Hydrolocked again?
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 1,043
Likes: 1
From: Houston TX
Hydrolocked again?
Driving through some heavy rain a few weeks ago with my vararam in the c6 that already has been hydro locked once 2.5 yrs ago and was replaced with a forged 402 stroker. Insurance covered most of it. Anyhow I got caught in some pretty bad rain and the car started to loose power (bogging down?) and then make a ticking noise. I pulled over and it seems the noise is coming from the passenger side head or valve cover area. Could I have hydro locked my car again!??? I'm trading in the vararam for something else. The car still starts but is making a lot of noise from the passenger side of the motor. What do you guys think? Call my insurance company?
Pro
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 524
Likes: 2
From: Stanley Virginia
Driving through some heavy rain a few weeks ago with my vararam in the c6 that already has been hydro locked once 2.5 yrs ago and was replaced with a forged 402 stroker. Insurance covered most of it. Anyhow I got caught in some pretty bad rain and the car started to loose power (bogging down?) and then make a ticking noise. I pulled over and it seems the noise is coming from the passenger side head or valve cover area. Could I have hydro locked my car again!??? I'm trading in the vararam for something else. The car still starts but is making a lot of noise from the passenger side of the motor. What do you guys think? Call my insurance company?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 6,612
Likes: 493
From: brooklyn ny
I really wanted that intake because of all the increased performance claims but decided against it for the above hydrolock issues. I'm sorry your having these issues and wish you the best of luck getting it fixed. Hopefully you get another good adjuster to cover your claim again should you decide to go that route.
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 4,681
Likes: 2
From: Mooresville (Race City USA) NC
Ya know, if GM engineers could have gained a few free ponies from mounting a low air intake without compromising the capability of the car to handle all weather conditions they would have done so. Landscape design and automotive engineering are two different skill sets. Many people get away with CAIs, others, like yourself, hydrolock their engines.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 14,006
Likes: 26
From: JawJa
Wow, sorry to hear if in fact it is due to your VR. Pretty bad weather here today too, heavy rain, etc. and left in it and just returned in it. Been in a couple of downpours as well with no problems, thank God. I'm a little more careful in those conditions to say the least, but have driven through some nice puddles, standing water on the streets and all's been fine. Don't think it's any higher placed than everyone else's either. Hope whatever it is, quickly gets fixed for you too.
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Race Director
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 11,733
Likes: 15
From: SC
The Vararam sucked up water on my former 2007 Z51........people laughed at me and said it was all MY fault for driving in a heavy rainstorm and through a 3 inch puddle. My only fault was pretending to think the POS Vararam could be driven worry free in rain. I was lucky in that it was low speed and only a small amount of water was sucked down (coated the maf, soaked the filter, some water in the manifold itself but the car ran fine after I dried everything off) after that close call I was DONE with vararam.
Just not worth the risk, unfortunatly you've had it happen twice now, hopefully others will think twice if they drive in poor weather and are considering a Vararam. Toss that crap out and get a compromise (a top breather that frees up hp while not turning into a wet/dry vac.
Just not worth the risk, unfortunatly you've had it happen twice now, hopefully others will think twice if they drive in poor weather and are considering a Vararam. Toss that crap out and get a compromise (a top breather that frees up hp while not turning into a wet/dry vac.
Last edited by Silver05GTO; Mar 30, 2011 at 05:57 PM.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 14,006
Likes: 26
From: JawJa
I wouldn't worry about any "top breather" either (ha) if the VR isn't for you. What's the point if it's a minimal gain. Wouldn't bother with it and go straight to headers and/or small cam or better yet . . . s/c.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 7,753
Likes: 210
From: North Western Connecticut
All power mods are a risk/reward calculation but this one seems heavy on RISK while light on the reward. Nothing against the VR but anything that increases the chance of hydro-lock but offers minor HP gains isn't for me.
I do not need apprehension every time I get caught in a sudden downpour thinking a deep puddle could destroy my engine! I'm running a supercharger which has plenty of downside but I gained over 200 hp!
For me that power mod was worth the risk/reward.......
It's all about how much risk someone is willing to adsorb in the pursuit of extra performance..
I do not need apprehension every time I get caught in a sudden downpour thinking a deep puddle could destroy my engine! I'm running a supercharger which has plenty of downside but I gained over 200 hp!
For me that power mod was worth the risk/reward.......
It's all about how much risk someone is willing to adsorb in the pursuit of extra performance..
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 11,733
Likes: 15
From: SC
But
The vararam is the riskiest of all with it sucking air inches off the ground with no shield to deflect water or debris.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 14,006
Likes: 26
From: JawJa
An intake such as the halltech KB w/beehive sheilds away underhood heat which reduces intake temps, the low restriction filter will provide gains. Bottom line it's a simple mod, no tune required, and the filter location is the same as stock. You have the same risk hydrolocking a K&N, Halltech, blackwing as you would the stock intake.
But
The vararam is the riskiest of all with it sucking air inches off the ground with no shield to deflect water or debris.
But
The vararam is the riskiest of all with it sucking air inches off the ground with no shield to deflect water or debris.
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 57,408
Likes: 164
From: queensbury ny
I drove home from CARLISLE in my VARARAM equipped 05 a few years ago,280 miles +-,and hit some torrential downpours on the highway,at speed and never had an issue,ever! How could this happen to you twice???I'm mystified! I never drove thru puddles however,fyi.
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 180
Likes: 0
What is VARAAM, seriously????????????????????????
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 57,408
Likes: 164
From: queensbury ny
What is VARAAM, seriously????????????????????????
