I just ordered an AEM CAI today and was wondering is it beneficial to buy the water bypass valve i mean i've heard the bad and the good and just want to know the truth. Why would i need it.

 

well i got one.. heh.. it decreases the sound of ure intake a WHOLE lot... i like it better when it was off.. it sounds better but hey.. rather not take that chance.. i also heard that u lose hp by putting it on b/c it supposedly restricts some airflow.. yea.. oh well winters comin up..

 

It all depends on the area your in, if you think there is any chance your going to get water up near the fender well then you had probably better play it safe and get the bypass valve.

Yes the bypass valve reduces some noise, and that's not really bad, well in my oppinion anyway. I personally feel alot safer with it around here because it rains a whole lot. It does cost you a few horses but nothing major.

Once again, just consider the area you live in and go from there, it's not a bad investment.

 

such a waste of money, unless u plannin to drive thru 3 feet tall puddles. its a waste of money and it will only work if u submerged the filter, so splashes and such dont work. waste of money. use common sense.

late

 

Better safe than sorry.

 

I wouldn't be so quick to call it a big waste of money. From what I see on the news most of America is flooded at some point during the year. So, that $40 part could end up saving you $5000 for a new motor. I don't have active sonar on the front of my car to tell me how deep the puddle in front of me is. When it really rains hard, I get a 10" deep puddle covering the entire road in front of my house. Sure, I 'might' be ok without the bypass valve, but like MaxBoosT/StriderGS said...

 

It's just a sucker product to make extra $$... No other intake manufacturer makes bypass valves... Because it is unrealistic that you'd ever be in a situation to need one. You'd practically have to be trying to ford a river or something....
-Ep

 

It can, and HAS happened numerous times. AEM wouldnt have manufactured the product if they didnt have so many people coming to them whining about how their intake ruined their motor. So instead of letting the rumors spread, they addressed the problem.

Is it likely? No. Can it happen? YES. Are there any performance losses? No. Does it work? Yes. Is it worth it for $40? Thats your call...

 

I personally believe that you don't need one unless you live somewhere that gets crazy floods all the time. I drove with an Iceman intake with no bypass for a year, including through winter and had no problems at all. I never once encountered a puddle even big enough to cover my air filter, and if you do, go around it.

 

For any disbelievers... my street was flooded last night, and I was in my mom's Grand Prix coming back from getting my wisdom teeth out...

Water was up above the fender for like 15 feet of driving. If I didn't have a bypass on my car, I wouldn't have been able to drive through there.

It all depends on the area.