Downtown GT 2024 air filter box intake design problem

[MrZ]

Hello everyone!  I'm a new owner of a Kymco Downtown 350 GT and just did the 1000km service today.  I want to share with you a problem with the new Downtown model.  It is the design of the air filter box that has the intake port positioned at the rear, towards the water flow discharged by the rear wheel.  In fact, yesterday I drove in a torrential rain on the highway for about 100km, took a break at a gas station, changed some clothes and started on my way.
 After I left in torrential rain, on sudden acceleration and in an overtaking, the engine lost power.  The problem disappeared after the rain stopped, in the next 50km.  Today, during the inspection, it was found that the air filter box was half full of water.  The Kymco Bucharest service promised to forward the problem to the factory.   It would probably be solved by a recall and replacement of the air filter box cover, with another one that has the intake hole repositioned.

[Stig / Major Tom]

Wow - I can see how that would be a problem in the wet....??

The airbox snorkel-end on my LIKE200i is buried so far forward & within the body cowling - it picks up such clean air that my air filter stays clean for many thousands of miles.
It will be interesting to see what Kymco does next.

BTW: welcome to the forum! MrZ

Stig

[MrZ]

Thanks, Stig!

 Does anyone know how the old Downtown model has the air intake positioned?
Has anyone else noticed this problem?
I have attached the picture with the cap open.  The water had drained, but you can see that it was wet and dirty

[Ruffus]

Sorry to see such a mess. Kymco usually thinks their design through before putting them on the street. Admittingly a suboptimal spot for an intake.

But I also see the drain tube closed by a plug. Don't know how deep MrZ dunked the scoot.
Cannot imagine watersplash from wheel caused the filling.

Att an DT 300 airbox with front intake like we were used to.

[MrZ]

The scooter has not been submerged in any water.  Everything happened on the A2 Romania highway, in the plane area.  It rained torrentially and that was it.  The drain tube came like that, with a plug, and they left it like that even today after the 1000km overhaul.  If it didn't have a plug, the water would have drained out.  By the way, when I got home after the inspection, I emptied the hose a little (because they didn't have a replacement filter and water probably leaked from the wet filter).  I hope the problem will be solved as soon as possible because it seems to me a major error, but easy to solve.  Until then, I ll pop the plug, if it rains again...

The water intake caused the rpm drop in acceleration.  I encountered the first problem in a truck overtaking.  It's really not a game!

[Ericson]

Hello everyone!  I'm a new owner of a Kymco Downtown 350 GT and just did the 1000km service today.  I want to share with you a problem with the new Downtown model.  It is the design of the air filter box that has the intake port positioned at the rear, towards the water flow discharged by the rear wheel.  In fact, yesterday I drove in a torrential rain on the highway for about 100km, took a break at a gas station, changed some clothes and started on my way.
 After I left in torrential rain, on sudden acceleration and in an overtaking, the engine lost power.  The problem disappeared after the rain stopped, in the next 50km.  Today, during the inspection, it was found that the air filter box was half full of water.  The Kymco Bucharest service promised to forward the problem to the factory.   It would probably be solved by a recall and replacement of the air filter box cover, with another one that has the intake hole repositioned.

Wow, why fix something that wasn't broken. It's not the good place for engine air intake for many reasons. It's quite low and on the rear where there is a lot of dirt, water, dust etc. Rear wheel area always takes a lot time to clean at pressure wash as it is dirtiest part of scooter. Lack of real wheel mudguard on 2024 model doesn't help either.  Air filter will have a lot to do for sure. Even on original Kymco DT 300 air intake placement isn't the best in business but it is a way better than 2024 model.

You are lucky that you didn't hydro lock your engine !

[Ruffus]

After some thinking and analysis I am inclined to bend to this theory:

explained by att pic
-water is shoveled up by wheel (blue arrows)
-led backwards by airpressure and horizontal rift/groove (yellow arrow)
-sucked up into airbox (red circle)

This would explain for me this cause.

[MrZ]

What is certain is that the water is sucked into the box

[Stig / Major Tom]

What is certain is that the water is sucked into the box

🙂

[mousejunks]

This is definitely an oversight by Kymco. They have been putting the air intake at the front for years, why did they change it.

I've also noticed there isn't a fender or mud guard that covers the top of the actual rear wheel, which should sit very close to the tyre surface. See the photo attached for the 2nd gen Kymco Dowtown 350i, which has this design to stop water being splashed forward and a hidden air intake on the top left of the air box cover to prevent water ingestion.

I think this will be an ongoing problem unless you are willing to modify the airbox (cover only) yourself. Maybe block off the rear vents, drill some extra drain holes and cut an intake in the front. This may affect warranty but simply replace the cover with an original one when required.

[MrZ]

Unfortunately, so far I have not received any response to my complaint to Kymco, neither I nor the dealer.  Total lack of communication

[Neil955i]

Wow, that’s not good.