Air intake rain sock?

[jordway]

My Caterham (Zetec) has an upward-facing cold air intake (upper right of photo... please correct me if I'm wrong).  Sits below the center bonnet louvers just in front of the scuttle.  After taking the car for what might be the last drive until spring, I made the ill-advised decision to give it a thorough wash in a high pressure manual car wash bay before tucking her away for the winter.  Afterwards, there was water pooled in the plastic molding around the intake.  Bad idea.  

 

In addition to replacing the worn foam around the perimeter of the box, I'm thinking it might be a good idea to fit a rain sock or other water repellant wrap.  I never intentionally drive in the rain or leave the car parked in the rain, and I'll cover the intake with a plastic bag while washing the car from now on (at home, no more car wash bays), but a wrap for an upward facing air intake seems like a wise idea.  Am I wrong?  

 

After searching online, I'm not finding one that is a fit for this sort of square box.  I could easily rig one from an appropriately sized Harley rain sock, but wondered if anyone has experience finding one that would be fitted to this box.  I'd probably put one on the air filter feeding into the supercharger, too.  But, that fit is much easier to find.

 

Thanks again for any feedback.  Happy New Year!  

 

[MV8]

It's a design issue. If you've ever been waterboarded, you know it can be difficult for air to pass through wet fabric. When moisture is imminent, you could carry a cover with a flange edge to sit over the inlet with a thin layer of foam on top so it doesn't rattle or scratch the underside of the bonnet , but the defog and heat won't work very well, even if you used car cover material in the center.

A little water leaking into a running engine is not a problem.

[jordway]

16 hours ago, MV8 said:

It's a design issue. If you've ever been waterboarded, you know it can be difficult for air to pass through wet fabric. When moisture is imminent, you could carry a cover with a flange edge to sit over the inlet with a thin layer of foam on top so it doesn't rattle or scratch the underside of the bonnet , but the defog and heat won't work very well, even if you used car cover material in the center.

 

A little water leaking into a running engine is not a problem.

Makes sense.  Thank you!

[Vovchandr]

17 hours ago, MV8 said:

If you've ever been waterboarded

It's been a while for me... 

 

 

Edited January 4, 2023 by Vovchandr

[IamScotticus]

water injection is not a new thing 

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water_injection_(engine)

[IamScotticus]

I recommend removing the pedal box cover to allow it to vent.  I found my frame had rusted from condensation, no doubt from that gathered up in the box and trickled fown to the frame.

But then, I had stored my car for years in humid environments.  

Edited January 4, 2023 by IamScotticus

[Nick OTeen]

On 1/3/2023 at 4:06 AM, jordway said:

My Caterham (Zetec) has an upward-facing cold air intake (upper right of photo... please correct me if I'm wrong).  Sits below the center bonnet louvers just in front of the scuttle.  After taking the car for what might be the last drive until spring, I made the ill-advised decision to give it a thorough wash in a high pressure manual car wash bay before tucking her away for the winter.  Afterwards, there was water pooled in the plastic molding around the intake.  Bad idea.  

 

In addition to replacing the worn foam around the perimeter of the box, I'm thinking it might be a good idea to fit a rain sock or other water repellant wrap.  I never intentionally drive in the rain or leave the car parked in the rain, and I'll cover the intake with a plastic bag while washing the car from now on (at home, no more car wash bays), but a wrap for an upward facing air intake seems like a wise idea.  Am I wrong?  

 

After searching online, I'm not finding one that is a fit for this sort of square box.

I think there may be some confusion in this thread given comments about water getting in a running engine, etc. The square box that you've described as being an "upward-facing cold air intake" has nothing to do with the air going into the engine. That square box is simply the air intake for the cockpit heating/ventilation system. Covering it while washing the car would be fine, but blocking it off while driving - particularly in humid conditions or in the rain - would be problematic as it would eliminate heating and ventilation when you need it most.

[jordway]

6 hours ago, Nick OTeen said:

I think there may be some confusion in this thread given comments about water getting in a running engine, etc. The square box that you've described as being an "upward-facing cold air intake" has nothing to do with the air going into the engine. That square box is simply the air intake for the cockpit heating/ventilation system. Covering it while washing the car would be fine, but blocking it off while driving - particularly in humid conditions or in the rain - would be problematic as it would eliminate heating and ventilation when you need it most.

Indeed, and thank you.  Based on other's comments, I realized today that this is the heater/ventilation system.  I'm still very green and have so much to learn.  I appreciate the patience of all those giving me feedback here, in spite of dumb questions/comments.  I pledge to be better at doing my due diligence before wasting post space with silly questions.  Thanks again.  I'm very grateful for this forum!     

[slowdude]

On 1/5/2023 at 8:51 PM, jordway said:

Indeed, and thank you.  Based on other's comments, I realized today that this is the heater/ventilation system.  I'm still very green and have so much to learn.  I appreciate the patience of all those giving me feedback here, in spite of dumb questions/comments.  I pledge to be better at doing my due diligence before wasting post space with silly questions.  Thanks again.  I'm very grateful for this forum!     

The people on this forum are awesome. They put up with my intensity / dumb questions constantly so don't feel bad.

 

We are all learning. I went to staples today and printed out the assembly manual for the car.. that wouldn't have been possible without this group of people scanning and uploading etc. 

[oilteq]

My first Birkin wore an Outerwears intake air filter cover.  I still carried a plastic bag in case I had to park in the rain because I made a sub-optimal choice for the location of the ECU.  Perhaps a Goretex cover would help with the cabin air?

 

 

[jordway]

On 1/14/2023 at 11:36 AM, oilteq said:

My first Birkin wore an Outerwears intake air filter cover.  I still carried a plastic bag in case I had to park in the rain because I made a sub-optimal choice for the location of the ECU.  Perhaps a Goretex cover would help with the cabin air?

 

 

Thanks for the tip.