I'm looking at getting and exhaust and CAI for my jeep but the whole water ingestion problem is a concren. The jeep is a daily driver and I go on about 7 off road trips a year and of those only one so far has been deep mud and water. So chance is slim but I don't want a snorkel and I also don't want to have to remove the CAI every time around water.

I think I might have a solution but need so one with more knowledge than me to confirm.

So I'm fairly new to the jeep thing, but in my other life (before kids) I was into seadoo's pretty heavy. They have flame arestors which is basically metal mesh no filtration at all. When you are going into the ocean, big waves etc. you can put on "outerwears" which is a cover over the filter. This won't let water through but will let in air. When getting into deeper water could I just put an outerwear on to solve this problem.

Also I'm not talking insane water above the headlights and the outerwears only cost about $20.

 

Sounds like a pre-filter to me. Something like your talking about for the Seadoo's I'd be cautious of. If the filter on the Seadoo is nothing more than metal mesh than the volume of air allowed through is vastly greater than what your CAI is allowing through. Hence the ability to run that type of restrictive pre-filter. Putting something that restrictive (remember, it's covering metal mesh, not foam or paper) over an already, in comparison, restrictive filter will probably cause more harm than good. I'm no expert on Seadoo's though, not really sure about their filtration system.

Bottom line is unless that filter is completely enclosed you run the risk. There are a few folks on here who hydrolocked with the stock air box. An open air filter only increases your chances.

Check out the AEV snorkel. It's a no drill (cutting is necessary unless you have the AEV hood) and uses all stock bolts. Easily removed when not in use.

Hope that helps a little.

 

if you don't want a snorkel then another idea is get a tarp and place it over the bonnet and the front of your jeep this does work, an you simply remove it after youve done your crossing, but you say your not going through anything deep enough that will go over your headlights i wouldn't be to concerened about it... ive accutally had water over the bonnet on my tj with out a snorkel or tarp as long as keep you keep moving you shouldn't sux any water in as it creates a air lock under the bonnet

 

P.S aev snorkels are good as said above they are removable..

 

You can run a pre-filter, and it may offer you some enhanced water resistance, but by no means is it a full-proof safe guard. As mentioned, there have been some with the stock enclosed airbox that have hydro-locked. If you really want to get into the water/mud then plan on the snorkle, otherwise you'll be risking an expensive mistake.

As a side note, the pre-filters are nice in really dusty conditions, keeps the deep pleats of the CAI filter element from getting clogged up.