I don't know if this has been covered as I did not see anything on it using the ever so wonderful search feature...so here goes....I have an AEM CAI from the dealer and it came with the air bypass valve. I know that the filter needs to be oiled before install and after cleaning it, but what about the bypass valve? It is a grey foam and the isn't a drop of oil on it. Should this be oiled too?

 

Can anyone help me on this? The way I see it, the oil is to help catch smaller particles of dirt/dust, right? So should this part be oiled too?

 

The bypass filter foam, doesn't need to be oiled. It is to stop water from entering the throttle body when water gets splashed on the filter.

 

The bypass filter does nothing but ruin your performance.

Under hard acceleration, the rubber flap opens, and what was a closed/sealed intake system is now drawing air from both filters.

Just a gimmick to get peeps to buy AEM. Think about it, the water level would have to be past the bottom of the door to get hydrolock, and water would be in your footwells by then.

 

I just got off the phone with AEM and they said not to oil it. Also they said that it would take a ton of suction for the flaps to open up under hard acceleration (such as turbo applications, which they don't recommend with the bypass valve) and that with the amount of time that they ARE open, it wouldn't hurt anything. Also, it is pretty hard to hydrolock the motor with my set-up (AEM long CAI) unless I decide to drive through extremely deep water and I don't plan on that anytime soon. I guess I answered my own question in a way (or at least got the answer i needed myself). Squirrel, my bypass valve came with the CAI so I didn't waste any extra money on it. Thats just the way it came from the dealer. All they are doing is allowing it to meet warrantee specs by installing it...just an added safety feature in case of hydrolock. Me personally? I am going to keep it on. Just in case...you never know, huh?

 

Stylis...the bypass valve doesn't keep water from entering the engine....it is a piggyback filter in case the first is submerged in water. Thus allowing the motor to continue to get air (through the bypass valve).
Squirrel, You still didn't answer my question...LOL. just trashed a product I have on my xB. I didn't ask for it, it came that way. Too funny!

 

Thanks for the replies guys. I guess I should have called AEM before posting here, just thought maybe someone knew right off hand. Once again, thanks

 

Thanks for the info and checking, slipknot490. I just put the AEM on last week and was unsure about that by-pass valve. I couldn't see how it really performed any function. And if it did have a function, I wasn't sure how it worked. Wish I had all the REAL details.

 

I knew what it was for and how it performed...just didn't know about oiling it since there is a slim possibility for it to allow air into the engine. They say no oil, soooo.....

 

P.S. another gimmick is that nifty little thing called a C.A.R.B. number...Oh and a WARANTEE...hehehe

 

Where did you hear C.A.R.B. was a gimmick? that number, i believe, is an exemption number, dealing with smog and stuff. C.A.R.B stands for the California Air Resources Board. HKS and alot of aftermarket systems have that exemption on it. kinda like how everything is known to cause cancer in the state of California.

And personally, i find the by-pass valve useful, driving out my neighborhood, i drive through this little stream of water running across the road, and it just got done raining, turns out it wasnt so little, and if i didnt have the bypass valve, it woulda toasted my engine. AEM has a video showing how the bypass valve works, dont know where i saw it, but the guy from AEM decided to prove to the people by hooking a system up to his NSX and dunking his filter in a fishtank full of water (no fish) and you could see the water travel up the clear tube, and after a certain distance, the bypassvalve took over and it didnt go into the engine. So, personally, i find it useful, even if i didnt ever need it, why risk ruining your engine?

 

I was joking about the CARB number being a gimmick. AEM is the first CAI to have the CARB number on it. Someone said the bypass valve was a gimmick and worthless. I agree with you 'I_dont_know'. Not a gimmick in my book.

 

alright, you were scarin me for a second

 

Besides...as stated before. I didn't buy it for the bypass valve. I bought it because it was a dealer installed part and would be covered under warrantee if any problems were to surface down the road.

 

http://www.sportcompactcarweb.com/te...ted/index.html this is the article where they tested it.

 

If a water bypass vavle was needed for all intake designed, then wouldn't all intakes have them?

Of course AEM will say that it will only open when its hydrolocked, its one of their selling points.

Just because I don't work for one of the major manufacturers doesn't mean that I am not privy to information from certain companies.

I have pics of the INJEN tC before and after it was painted. I did not publish them before SEMA as I made a promise to certain individuals.

Slipknot, if think I was "bashing" a product, then you don't know me very well. I will give pro's and con's about a product, as I have spent more than my share of money doing my own R&D to find out what works best for me.

Not all dealer installed optioned parts are necessarily the best option out on the market.

If it was, then why is Scion dumping most of the AEM line that they are carrying?

I will overlook your posts from now on when asking questions if you feel I was bashing.

I had two different engineers from two different intake lines say the same thing about the bypass valve. Sure, they could prolly say it to make their product look better, just like AEM saying that it actually works.

BUT, in order to have hydrolock, like I stated before, you have to submerge the whole filter under water, which mean you'll have water on your floor boards. There is a reason why some filters are oil coated, to prevent even the slightest ammount of moisture to enter and to properly filter dirt and such.

I have driven my xB in the hardest downpurs and and have had to slow for hydroplaning on the freeway w/ brand new tires, and have yet to have the engine die because of too much water.

 

I didn't think you were bashing the product....Well, maybe a little. LOL. This AEM I know is NOT the best CAI on the market, bypass or not. But it was the only DEALER INSTALLED CAI I could get at the time of purchase.
I came on here asking a serious question about a product that I already have and you didn't even try to answer the question. You just gave your two cents about the product saying it is a waste of money and a gimmick. Thats fine and everyone is entitled to thier opinion and I appreciate yours. Next time I buy a CAI, I will think about what you said on here. But here's the kicker....I didn't ask how you felt about the product. I asked about the proper way to prep it I.E. whether it needed to be oiled. No, you aren't bashing me or the product I have on my box. I wasn't asking anyone whether I should buy one...I already got it on. Next time I need a review, I'll ask specifically, OK?
Now this gets to the point I keep trying to make about this website....People jump in and answer questions before really reading what the question was...And I'm guilty of it too. I try not to answer questions I don't know anything about. I am also trying to not be a smarta$$ on here too with stupid posts and stupid remarks. I'm not saying you don't know anything about these, I am just saying that I wasn't asking what everyone thought of them. And Squirrel, please don't overlook my posts in the furure...you have answered a few questions for me in the past I think and I am sure you will be able to help me in the future....All I'm saying is this...If you can't answer the question at hand, or offer some sort of advice, then don't answer! I'm talking to everyone about everyone.
One more thing...This is the only intake with the bypass, right? Funny how it's the only CAI that TOYOTA will install on thier cars under warranty. Apparently it's a gimmick that TOYOTA bought into also.
Anyway, have a nice evening all.

 

moved...

 

in what way does it ruin your performance?

im thinking of buying this bypass valve for my injen CAI before fall.
if it ruins your performance, then i will remove it if the weather is good, but if it rains, then i will put it back on.

 

honestly, i believe it has to do with the location of the filter if a bypass valve is necessary. If you have a filter still in the engine compartment, like a short ram, then no, one isnt needed, but with the xB AEM cai that goes down and near the bottom of the car, then one is not necessarily needed, but wouldnt hurt. I learned that myself. . . and thankful they had one on it.