Valvetronic air filter cover?
- Thread starter xuexun
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chinjmes
Well-Known Member
Re: Valvetronic air filter cover?
That's rather ill advised actually. I'd never want to run the risk of hydrolocking.
Furthermore the hood when closed actually almost touches the valve cover so it's not like there will be a significantly larger amount of air coming through the open cover. Not worth it.
By the way, what filter is that?
That's rather ill advised actually. I'd never want to run the risk of hydrolocking.
Furthermore the hood when closed actually almost touches the valve cover so it's not like there will be a significantly larger amount of air coming through the open cover. Not worth it.
By the way, what filter is that?
smoobies
Well-Known Member
Re: Valvetronic air filter cover?
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.
Hydrolocking is often a concern when consumers modify their engines with aftermarket intake systems (e.g. Cold air intake). A cold air intake typically locates the filter near the bottom of the engine compartment to gain access to colder air, which can also increase its chances of ingesting water should it be submerged.
Another reason for it to occur is in the event of the head gasket cracking or "blowing", which causes the radiator coolant to mix inside the combustion chamber.
xuexun;153717 said:
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.
Hydrolocking is often a concern when consumers modify their engines with aftermarket intake systems (e.g. Cold air intake). A cold air intake typically locates the filter near the bottom of the engine compartment to gain access to colder air, which can also increase its chances of ingesting water should it be submerged.
Another reason for it to occur is in the event of the head gasket cracking or "blowing", which causes the radiator coolant to mix inside the combustion chamber.
Re: Valvetronic air filter cover?
since we are on the topic of hydrolocking, many cars have installed a cold air ducting from the intake to the opening in the bumper which is quite low down..any chance of the car hydrolocking after too much rainwater is "sucked" into the intake via the ducting when driving at speeds in the rain? (think running with your mouth open in the rain) appreciate some comments...
since we are on the topic of hydrolocking, many cars have installed a cold air ducting from the intake to the opening in the bumper which is quite low down..any chance of the car hydrolocking after too much rainwater is "sucked" into the intake via the ducting when driving at speeds in the rain? (think running with your mouth open in the rain) appreciate some comments...
richlee7
Well-Known Member
Re: Valvetronic air filter cover?
hi bro, actuali i was contemplating such intake in the old days when i was driving a japanese make (easy to mod etc.) the idea is the cold air sinks, so naturally lower level air intake supposed to be cooler air... true? but read that in singapore context, during daytime driving, the air just above the tarmac is much higher that, say, at the normal radiator level. the lower intake will be good on cold weather, or say in the early morning. even in the early evening or before 8pm, our tarmac is still rather hot and there is no significant, or maybe even less advantage of a cold air (lower level ducting) intake. to be honest, its a simple test. all u need is an accurate thermo placed at different heights (different parts at your open portion of driveway)... try it out before you actually decide to throw in ur $$$. partly, of course, is your driving pattern... late nights mostly... or early mornings... by all means, think it'll be effective. else, do think twice. at 1pm~6pm in Singapore on a normal day (non-rain), you may be sucking even hotter air with a (low duct) cold air intake than the stock standard corolla beside you
hi bro, actuali i was contemplating such intake in the old days when i was driving a japanese make (easy to mod etc.) the idea is the cold air sinks, so naturally lower level air intake supposed to be cooler air... true? but read that in singapore context, during daytime driving, the air just above the tarmac is much higher that, say, at the normal radiator level. the lower intake will be good on cold weather, or say in the early morning. even in the early evening or before 8pm, our tarmac is still rather hot and there is no significant, or maybe even less advantage of a cold air (lower level ducting) intake. to be honest, its a simple test. all u need is an accurate thermo placed at different heights (different parts at your open portion of driveway)... try it out before you actually decide to throw in ur $$$. partly, of course, is your driving pattern... late nights mostly... or early mornings... by all means, think it'll be effective. else, do think twice. at 1pm~6pm in Singapore on a normal day (non-rain), you may be sucking even hotter air with a (low duct) cold air intake than the stock standard corolla beside you
Re: Valvetronic air filter cover?
ok, i've got some things to say about this so bear with me...
that setup will result in hot air from the engine compartment getting drawn into your air intake tract. not good, as you'll lose some power.
