raining
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Intermediate
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 28
Likes: 1
The Vararam inlet is about 3" behind the face of the grille. There is far more than enough space for air, especially since most people don't go WOT when driving through several inches of standing water. 
Maybe you have medians in all the streets, really good drainage, or very courteous drivers that don't create waves where you live. However, in the Phoenix area a 1/2" of rain can temporarily flood some streets up to 3-4" deep in less than an hour. Then the guys with lifted pickups just love to splash as much water as possible, which can create waves 6-8" high. It only takes one wave to hit that open inlet to kill your engine and the only defense is to either block it or shut off the engine before the wave hits.
Maybe you have medians in all the streets, really good drainage, or very courteous drivers that don't create waves where you live. However, in the Phoenix area a 1/2" of rain can temporarily flood some streets up to 3-4" deep in less than an hour. Then the guys with lifted pickups just love to splash as much water as possible, which can create waves 6-8" high. It only takes one wave to hit that open inlet to kill your engine and the only defense is to either block it or shut off the engine before the wave hits.
Advanced
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 97
Likes: 1
From: Stephenville Texas
my sixth vette since 1969 and have never used one of them for a dd and i'm not about to start now. i used the term "DREADED" referring to me. to others that use their car the way they want is no business of mine, just to set the record straight. i understand there are those that can't afford a second car to use as a dd, i've been there once myself. but speaking FOR MYSELF, i wouldn't buy a car like a corvette to use solely for everyday driving. and i'm sure there are others on the forum that feel as i do. 
Well that's not pompous at ALL.
I daily my C6. I have 2 other vehicles that I could use as a DD. Every once in a while I will drive something else, but I just enjoy driving the corvette too much.
To the OP, I live in central Texas, and we got over 5" of rain just last night alone! This is one crazy season so far. Just don't go through any large puddles and you should be fine.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 25,105
Likes: 3,156
C6 of Year Finalist (appearance mods) 2019
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 16,557
Likes: 2,108
From: Peoria/Phoenix AZ
C6 of Year Finalist (performance mods) 2019
A spoonful is not enough to hurt anything, but a cupful can. Because water is not compressible, anything more than a couple ounces in a cylinder will cause parts to break during the compression stroke. Pistons, rods, cylinder walls, and heads are not strong enough to instantly stop the engine from rotating and therefore one or more parts will break.
The air inlet doesn't have to be submerged to get water in the cylinders. A single wave that splashes a quart or so, directly in the inlet can be enough to hydro-lock and kill the engine.
Think of it as hanging your head out the window with your mouth open. Rain is not enough to make you choke, but if an oncoming car splashes through a puddle that hits your face, you'll have more water in your mouth than you can handle all at once, yet you weren't submerged.
I also use a paper filter in my Vararam for better filtration. It's a lot harder for water to get through the paper, than the original mesh filter. If you doubt that, watch how water flows through the mesh filter unimpeded the next time you wash it. Then do the same with a paper filter. You might even recognize that dirt can flow through the mesh filter almost as easily.
The air inlet doesn't have to be submerged to get water in the cylinders. A single wave that splashes a quart or so, directly in the inlet can be enough to hydro-lock and kill the engine.
Think of it as hanging your head out the window with your mouth open. Rain is not enough to make you choke, but if an oncoming car splashes through a puddle that hits your face, you'll have more water in your mouth than you can handle all at once, yet you weren't submerged.
I also use a paper filter in my Vararam for better filtration. It's a lot harder for water to get through the paper, than the original mesh filter. If you doubt that, watch how water flows through the mesh filter unimpeded the next time you wash it. Then do the same with a paper filter. You might even recognize that dirt can flow through the mesh filter almost as easily.
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 12,687
Likes: 224
From: Nazareth, PA.
St. Jude Donor '17
A spoonful is not enough to hurt anything, but a cupful can. Because water is not compressible, anything more than a couple ounces in a cylinder will cause parts to break during the compression stroke. Pistons, rods, cylinder walls, and heads are not strong enough to instantly stop the engine from rotating and therefore one or more parts will break.
The air inlet doesn't have to be submerged to get water in the cylinders. A single wave that splashes a quart or so, directly in the inlet can be enough to hydro-lock and kill the engine.
Think of it as hanging your head out the window with your mouth open. Rain is not enough to make you choke, but if an oncoming car splashes through a puddle that hits your face, you'll have more water in your mouth than you can handle all at once, yet you weren't submerged.
I also use a paper filter in my Vararam for better filtration. It's a lot harder for water to get through the paper, than the original mesh filter. If you doubt that, watch how water flows through the mesh filter unimpeded the next time you wash it. Then do the same with a paper filter. You might even recognize that dirt can flow through the mesh filter almost as easily.
The air inlet doesn't have to be submerged to get water in the cylinders. A single wave that splashes a quart or so, directly in the inlet can be enough to hydro-lock and kill the engine.
Think of it as hanging your head out the window with your mouth open. Rain is not enough to make you choke, but if an oncoming car splashes through a puddle that hits your face, you'll have more water in your mouth than you can handle all at once, yet you weren't submerged.
I also use a paper filter in my Vararam for better filtration. It's a lot harder for water to get through the paper, than the original mesh filter. If you doubt that, watch how water flows through the mesh filter unimpeded the next time you wash it. Then do the same with a paper filter. You might even recognize that dirt can flow through the mesh filter almost as easily.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 16,557
Likes: 2,108
From: Peoria/Phoenix AZ
C6 of Year Finalist (performance mods) 2019
Paper filter replacements
You'll need to slightly trim/sand off about 1/8" of the rubber seal on each end. The paper filters trap a whole lot more dirt.
Amsoil - EAA240
Purolater - A25596
Fram - CA10085
NAPA - 9186
WIX - 49186
STP - SA10085
Carquest - 83186
These are replacements for VW 2.4 L from about 2006-2012.
According to the numbers, it looks like Carquest, NAPA, and WIX are identical and Fram & STP are also twins, so you might as well shop by price.
You'll need to slightly trim/sand off about 1/8" of the rubber seal on each end. The paper filters trap a whole lot more dirt.
Amsoil - EAA240
Purolater - A25596
Fram - CA10085
NAPA - 9186
WIX - 49186
STP - SA10085
Carquest - 83186
These are replacements for VW 2.4 L from about 2006-2012.
According to the numbers, it looks like Carquest, NAPA, and WIX are identical and Fram & STP are also twins, so you might as well shop by price.
