Did my first wash on the new car. BTW this IS a great car. After the wash the sound was dull. Then I saw that the foam filter was totally wet which caused the muted intake sound. No problem, it will dry soon.

But: Can it damage the engine as long as wet air will be sucked?

I recommend every Plus4SS owner to cover the foam filter with some plastic bag before washing, as I will do the next time.

Forgetting the plastic bag will harm it more

does it not get wet when driving in the rain?

That's asking for a stainless water deflector plate on top of the foam..........

I recommend what I have which is two bonnet shaped (slightly smaller) pieces of Stiff Plastic Bag (sides cut to shape)
Pop them under each bonnet before washing and the whole engine (and all of those nooks) is kept nice and dry.

Take them out when drying the underside of the bonnets. Air dry and roll up until next time.

Heinz - my Sport Competition has the same Aero Racing foam air cleaner as the +4SS and the car has probably been washed at least once a week since June 2011 with no ill effects. I would simply avoid spraying water directly into the air scoop which is fitted to the SS but not to the Sport Competition.

As you say Max, I'd spray from the other direction so that water doesn't get into the louvres.

Mind you...as SFO says, rain must get in when you are driving so it can't harm the engine.

Water won't hurt at that level.

Thanks all for your replies. I will do so as Frank recommends, that sounds very useful. In addition, now I´m aware of the "foam filter topic" and I will spray only from a direction where the intake scope is not directly addressed.

And I´m feeling more reassured, that a little quantity of wet air, or at least a wet foam filter, will not harm the engine in a substantial way (which would also explain why being allowed to drive in heavy rain).

Cheers,
Heinz

Saab turbos used to use water injection to increase performance - you might have hit on something here - wash your car (no plastic bag) before going for a blast!

Nigel