Air Filter + Rain / Water = :(

[jmillsUT28]

Just finished installing my air filter on my Paxton. My question is, how much do I have to worry about water/rain soaking my air filter? My air filter sits right behind the front air duct. I do not drive in the rain but if I take it on vacation or to gatherings and it rains what should I do? Should I make a custom shield to install when it does rain to deflect the water/rain?

ps did a search but did not find anything

 

[plumcrazy]

I can send you pics of my setup but I've been in flood type rain and no issues.

 

[Bobpantax]

I do not know what Gen Viper you have ( although your Avatar shows a Gen II) or whether it would make a difference but I have driven in the rain. My Viper is a supercharged Gen III. The rain baffle has been removed from my Gen IV hood. I have never had a problem. In fact, if I had to guess, the wet filter might even have a small, additional air cooling effect.

 

[ViperGeorge]

Just finished installing my air filter on my Paxton. My question is, how much do I have to worry about water/rain soaking my air filter? My air filter sits right behind the front air duct. I do not drive in the rain but if I take it on vacation or to gatherings and it rains what should I do? Should I make a custom shield to install when it does rain to deflect the water/rain?

ps did a search but did not find anything

I've wondered the same thing on my supercharged Gen 3. Does ingesting some water mist hurt the motor or does it simply cool the charge?

 

[Bobpantax]

We know that methanol injection systems seem to have the same effect on the air charge as an intercooler so it seems logical that the wet filter may, in a small way, do the same thing. Someone must have tested this somewhere at some time. If it's true, then we will have to develop a wet filter water spray kit. We could probably use the existing window washer reservoir and tap a new line into it. LOL.

 

[Red Snake]

A damp filter isn't going to hurt anything. However, if you get enough water through there to allow running water to be injested you are in for BAD times.

 

[Martin]

The biggest thing I'd be worried about is the filter getting soaked and becoming too restrictive. Kind of like 'waterboarding' for your car... Any cloth when saturated with water becomes more restrictive and your car will gasp for breath.

Contrary to popular belief, some water going into the engine can actually be good for it. Back in the old days, part of my tune-up procedure (right before changing the oil) was to dribble water down the throat of the carb at mid RPMs. I'd keep dribbling water into the carb until the car would just about stall out, then let it clear out and heat up again, and repeat a few times. It would blow the carbon deposits out of the engine really nicely.

About the only way water will hurt your car is if you nose-dive into a pool of it and you get one big slug of water into the intake while the engine is running. Water is incompressible, so if you get more than about 60 cc's into a single cylinder at one time, you're going to bend a connecting rod.

 

[Red Snake]

The biggest thing I'd be worried about is the filter getting soaked and becoming too restrictive. Kind of like 'waterboarding' for your car... Any cloth when saturated with water becomes more restrictive and your car will gasp for breath.

Contrary to popular belief, some water going into the engine can actually be good for it. Back in the old days, part of my tune-up procedure (right before changing the oil) was to dribble water down the throat of the carb at mid RPMs. I'd keep dribbling water into the carb until the car would just about stall out, then let it clear out and heat up again, and repeat a few times. It would blow the carbon deposits out of the engine really nicely.

About the only way water will hurt your car is if you nose-dive into a pool of it and you get one big slug of water into the intake while the engine is running. Water is incompressible, so if you get more than about 60 cc's into a single cylinder at one time, you're going to bend a connecting rod.

That may have been true for a carb fed older car. The Gen III Viper's cast pistons with extremely thin upper ring land will not handle ingesting water like your old car did.

 

[ViperGeorge]

So I figured I would just call Paxton and ask them. Their tech said rain will not hurt the car. Don't drive it into a puddle big enough to cover the intake and you'll be fine.

 

[Martin]

That may have been true for a carb fed older car. The Gen III Viper's cast pistons with extremely thin upper ring land will not handle ingesting water like your old car did.

Well, I have to respectfully disagree - for the most part, at least. If a car has pistons and ring lands that are so wimpy that a little water will cause them to break, I'd hate to think of what would happen if some minor detonation took place. A little bit of ping is a million times more dangerous to an engine than a little bit of water. I don't know if the pistons in the Gen III cars are so wimpy that they'll grenade like that, so you might very well be right - iit just seems unlikely to me...

Remember, we're not talking about opening a garden hose into your intake manifold. We're talking about a small spray of water. Also, I'm definitely not condoning spraying water through the MAF sensor - that could cause all kinds of other problems. To my knowledge, Vipers are Speed Density systems anyhow, so that wouldn't be an issue here.

 

[jmillsUT28]

Sounds good guys. Wanted to check so I would not be so paranoid if I get stuck in the rain. I think I will still make a shield that will block the rain that I can mount right behind the duct if it looks like it will rain. Might make it out of fiberglass.

 

[plumcrazy]

Careful that it doesn't stop any air flow.

 

[jmillsUT28]

Yea I will make sure I make it where it will still get enough air flow. I will make it so I can install it quick if it starts raining and then take it off once it stops. Not going to leave it on for a long period.

 

[white out]

A heavy downpour will not produce enough water going into the duct to hurt your engine. You have water injection for a few minutes.

Nick

 

[plumcrazy]

and in rain, you are NOT going to be WOT

 

[Red Snake]

and in rain, you are NOT going to be WOT

Some of us would.