OEM intake and road water?

rundmc · 01-05-2012, 10:36 AM

Hey all,

I'm slated to purchase a 370z in July. Was at the mechanic shop today with the daily driver and told the mechanic I was going to buy a 370z this summer. He frowned and said he has had Z owners with water induction issues due to poor intake design, including siezed engines, when driving through puddles and on wet roads, etc.

Wanted to throw this out there and find out if this is a problem with the OEM intake or more likely aftermarket intakes? Or if he's just misinformed?

Thanks,
Mike

m4a1mustang · 01-05-2012, 10:38 AM

He's misinformed (at least about OEM). The OEM intakes are high off the ground. If you flood the engine with the stock intakes you have MUCH bigger problems to deal with than a flooded engine.

Injen's long tube intakes put the filters very low, however, so water ingestion can be a problem in a deep enough puddle. A few people have flooded their engines with them.

kenchan · 01-05-2012, 10:38 AM

Yes, misinformed. I can tell you from experience I drove my Z through almost zero visibility down pour with no issue.

rundmc · 01-05-2012, 01:47 PM

Thanks for this information. It is what I suspected and very helpful.

lord lovatt · 06-20-2012, 02:45 PM

I had this happen last year. Resulted in hydrolock, a new engine ($19,000 - thank you Geico) and a car that has been "unwell" since.

The puddle was not that big but I suspect oncoming traffic washed a bow wave up into the intakes.

A long, damp, expensive process. The more irritating thing has been the steady litany of smaller issues requiring a trip back to the dealer since...a/c failure, ignition system failure and now some water coming into the cockpit over the electrical system causing odd, intermittent faults (door locks, failure to find key etc). Definately something to be sensitive to., especially in a high rain area like Florida

Csquared · 06-20-2012, 08:47 PM

I live in hk where there are tropical thunder storms all the time.

I drive in stuff like this really often.

Never had a problem, I've had massive trucks in the opposite lane throw huge amounts of water at the car without issue. This is why I decided against intakes at the moment. You could always get intakes and put the Injen covers over the filters that are supposed to repel water.

01-05-2012, 10:36 AM	#1 (permalink)
rundmc Base Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Atlanta Posts: 8 Drives: 1981 DeLorean SS M5 Rep Power: 13	OEM intake and road water? Hey all, I'm slated to purchase a 370z in July. Was at the mechanic shop today with the daily driver and told the mechanic I was going to buy a 370z this summer. He frowned and said he has had Z owners with water induction issues due to poor intake design, including siezed engines, when driving through puddles and on wet roads, etc. Wanted to throw this out there and find out if this is a problem with the OEM intake or more likely aftermarket intakes? Or if he's just misinformed? Thanks, Mike

01-05-2012, 10:38 AM	#2 (permalink)
m4a1mustang A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Northern VA Posts: 55,385 Drives: on two wheels Rep Power: 6962	He's misinformed (at least about OEM). The OEM intakes are high off the ground. If you flood the engine with the stock intakes you have MUCH bigger problems to deal with than a flooded engine. Injen's long tube intakes put the filters very low, however, so water ingestion can be a problem in a deep enough puddle. A few people have flooded their engines with them. __________________ - Steve Zs & Coffee - Saturdays at 10AM in Fairfax, VA and Columbia, MD (Click the banner!) LIKE us on Facebook!

06-20-2012, 02:45 PM	#5 (permalink)
lord lovatt Base Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: FL Posts: 1 Drives: 370z Rep Power: 12	Yep. Definately an issue I had this happen last year. Resulted in hydrolock, a new engine ($19,000 - thank you Geico) and a car that has been "unwell" since. The puddle was not that big but I suspect oncoming traffic washed a bow wave up into the intakes. A long, damp, expensive process. The more irritating thing has been the steady litany of smaller issues requiring a trip back to the dealer since...a/c failure, ignition system failure and now some water coming into the cockpit over the electrical system causing odd, intermittent faults (door locks, failure to find key etc). Definately something to be sensitive to., especially in a high rain area like Florida

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01-05-2012, 10:38 AM	#3 (permalink)
kenchan A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: N/A Posts: 76,801 Drives: N/A Rep Power: 141520	Yes, misinformed. I can tell you from experience I drove my Z through almost zero visibility down pour with no issue.

01-05-2012, 01:47 PM	#4 (permalink)
rundmc Base Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Atlanta Posts: 8 Drives: 1981 DeLorean SS M5 Rep Power: 13	Thanks for this information. It is what I suspected and very helpful.

06-20-2012, 08:47 PM	#6 (permalink)
Csquared Enthusiast Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Hong Kong Posts: 302 Drives: 09 Nissan 370z Y 7sp Rep Power: 15	I live in hk where there are tropical thunder storms all the time. I drive in stuff like this really often. Never had a problem, I've had massive trucks in the opposite lane throw huge amounts of water at the car without issue. This is why I decided against intakes at the moment. You could always get intakes and put the Injen covers over the filters that are supposed to repel water.