lytmup

Anyone heard of of think that its possible to hydrolock an engine with an LPE CAI installed if you take your car through a touchless car wash and get the undercarriage wash?

And before anyone says it, I am talking about pure touchless car washes that are laser done, high pressure only, with no tracks. Sometimes, (esp in the winter since my car is a 365xDD, I like to go through these types of washes and spray the undercarriage?

So, Im wondering what people's opinions are on whether doing this could cause engine damage with the LPE CAI installed. Thanks.

Sven

No, but if you're really concerned, shut off the engine for peace of mind.

lytmup

Thats the issue, because the ones that I am around, you actually have to drive into, and the under carriage mist shoots up AS you drive into place.

Red Sleeper

Back in the old days we used to pour water down the carburetor on a warm engine to dislodge carbon. Don't know if it really worked or not but it would take a large amount of water to hydro-lock one.

I've had a cold air induction package on my '92 Vette for at least 10 years. I have driven through the hardest rains and never noticed it missing out even once.

Come to think about it a friend of mine bought a jeep that had been driven into a lake. It was an older Jeep with carburetor. The engine was full of rusty water but not ruined completely. Nothing broke due to hydro-locking.

Has anyone ever had a hydro-lock? Just curious.

VetVetter

Hydro-locking an engine requires a large amount of water ingested in a very quick time span - i.e., driving through a very deep puddle and forcing a large amount of water instantly into the intake. Think of how much water and the force of that water when you haul **** through a deep puddle.

If the sprays are like what I am used to - strong and small, then they really don't displace a lot of water and you will be fine. Anything that does get in will be absorbed by the filter and at worst, evaporated in the intake system.

savewave

While I agree with others who have posted that you car is in no danger of hydrolock in going though a touchless car wash, my recommendation would be to wash the car by hand.

There is no better way to get to know your car and the condition of the paint than to hand wash it yourself. And I don't think those high-pressure touchless car washes get your car as clean as you would get it on a hand-wash.

Your mileage may vary ...

lytmup

I do wash it by hand 98% of the time.

There are a few times when those high pressure washers are really good
1- when the car has what i call "heavy dust" build up that comes with daily driving
2- winter time when I want the salt off of the bottom after precipitation.

Those are the times when I would be taking it to the carwash.

not08crmanymore

I drive my car into one of those garages at the car wash that you put your 5 bucks in and the doors close and the car gets sprayed with soap and water then dried.At no time does the vette ever go into a conventional car wash.

Wayne O

The design on the C6 makes it much less susceptible than the C5 to water ingestion and potential hydro-lock. I was assured by some very knowledgeable installers that my LPE CAI could handle all but deep standing water or perhaps torrential rain. I've driven my car through fairly heavy rain without suffering any ill effects.

That being said....I try whenever possible to not drive in heavy rain. LPE says...

CAUTION SHOULD BE USED WHEN DRIVING IN HEAVY RAIN.
DO NOT DRIVE THROUGH DEEP STANDING WATER

Although I seriously doubt you would have a problem....why risk it? If you did ingest enough water to hydro-lock your engine, it most definitely would not be covered under warranty. I would wash my own car and forget about running it through a car wash.

Raville

LOL , ya we used to start with high rev and then pour tranny fluid in carb. Wait then hit it with a cup of water. never had one lock up , but that was an old 327 without any computer stuff on it. Man , at least I am not the only shade tree still out there!