Hydrolock and you...

Corpsman · 08-08-2006, 02:49 AM

Hydrolock is:

In automotive terminology, a hydrolock is the immobilization of an engine's pistons by a liquid (usually water, hence the prefix "hydro-"). Hydrolocking occurs when liquid fills a cylinder on the intake stroke and, due to the incompressibility of a liquid, makes the compression stroke impossible. This, in turn, prevents the entire engine from turning, and can cause significant engine damage if one attempts to forcibly turn over or start the engine.

I used to drive a 2003 Nissan Spec V. I had it until I traded it in for the Si. I also had a CAI the entire time and never had an issue. Now to say that because I never had an issue nobody else will would be a huge hastey generalization. So allow me to try to set some minds at ease...

If you drive thorugh a large puddle of water and water splashes up to your filter.... You WILL NOT get hydrolock. If, however you were to stop your vehicle in a huge puddle of water, allow the filter to become completely submerged, you will get hydrolock.

Water is much denser then air, so unless the intake of air were completely occluded by water, air would still flow into the filter instead of the water. If you do not believe me, take a straw, punch a hole less approximately half the size of the open end of the straw. Place the end of the straw in liquid while the hole you just created is above the liquid.... then suck. Then you will understand.

CMByrd · 08-08-2006, 04:07 AM

Funny story, and I swear its true...

Guy I work with (whos a retard, but thats neither here nor there) had a CAI on his GTS. Has the bypass valve to prevent hydrolock, and it damn near flashfloods here a couple of weeks ago. Hes driving along, and hits a section of road covered in water. He figgures, Ive got the bypass valve, so just dosen't WOT it and whatever. Bypass valve works beautifully, water goes out, air goes in.

UNFORTUNATLY his bypass valve was setup about 1" from his MAF sensor, so when the water sprayed out, he shorted out all the electronics in his engine bay (=

Beacuse Im kinda a bastard, and I do love some good irony, I found this more than slightly amusing.

hoanger · 08-08-2006, 11:50 AM

i was wondering...
i know its a COLD air intake... but would extremely cold conditions in the winter with a combination of wet snow, and all the other things related with winter affect the CAI? since it may freeze on the CAI filter?
winters here are horrible and long...

CivicWithNav · 08-08-2006, 05:44 PM

bypass valves dont work unless the filter is completely submerged in water causing pressure change.

imtim25 · 08-08-2006, 06:09 PM

i was worried about hydrolock...thats why i didnt get the intake yet. good find Corpsman, thanks for clearing it up for me.

***Sleepy*** · 08-08-2006, 06:20 PM

ok i have a dumb question.

What are the chances of getting a rock sucked into the intake? and inturn getting sucked into engine.

I was speaking with my honda tech and he has said that this is possiable.

Is it possiable?

CMByrd · 08-09-2006, 12:47 AM

I woudlnt think so, unless your runnign without a filter. Which would be pretty dumb methinks.

Corpsman · 08-09-2006, 02:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by imtim25

i was worried about hydrolock...thats why i didnt get the intake yet. good find Corpsman, thanks for clearing it up for me.

Thank you but that was not a find. I wrote that last night after taking two Percocet. LOL, I was just amused by all the posts by people worrying about hydrolock.

stevieray · 08-10-2006, 10:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CMByrd

Funny story, and I swear its true...

Guy I work with (whos a retard, but thats neither here nor there) had a CAI on his GTS. Has the bypass valve to prevent hydrolock, and it damn near flashfloods here a couple of weeks ago. Hes driving along, and hits a section of road covered in water. He figgures, Ive got the bypass valve, so just dosen't WOT it and whatever. Bypass valve works beautifully, water goes out, air goes in.

UNFORTUNATLY his bypass valve was setup about 1" from his MAF sensor, so when the water sprayed out, he shorted out all the electronics in his engine bay (=

Beacuse Im kinda a bastard, and I do love some good irony, I found this more than slightly amusing.

Mos def a retard. The mental image of this is priceless....