you however, won't hydrolock with that setup. BMW airboxes usually have a drain hole at the bottom or some other water drainage system to prevent that; the only way to hydrolock your engine is to submerge the filter into water. getting some water into your engine will do no harm. people running water injection regularly inject 1 part water for every 10 parts of fuel into their engines for in-cylinder cooling.
not much danger of hydrolocking with cold air intakes that dip low into the bumper as well unless it gets submerged in water....if people running forced induction don't get hydrolocked with this setup, i'd think that NA folks will have even less to worry about.
what you should worry about is the possibility of water damage to your MAF due to water ingestion.
most modern BMW airboxes are designed as a ram air intake with a true cold air intake design - drawing cold air from outside the car, funneling and compressing it slightly(probably a tenth of a psi or less) as the car moves at speed before "force feeding" it through the filter into the air intake duct. this effect becomes more pronounced as you travel at increasingly higher speeds.
most modifications to the stock airbox, including most CAI designs, usually result in a loss of this ram air function and consequently, most CAIs out there will give you better sound and nothing more. some even lose power.
aftermarket intakes may also change the position of the MAF sensor as well as alter the flow within the air intake, this may increase turbulence and affect the accuracy of your MAF readings.
it's been known on the M3 forums for quite some time that the stock airbox design is the best compromise between air flow and water ingestion protection and the smartest air intake mod one can do is to change the air filter to a higher flowing one like the helene performance filter... leaving the stock airbox and intake unmolested. the same has been realised in the Z4 forums and consequently most choose to run HP filters or other aftermarket panel filters. some european supercharging companies have also tested various air intakes and CAI mods for flow etc and have concluded that the BMW designers knew what they were doing and that the stock airbox not only flowed better, but also provided best protection against water ingestion.
conclusion: leave your stock airbox alone.
xuexun;151333 said:
ok, i've got some things to say about this so bear with me...
that setup will result in hot air from the engine compartment getting drawn into your air intake tract. not good, as you'll lose some power.
you however, won't hydrolock with that setup. BMW airboxes usually have a drain hole at the bottom or some other water drainage system to prevent that; the only way to hydrolock your engine is to submerge the filter into water. getting some water into your engine will do no harm. people running water injection regularly inject 1 part water for every 10 parts of fuel into their engines for in-cylinder cooling.
not much danger of hydrolocking with cold air intakes that dip low into the bumper as well unless it gets submerged in water....if people running forced induction don't get hydrolocked with this setup, i'd think that NA folks will have even less to worry about.
what you should worry about is the possibility of water damage to your MAF due to water ingestion.
most modern BMW airboxes are designed as a ram air intake with a true cold air intake design - drawing cold air from outside the car, funneling and compressing it slightly(probably a tenth of a psi or less) as the car moves at speed before "force feeding" it through the filter into the air intake duct. this effect becomes more pronounced as you travel at increasingly higher speeds.
most modifications to the stock airbox, including most CAI designs, usually result in a loss of this ram air function and consequently, most CAIs out there will give you better sound and nothing more. some even lose power.
aftermarket intakes may also change the position of the MAF sensor as well as alter the flow within the air intake, this may increase turbulence and affect the accuracy of your MAF readings.
it's been known on the M3 forums for quite some time that the stock airbox design is the best compromise between air flow and water ingestion protection and the smartest air intake mod one can do is to change the air filter to a higher flowing one like the helene performance filter... leaving the stock airbox and intake unmolested. the same has been realised in the Z4 forums and consequently most choose to run HP filters or other aftermarket panel filters. some european supercharging companies have also tested various air intakes and CAI mods for flow etc and have concluded that the BMW designers knew what they were doing and that the stock airbox not only flowed better, but also provided best protection against water ingestion.
conclusion: leave your stock airbox alone.
Re: Valvetronic air filter cover?
Nice info.... You're right!
I never experienced hydrolock on my BMW. But with my volant cold air intake, i never loses power instead, got HP increased and it emits nice sounds too.
Nice info.... You're right!
I never experienced hydrolock on my BMW. But with my volant cold air intake, i never loses power instead, got HP increased and it emits nice sounds too.
