Vortex + 2" Puddle + Lowered C5 = Disaster
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 616
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Vortex + 2" Puddle + Lowered C5 = Disaster
Whew! Last night here in N. Texas we had some HEAVY rain come through my area. Knowing my luck, I got caught in it. :rolleyes:
Well, As it started to pour heavily I couldn't see 5 feet in front of me so I pulled over in the nearest parking lot. Sat for a while until it cleared up a bit. As I started to leave the parking lot the water was running quite hard on the side of the street. Right as I drove through the water my car dies!! I have heard the horror stories about the vortex, and thought it zapped me. I eventually rolled back out of the water and sat for a couple minutes trying to get the nerve up to try and start her back up. VROOM, she started like a champ, then, it started sounding like I had a HUGE cam so I shut her off. I got on the cell and started calling some of my mechanic friends and they advised me to start it up and let it run since I was outta the running water. Well, it was running VERY rough and smoking out the exhaust HEAVILY (white smoke)!! I though it was over and time for a new motor. But then all the sudden it started idling back on it's own and everything returned to normal!! :eek:
I think somebody was watching over my car. Anyone else experience this?? before???
Well, As it started to pour heavily I couldn't see 5 feet in front of me so I pulled over in the nearest parking lot. Sat for a while until it cleared up a bit. As I started to leave the parking lot the water was running quite hard on the side of the street. Right as I drove through the water my car dies!! I have heard the horror stories about the vortex, and thought it zapped me. I eventually rolled back out of the water and sat for a couple minutes trying to get the nerve up to try and start her back up. VROOM, she started like a champ, then, it started sounding like I had a HUGE cam so I shut her off. I got on the cell and started calling some of my mechanic friends and they advised me to start it up and let it run since I was outta the running water. Well, it was running VERY rough and smoking out the exhaust HEAVILY (white smoke)!! I though it was over and time for a new motor. But then all the sudden it started idling back on it's own and everything returned to normal!! :eek:
I think somebody was watching over my car. Anyone else experience this?? before???
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 3,654
Likes: 0
From: Downtown Chicago IL
Re: Vortex + 2" Puddle + Lowered C5 = Disaster (J99FRC)
Good to know nothing serious happened. My car has the Vortex and is also lowered...I never drive it in the rain. I once did and I was scared as hell on my way home.
Drifting
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 1,514
Likes: 38
From: Woodland Wa
Re: Vortex + 2" Puddle + Lowered C5 = Disaster (EdwardETraylorIII)
White smoke running rich???? most likey did burn some water, not excess fuel. The only time I have seen fuel smoke white is with a totaly dead or out of time cylinder pumping raw fuel out the exhaust. But then Im a Diesel Mechanic by trade and only hot rod 60's vintage cars,So I could be all wet.
[Modified by Sixguns, 11:27 PM 10/13/2001]
[Modified by Sixguns, 11:27 PM 10/13/2001]
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 7,248
Likes: 0
Re: Vortex + 2" Puddle + Lowered C5 = Disaster
C'mon.. everyone click their heels together and repeat:
"There's no such thing as Hydrolock.. There's no such thing as Hydrolock.. There's no such.." Just drive around the puddles dude! C'mon. Now let's go convince another 10 C5 owners to buy snorkels and do your part for the bolt-on tuners.
You probably got just enuff water in there to burn off some carbon. bparker I think it was, created a nice compromise mod. Sorry if you don't like the response, I'm just sick of these threads and seeing people mess up their cars for 5HP and encouraging others to use snorkels.
[Modified by MelloYellow, 1:13 AM 10/14/2001]
"There's no such thing as Hydrolock.. There's no such thing as Hydrolock.. There's no such.." Just drive around the puddles dude! C'mon. Now let's go convince another 10 C5 owners to buy snorkels and do your part for the bolt-on tuners.
You probably got just enuff water in there to burn off some carbon. bparker I think it was, created a nice compromise mod. Sorry if you don't like the response, I'm just sick of these threads and seeing people mess up their cars for 5HP and encouraging others to use snorkels.
[Modified by MelloYellow, 1:13 AM 10/14/2001]
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Drifting
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 1,481
Likes: 1
From: San Diego CA
Re: Vortex + 2" Puddle + Lowered C5 = Disaster (J99FRC)
Just one thing... If you think your engine has injested water, never try to start it again. Tow it home, pull the plugs, then crank it and see if you have any water in there.
Mike :flag
Mike :flag
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 2000
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From: D*ck ina Box
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St. Jude Donor '03-'04
Re: Vortex + 2" Puddle + Lowered C5 = Disaster (CMilVette)
That sucks Jeremy!
Glad it is back to normal! Look's like you got lucky. :yesnod:
:cheers:
Glad it is back to normal! Look's like you got lucky. :yesnod:
:cheers:
Race Director
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 11,799
Likes: 10
From: Houston Texas
St. Jude Donor '08
Re: Vortex + 2" Puddle + Lowered C5 = Disaster (J99FRC)
How low is youre car? 2 inches of water clearly isn't deep enough to submerge my Vortex and as slow as you were going, I just don't see how enough vacuum could have been produced to ingest water past the the filter. What am I missing here?
[Modified by CorvetteSS, 7:29 AM 10/14/2001]
[Modified by CorvetteSS, 7:29 AM 10/14/2001]
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 616
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Re: Vortex + 2" Puddle + Lowered C5 = Disaster (CorvetteSS)
CorvetteSS - I definetly would not have rolled through the water if I thought it would have sucked it up. I have been told just enough wated passed through the maf to cause the problems.
It was hard to tell how deep a stream of running water is. It very well might have been more than 2" 's deep.
It was hard to tell how deep a stream of running water is. It very well might have been more than 2" 's deep.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 11,799
Likes: 10
From: Houston Texas
St. Jude Donor '08
Re: Vortex + 2" Puddle + Lowered C5 = Disaster (J99FRC)
CorvetteSS - I definetly would not have rolled through the water if I thought it would have sucked it up. I have been told just enough wated passed through the maf to cause the problems.
It was hard to tell how deep a stream of running water is. It very well might have been more than 2" 's deep.
It was hard to tell how deep a stream of running water is. It very well might have been more than 2" 's deep.
I'm seriously considering changing from the Vortex to the 2002 Z06 air box. I do seem to drive in the rain quite a bit and these stories are beginning to worry me a bit.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 11,799
Likes: 10
From: Houston Texas
St. Jude Donor '08
Re: Vortex + 2" Puddle + Lowered C5 = Disaster (J99FRC)
I think Ken Fitchner has some kind of sale on these right now. I don't recall the price, but as I recall it was very reasonable.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 10,961
Likes: 0
From: Dawsonville Ga
Re: Vortex + 2" Puddle + Lowered C5 = Disaster (CorvetteSS)
SS is right... here's the link.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/zerothread?id=163667
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/zerothread?id=163667
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 2,485
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From: Pembroke Pines Florida
Re: Vortex + 2" Puddle + Lowered C5 = Disaster (Bigtoe)
I remember sucking up water in my STOCK 91 300ZX twin turbo. Bent a Rod! Repair Bill: $8500.00 including 2 new turbos. The Intake design of that car left a lot to be desired.Great car otherwise though. I almost bought a 91 C4 but chose the 300ZX.
Former Vendor
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 10,976
Likes: 21
From: FL
St. Jude Donor '13
Re: Vortex + 2" Puddle + Lowered C5 = Disaster (J99FRC)
Thats not a bad idea. I would definetly risk losing 5hp than a $3000 motor. :smash: Where can I get a '02 Z06 box? :cheers: