So I have had my 2006 XB and I want to get and exhaust and cold air intake. I have been told by a few people that the intake is not a good idea since water from the road could potentially damage my car. Keep in mind I am from Southern California where it doesnt rain often. SHould I be concerned about the rain and driving my car when it is wet? Please keep in mind I dont know a lot about cars... I just dont want to damage my engine if I drive in the rain. I just dont wanna make it so I cannot drive when wet outside.
Thanks

 

wow, if you drive into a lake then you will have problems.

But think about it, the filter goes behind a water shield for a reason.

 

ok well keep in mind that I know pretty much nothing about cars and whatnot like that. Sorry. So youre saying I should be fine? Sorry for my dumb questions

 

It's not a dumb question.

It's just using some common sense first before asking a question - my motto is, better to ask something stupid than do something stupid.

If they really sucked water, the manufacturers would not produce the product.

 

Well im just asking from what I have been told. A friend of a friend had an XB and I guess it sucked in a bunch of water... enough to destroy the engine. But I guess what I am asking is would you recommend cold air intakes?

 

I can't say that I'm a pro tuner, but I've been in the scene for long enough to be an OG.

I personally like short ram intakes more than cold air. But that's just me.


The decision is up to you.

 

I think it depends on the type of intake and how you drive. I've heard of people having problems because the filter became saturated. AEM makes a bypass that installs further up the pipe so if the filter becomes saturated it can draw air from the bypass.

Since you say you have a 2006 XB I'm moving this to the gen 1 forum.

 

Geesh people try and make easy questions complicated... put simply you will NEVER have a problem with a cold air intake unless your car is submersed in more than a foot of water. But on a lowered xb you'd have more of a problem with an aftermarket exhaust at that point because it would be sitting under water completely not venting the engines exhaust. SIMPLY put .... don't drive through standing water... find an alternate route.

 

Yea, unless you routinely drive through standing water, you're not going to have a problem.

I will, however, say (since it happened to me).
Avoid automatic carwashes with undercarriage spray. I had one hit my filter and the car died. I had to wait 2 hours for the filter to dry (luckily, no water got taken in, but if the filter is wet enough for the car to not be able to suck air, you're not going anywhere.

A CAI with a bypass valve, like the AEM is probably your best bet.

 

i have been running the KN cold air and never really had any problems. the only time i did was when i was doing some work on the car and removed the fog lights cover which is right in fornt of the filter.

lowered or not lowered you should be fine. I live in socal too and believe we do not get enough rain or the right type of rain to cause damage to cars.

 

I had a cold air.. a real low one, on a dropped box in Miami.. where it rains hard often.. no problems, but like was stated if you hit a puddle 8-10" deep.. your in trouble (if lowered a lot). I like the way the short ram acts on the box better anyway.. so the CAI sits in the garage now.. lol
I saw someone say there was a splash shied down there? I have never paid attention to other years (though I assume
they are the same), but my '06 is just open to the ground down there.. theres a half shield behind it, but it still has a
good 4" opening with no protection, right under the filter