(

Regards, Andy.

 

The stock intakes are way up in the top corners and cannot be seen from the front, the filters on the others can be easily seen through the grille.

 

Apologies, you are correct, the CAI filters are more exposed than the openings for the stock intake.(I haven't seen a Needswings set-up in person......yet!) The point I was trying to convey was that if you are submerged in enough water to be sucking water into the engine through a CAI, chances are you would be sucking it in through the stock intake, or would have already damaged the car in another way.

I've spent a lot of time reading about and contemplating a dual CAI for my car. Water was indeed my main concern and I would not take any chances with my car whatsoever! I am, however, totally convinced that, with a pair of 'socks' in the glove box for extreme emergencies, I am not exposing my car to any additional risk over a stock set-up.

Regards, Andy.

 

DSC_5344.jpg My has seen a lot of rain...as long as you don't submarine....you will be fine....and don't put anything over them...they are made to be exposed to rain...a wet sock would keep the water right there to be sucked in...let them flow, the air will dry them out as they suck in air...

 

Thanks for your responses! I feel a lot better now.

 

It'll be alright! I run the NeedsWings single trouble free for a year in all weather conditions. Then changed over to the duals with prefilter socks. Squirrel Crusher

 

I put my stock intake back on for MN winter duty. One less thing to worry about. Rain is one thing but road salt/sand, I dunno.

 

In my case the EGR valve was replaced under the emissions warranty. All is well.
Pat

 

The dual was designed for min.restriction and thus
the intakes flow 1/2 the air of a cai which will lift 1/2
the water of a cai system. Rest easy NOAH. Woody. rolling
thru fla and off to georgias st. Simon lighthouse. Weee