Injen SRI w/ Heat Shield vs. Injen CAI w/ Hydro Shield

[GTsRasta]

If you take a look in this thread, you'll see my current dilemma:

http://www.newcelica.org/forums/showthread.php?t=247291

A parking lot puddle almost owned me. I have already considered two options to prevent further risk of hydrolocking. My first option is to get the Injen SRI with the heat shield so that were will be almost no chance of water getting into my engine ever again. My other option is to upgrade to the Injen CAI with the hydro shield and cover up any openings that could allow water to get in. With the Injen CAI, I would have the best intake for my 6 speed while having some water protection with the hydro shield...which is just water repellant instead of water proof.

If all goes well this year, I hope to get the Greddy s/c from another member. By having the SRI, the heat buildup in the engine bay would probably be detrimental for the performance. By the time the tuning for the SRI is done, I bet I'll be losing 5-10 whp by not having a CAI. But at the same time, I will worry about future puddles when I'm lowered with the CAI, regardless of it having the hydroshield or not. What should I do?

[TRlPPlN]

get the cai, cover up the wheel well and get the shield. it pours here in northern cali and i have a cai.

[CalPencil]

I cover up the wheel well too, and well... when it rained, I didn't have any problem. I think most of you guys are just looking to test out to see if your CAI will hydrolock. I mean, if you see a puddle, you shouldn't be driving really fast down the parking lot. Second, if you put the proper splash guards on, then you'll only hydrolock if you're sitting in a pool of water. Just don't drive through it, if it's flooding, okay?

[GTsRasta]

I went slow along the far right side of a huge puddle. I should've taken my time more and went along the left side like how I usually do. Keepem comin. Blue Bomber thinks I just toasted my MAF.

[GTsRasta]

bump

[skalogre]

I would go for an SRI because of the fact that where I live there is almost NO drainage. Standing water everywhere. Don't know how it is where you live.
Want to go laissez-faire, go for the CAI. I would be more cautious.

[DYI01]

Go with a CAI and cover up the holes in the fender liner. Doing that alone will keep your filter from getting wet when it rains. What happens is the tire will fling water onto the filter without it being covered up. Before I had the fender liner covered up I had bad issues with the filter getting soaked and the car running that crap. You can get the hydro shield for peace of mind, but I think once you cover those holes, you wont have any more issues.

[kabal57]

I use the injen with just a heatshield, i have it angled so half of it blocks the water getting flung off the tire, and the other half is blocking the engine bay, so only the water that comes in through the foglight opening gets in, but just make sure your filter is oiled properly and you wont have any problems.
Since I took my car to NC we get monsoon type rains there, and have never had a problem yet.

[GTsRasta]

It's not so much the rain. I've driven in the worse NY downpours imaginable. It's those unexpected puddles from the crappy NY streets that worry me.