I'm gonna get a CAI in the next week or so to add to my retune. This is my first car that I've done my own mods too and I love it. I've read every thread on the forum about CAI's and the water damage question has been discussed but I wanted to get final opinions from the gearheads before I made my decision.
The GM CAI comes with the metal "water deflector/cover" but sets at a right angle to the ground. The Kappa Fujita CAI has no cover that I can see and it faces down toward the ground. Since I haven't seen one in person -- I can't tell what the possibility of water splashing into the intake would be on either one. I guess either a hellacious rain where you;re driving fast and splashing water up into the engine compartment or possibly a high pressure spray from a hose or carwash would be the only times water could even maybe be an issue. So could water from the ground spray "up" into the Fujita CAI? Or could water from a high pressure spray get into either of them? I think I also saw something about a "sock" for one or bout of them but arguments were made about not using those.
Under the filter for the fujita intake there is a huge piece of plastic that is there from the factory. The plastic piece diverts air from the air dam to the radiator. Imagine putting a camera on the filter and looking straight down, you can't see the ground at all.
I have had my CAI installed since January and have not had any problems. I have driven in hard rain and driven after rinsing off with pressure washer. I have cleaned my engine compartment with a hose, but I put a plastic bag over the filter.
I can get a picture this afternoon if you want.
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Joe
Previous modded F1K Pure #795 owner
Traded in for Blue '06 GTO July 1 361RWHP/359TQ 1/8 MI:8.56
OBXSOL to my rescue again. So would you recommend the KAppa over the GM? I know the Kappa has an "oil" filter while the GM is dry. And the Kapp was a lot cheaper before but now you can get the GM CAI for close to $300 if you shop around. (This question is specific to OBX before someone tells me to "search" regarding Kappa vs. GM CAI)
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BIX A BEL Cool, Ebony leather, Chrome, loaded, no XM/onstar Founding member of the "Lost Sols Club"
Deposit (1100) - 9/29/05, 1101/1102 - 2 Feb 06, 2500 - 7 Feb 06, 3000 - 8 Feb 06, 3100 - 13 Feb 06, 3300 - 13 Feb 06, 3400 - 14 Feb 06, 3800 - 24 Feb 06 (112544), 4000 - 24 Feb 06, 4150 - 24 Feb 06
dealer expected deliver 6 March, arrived 28 Feb, picked up that night w 3.2 miles on the clock :)
NOT WAITING ANY MORE!
OBXSOL to my rescue again. So would you recommend the KAppa over the GM? I know the Kappa has an "oil" filter while the GM is dry. And the Kapp was a lot cheaper before but now you can get the GM CAI for close to $300 if you shop around. (This question is specific to OBX before someone tells me to "search" regarding Kappa vs. GM CAI)
Hatetowait built his for $90 and discribed how to in his thread called, "My Stock intake Mod part I", complete with pictures and a parts list, with prices. Building the whole thing is a piece of cake.
In his part II thread he tells how he opened the intake box up.
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VIN#531 AGGRESSIVE / Ebony. Everything except XM and onstar, no need on Maui. No Heated seats either, whatever they are.
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"An armed populace is a polite populace".
Mark Twain.
He also said, "Forgivness is the fragrance the violet leaves on the heel that crushes it."
Ponder that awhile.
There are stores that carry all the bits and parts. PepBoys here has the tubes, silecone elbows, velocity stacks, clamps, Air Filters, everything you would need to DIY.
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BIX A BEL Cool, Ebony leather, Chrome, loaded, no XM/onstar Founding member of the "Lost Sols Club"
Deposit (1100) - 9/29/05, 1101/1102 - 2 Feb 06, 2500 - 7 Feb 06, 3000 - 8 Feb 06, 3100 - 13 Feb 06, 3300 - 13 Feb 06, 3400 - 14 Feb 06, 3800 - 24 Feb 06 (112544), 4000 - 24 Feb 06, 4150 - 24 Feb 06
dealer expected deliver 6 March, arrived 28 Feb, picked up that night w 3.2 miles on the clock :)
NOT WAITING ANY MORE!
Solactor - let me start by saying I have neither GM or Kappa CAI (am planning to replace stock filter with K&N or similar when they launch one and removing the resonator) but in answer to your water sheild question:
GM CAI uses a paper filter. This will be damaged if it gets wet. The placement of the water sheild looks to protect it from the top - ie if you open the hood after rain / washing the car have you seen where all the water runs off to? right where the air filter is!
The Fujita Kappa filter is, as you say, an oiled filter. These are supposed to not break down if they get wet - I have used K&N oiled filters before and they are cleaned by literally washing them with water, air drying and then re-oiling.
If you have read the other posts on CAI's then you will already know that the event of engine damage due to water getting in is only likely to happen if you fully submerge the filter intake so it sucks up water like through a straw and if you car is in enough water to submerge the filter then you have other things to worry about - like getting your car out of the lake!
Hatetowait built his for $90 and discribed how to in his thread called, "My Stock intake Mod part I", complete with pictures and a parts list, with prices. Building the whole thing is a piece of cake.
Linear Mode
