[SpeedMatters]

Hey guys, just looking for some advice here, I bought the Focus Sport Cool Flo CAI and went to put it on and was advised to not do it because it would need monthly cleaning (the filter) and if it was neglected it could be bad for my engine. How often are you guys cleaning yours? Are their any intakes with the filter positioned somewhere else?

 

[captcurt_18]

thats bs, it doesnt need to be cleaned every month. clean it every now and then and you will be fine.

 

['65 stang289]

any open filter element is going to need more frequent cleaning... i would say that monthly is a little overboard but every few (pending different weather conditions and what type of area) you live in would be a good option, and with every oil change.

 

[warneej]

pshhh they don't need more frequent cleaning, most last just as long as a traditional filter...you can definitely go 10-12k unless you're driving on overly dusty roads or in the winter in roadsalt

 

[SpeedMatters]

Im willing to clean it every couple months but i need to lift the car to get it back out so thats the part thats a pain. How much does hydrolock scare you guys? from the reading i've done, hydrolock doesnt happen unless the filter is submerged? spray is no problem?

 

[CJohn364]

Hydrolocking doesn't worry me as much as when I first put mine on.

 

[warneej]

with stock bumpers you will be fine, unless you have lots of water over the road like we get in tampa

 

[SpeedMatters]

Well, i live in the Seattle area so the roads are wet more than half the year.. but im not driving thru standing water.

 

[jetrinka]

Hey another seattle person!!! Well I can't say from experience with a CAI cause I have the Steeda SRI which sits up higher but honestly you shouldn't need to clean it that much. I clean my SRI about once every 3-4 months and I could go longer if I wanted. Partially I am just obsessive.

One good thing about a filter getting dirty (yes there are good things) is that when dirty they will actually filter better. Sure airflow will be reduced a little bit but neglecting cleaning iit will not be bad for your motor and whoever told you that needs to do a little research. lol.

I have seen the FS CAI in person and its a nice peice and everyone who has it loves it. Disconnect that negative battery cable, slap that mofo on there, reconnect the battery cable, start her up and enjoy it.

 

[SpeedMatters]

Hey another seattle person!!! Well I can't say from experience with a CAI cause I have the Steeda SRI which sits up higher but honestly you shouldn't need to clean it that much. I clean my SRI about once every 3-4 months and I could go longer if I wanted. Partially I am just obsessive.

One good thing about a filter getting dirty (yes there are good things) is that when dirty they will actually filter better. Sure airflow will be reduced a little bit but neglecting cleaning iit will not be bad for your motor and whoever told you that needs to do a little research. lol.

I have seen the FS CAI in person and its a nice peice and everyone who has it loves it. Disconnect that negative battery cable, slap that mofo on there, reconnect the battery cable, start her up and enjoy it.

LOL thanks she's sitting in the box right now waiting to be used. One more question, any of you guys used those drive up ramps to raise your car? im guessing it wont work for those who are lowered? Im thinking i need some good ol 2x4s

 

[Jgrove998]

I just clean it every time I change my oil (every 10K with synthetic oil). You'll be fine if it goes longer.

Plus its fun tinkering with the car every now and then.

 

[focusboy5]

Yea for me the drive up ramps are super close. So lowered cars I am sure won't work. Just get a jack and some jackstands and you are set! And I live in wichita KS and it rains quite a bit down here. I have felt the filter after rain and it is pretty moist but it still runs fine.

 

[bdnld4482]

well half is right, you will need to keep an eye on it like when you change your oil take a look at it and see if it needs to be cleaned. it prolly wont need it but while your down there. if this is a problem for you you can alway get a prefilter to help you keep it clean.

 

[jetrinka]

yeah I barely clear the ramps with my SVT springs so if you are lower than that you will need some 2x4's or something to get yourself started up on them.

 

[NemesisEnforcer]

hey, as most said, cleaning doesnt need to be done nearly every month. i do mine every 10 to 15k. and the FS sits up higher than most cais (which is why i have it), so you wont need to worry about hydrolock. its way up and back, behind the headlight. so, ud have to be submerged that high. ive driven thru downpours and felt around up there, and it was bone dry.

 

[2005fofost]

Im willing to clean it every couple months but i need to lift the car to get it back out so thats the part thats a pain. How much does hydrolock scare you guys? from the reading i've done, hydrolock doesnt happen unless the filter is submerged? spray is no problem?

This is what I have heard. It still worries me though of even small amounts of water getting sucked into the motor. I heard that the smaller portions of water just get burned up no problem.

 

[jetrinka]

Small amounts of liquid getting into the motor won't hurt anything. Just look at what some of us do (i know I do) with seafoam, an engine cleaner. We suck it in through vacuum lines to clean the intake system and combustion chambers. Of course it is done is small amounts at a low rate of speed but the idea is the same. If you are getting a bit of water in your motor, you will know it. It will start sputtering a little and lose power. As long as you are not sucking it in by the quart you are ok. AKA fully submerging the filter. I would be more worried about the MAF sensor getting damp and ruining that before I would worry about sucking water into the motor.

Although you have to play it by what your situation is too. I know that here in seattle last year if I had had a CAI I would have hyrolocked my motor a good deal of times. We had flooding where I live and I drove through some puddles that day that would have hydrolocked me if I had a CAI as it would have submerged the filter. Lucky I had the Steeda SRI.

 

[warneej]

i got my old CAI filter soaked and the motor cut off because the car couldn't breathe through it...i've only known one case of hydrolock, although some of the stuff I've had to deal with in Tampa would've killed my car for sure..damn cities built under sea-level with zero ability to drain...

 

[SpeedMatters]

Small amounts of liquid getting into the motor won't hurt anything. Just look at what some of us do (i know I do) with seafoam, an engine cleaner. We suck it in through vacuum lines to clean the intake system and combustion chambers. Of course it is done is small amounts at a low rate of speed but the idea is the same. If you are getting a bit of water in your motor, you will know it. It will start sputtering a little and lose power. As long as you are not sucking it in by the quart you are ok. AKA fully submerging the filter. I would be more worried about the MAF sensor getting damp and ruining that before I would worry about sucking water into the motor.

Although you have to play it by what your situation is too. I know that here in seattle last year if I had had a CAI I would have hyrolocked my motor a good deal of times. We had flooding where I live and I drove through some puddles that day that would have hydrolocked me if I had a CAI as it would have submerged the filter. Lucky I had the Steeda SRI.

I did too, before my car was lowered or anything. The intersection was completely flooded and there was no way around.. Im thinking if the situation comes back i'll just take the intake off for the time being.

 

[NemesisEnforcer]

i still dont understand that tho. the stock system is just a snorkel that sucks air from the same level that the FS does. if you were in water high enough to hydrolock with a cai, what would be the difference b/t a stock and a cai? i mean, everyone talks about this issue, and how a cai can be so much worse than stock, but i dont get it.

is it b/c the filter itself comes AFTER the snorkel on the stock setup? maybe cuz its so thick? thats all i can think of. either system will suck in water tho, if u are not smart and drive thru water that high. most of the guys on here are more intelligent than that.