For all those that say it cant happen,had one towed in today locked tighter than a ............................. All the storms this weekend left some standing water and got the best of this C-5...Looking under it briefly,I see some oil at the oil pan area,so it doesnt look good...I wont post the manufacture of the air filter housing but I can tell you it wasnt stock...Be careful out there...

 

Ahh come one. YOu gotta at least give us a hint. How about this. If it wasn't a Vortex let me know. I don't care about the others but I'm using a Vortex an dI don't nbeed any more trouble......

Be :cool:

Joe

 

what is the point of not posting the manufacturer? anyone running a bottom breather should be aware and cautious. it doesn't mean anyone running xyz's intake will hydro-lock, but knowing which unit experienced a failure will help those who have it be more cautious.
manufacturers names aren't (or at least shouldn't be) sacred around here. this forum is for informational exhange.

David
runs a Vortex and have had no prob's, won't drive thru any puddles

 

c-5tech does that mean that the warranty won't cover him?

 

Robsvette,water injestion is not covered under warranty wether or not you have a factory or aftermarket installation.It becomes an issue with your insurance company.Based on my experience,most insurance companies will supply a junkyard motor,rather than pan out the money for a factory repair.I have seen this happen on 4 occassions.(C-4's)...

I have read many topics in the past where the post stated that water injection with an aftermarket system was possible but unlikely,maybe giving some a false security.The purpose of my post is to make those aware that it is possible NO MATTER WHAT SYSTEM YOU HAVE,even factory.I get alot of customers with aftermarket systems,and when I mention the possibility of water injestion,ALL have not been aware of the possibility.I will not condem any aftermarket system and it would not be fair to single out a manufacture without knowing all the specifics and details that were involved.Any system is fine,with the simple key to prevention,is being careful.This is a potential $8,000
repair,or worse,a used motor...

I had a feeling that I would get beat up on this one :boxing

 

So why are all these people driving through massive pools of standing water? I guess I take it for granted that we have storm drains that work.

Eric

 

Not from me...I appreciate the post and agree that it doesn't matter which kit's involved.

It seems some people just don't know when to park it.

Thanks

 

Sometimes you come upon a situation quickly that you didn't anticipate. Of course there are also a lot of stupid people out there, who don't always think. :eek:

 

Ditto, Thanks C-5 TECH

 

not from me either....I can read beteween the lines. And as an owner of a Vortex system, I can say that a lot of people feel more comfortable with this type of system (due to height) compared to the Halltech....I'm not saying one is better/worse than the other. But most are aware of the hazards.

Thanks for the info and thanks for the heads up :cheers:

 

My mechanic last week had a hydrolocked C5 with a vortex on it. :(

 

All the more reason not to allow your Vette to be a "daily driver"...you never know when you'll be caught in a sudden downpour which can easily turn into flooding in low lying areas. It just isn't worth it. :(

 

I avoid standing water like the plague. With only 3.7 inches of ground clearance, it's easy to get into trouble.

 

I appreciate the post. Thanks!

 

Hey, that would never have happened in my 68 - then again, I never drove the thing in the rain anyway. Those of you who remember the 68-72s may remember the windshield-wiper mechanisms of the good ol days. Now my mother's 73 Plymouth Duster would always stall if driven through standing water.

Sorry about the flashbacks; we haven't had rain in so long, I just had to bring back some rain memories!

 

What year Vette was this?

 

C-5 Tech,

Are aware of stock intaked one's hydrolocking...I've heard of some dealers in FL with many stock ones in with hydrolocking engines also. Some attribute the problem with the LS1 Intake manfold, and to my knowledge, not one C5 with the LS6 manfold, 01+ newer C5s or and one retrofited with one, has ever had a hydrolock.

Ryan

 

In Florida, and probably a lot of other places, when it rains, it is very easy to get large pools of standing water on the highway or city streets. I defy anyone to slam on their brakes at 60 - 80 miles per hour, with traffic behind them, just to avoid a puddle of unkown depth. It is a good way to get yourself killed. If you drive enough miles, it is IMPOSSIBLE to avoid hitting a deep puddle sometime, somewhere. Anyone who thinks that this cannot happen to them is a fool.

 

Thanks C5 .. we always respect your input and your efforts not to point fingers... you are a high caliber person for taking that position..

 

What is hydrolock and why does it happen?

I have documented every incident of alleged hydrolock on this forum for two years now.

Common denominators:

1) Every engine is an LS1 between 97 and 2000 with the old LS1 intake
manifold.

2) The occurances that have been reported on this forum name Halltech when the incident is somehow related to this intake, whether the intake is responsible or not. All other intakes names are kept secret, or the thread is removed upon naming the other bottom breather, especially the Vortex.

3) All incidents occur a very slow speeds, in water depths shallower than the bottom of the Halltech filter, which sits 8" above the pavement.

4) As many stock intake engines have been broken as aftermarket intake engines, one would have to conclude that the problem is in the engine intake manifold design.

5) GM changed the intake in 2001, proportedly for more power, yet many 2000 LS1s make as much or more power than the 2001 LS1, with the revised intake manifold. Not one incident of hydrolock has been reported since this revision. C5tech correct me if I'm wrong here, but I haven't seen one.

My take on all this:

There may be other factors, but the design of the LS1 manifold allowed fuel puddling according to GM, which was one of the primary reasons for redesign.

When the throttle is closed or at very low throttle position, the vacuum signal within the intake manifold is at its highest, the filter at its lowest.

It would be impossible for the filter to ingest more water at idle speeds than it has already under fully dynamic conditions. This has been proven in testing.

What I believe is happening, is the precipitation of the moisture within the intake manifold with the hot cylinder heads and cool moist air from the bottom breathers. Stock has better resistance to this occurance since its filter is paper and would absorb more of the moisture.

If one cylinder takes in even a teaspoon of water during low engine speeds, from within the puddling within the manifold, the compression ratio of that cylinder could easily exceed 20:1 or more, since the water displaces combustion volume and cannot be compressed. This compression ratio in that particular cylinder will spit out the rod, destroying the engine.

My advice as a patent attorney, lawyer and engineer, don't purchase the TRIC, the Vortex, the Blackwing cold air system, the MTI, the Proflow or any other bottom breather for your 97-2000 LS1 if you plan on driving through heavy rains. Even though these systems are stronger on the street, they should be only used in track or other competition situations. All bets are off if your engine breaks using one of these intakes. Hydrolock is not covered by your warranty and is best reported to your insurance company.

If you drive an older C5, my advice is to go back to stock during the rainy weather, use your aftermarket intakes for clear weather only or not at all.