MaKo · 08-10-2006, 10:20 PM

Put a Injen Hydroshield on the filter and forget about it. You won't pull any water through it.

08-08-2006, 02:49 AM	#1 (permalink)
Corpsman Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 590 iTrader: 0 / 0%	Hydrolock and you... Hydrolock is: In automotive terminology, a hydrolock is the immobilization of an engine's pistons by a liquid (usually water, hence the prefix "hydro-"). Hydrolocking occurs when liquid fills a cylinder on the intake stroke and, due to the incompressibility of a liquid, makes the compression stroke impossible. This, in turn, prevents the entire engine from turning, and can cause significant engine damage if one attempts to forcibly turn over or start the engine. I used to drive a 2003 Nissan Spec V. I had it until I traded it in for the Si. I also had a CAI the entire time and never had an issue. Now to say that because I never had an issue nobody else will would be a huge hastey generalization. So allow me to try to set some minds at ease... If you drive thorugh a large puddle of water and water splashes up to your filter.... You WILL NOT get hydrolock. If, however you were to stop your vehicle in a huge puddle of water, allow the filter to become completely submerged, you will get hydrolock. Water is much denser then air, so unless the intake of air were completely occluded by water, air would still flow into the filter instead of the water. If you do not believe me, take a straw, punch a hole less approximately half the size of the open end of the straw. Place the end of the straw in liquid while the hole you just created is above the liquid.... then suck. Then you will understand.

08-08-2006, 06:20 PM	#6 (permalink)
*Sleepy* UnDeRcOvErHiPpIcHiCk Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: POOKSVILLE CAnada Age: 33 Posts: 9,657 Susan iTrader: 2 / 100%	ok i have a dumb question. What are the chances of getting a rock sucked into the intake? and inturn getting sucked into engine. I was speaking with my honda tech and he has said that this is possiable. Is it possiable? __________________

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08-08-2006, 04:07 AM	#2 (permalink)
CMByrd Senior Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Columbus GA Posts: 292 iTrader: 0 / 0%	Funny story, and I swear its true... Guy I work with (whos a retard, but thats neither here nor there) had a CAI on his GTS. Has the bypass valve to prevent hydrolock, and it damn near flashfloods here a couple of weeks ago. Hes driving along, and hits a section of road covered in water. He figgures, Ive got the bypass valve, so just dosen't WOT it and whatever. Bypass valve works beautifully, water goes out, air goes in. UNFORTUNATLY his bypass valve was setup about 1" from his MAF sensor, so when the water sprayed out, he shorted out all the electronics in his engine bay (= Beacuse Im kinda a bastard, and I do love some good irony, I found this more than slightly amusing.

08-08-2006, 11:50 AM	#3 (permalink)
hoanger Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Calgary, Alberta Posts: 4,759 Jason iTrader: 1 / 100%	i was wondering... i know its a COLD air intake... but would extremely cold conditions in the winter with a combination of wet snow, and all the other things related with winter affect the CAI? since it may freeze on the CAI filter? winters here are horrible and long...

08-08-2006, 05:44 PM	#4 (permalink)
CivicWithNav Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Woodstock MD Posts: 2,575 iTrader: 13 / 100%	bypass valves dont work unless the filter is completely submerged in water causing pressure change.

08-08-2006, 06:09 PM	#5 (permalink)
imtim25 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 1,283 iTrader: 0 / 0%	i was worried about hydrolock...thats why i didnt get the intake yet. good find Corpsman, thanks for clearing it up for me.

08-09-2006, 12:47 AM	#7 (permalink)
CMByrd Senior Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Columbus GA Posts: 292 iTrader: 0 / 0%	I woudlnt think so, unless your runnign without a filter. Which would be pretty dumb methinks.

08-10-2006, 10:20 PM	#10 (permalink)
MaKo Senior Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Tampa Bay, FL Posts: 305 iTrader: 0 / 0%	Put a Injen Hydroshield on the filter and forget about it. You won't pull any water through it.