I for one will wait until all the bugs are worked out and see if there are any long term benifits/problems (ie Improved MPG, engine problems ect.) on both the exhaust and CAI Mods. There is currently too many install issues atleast for the Volant for the price.

 

Yea, that is definitely a possibility, but timing for making a mod is really good for me right now. Father's day is right around the corner so the wife is amenable to some monetary discretion and my work load is low so I thought about striking while the iron is hot. Not to mention I was considering doing them at all once.

From what I read in some of lizardking's posts there may have been some changes to the Volant already. At least some people post not having as many problems with alignment etc. Anyone else any other thoughts?

 

Have the wife put the money in your account and collect the intrest. :jester: Just Kidding. From what I have read on this site the K&N is open where as the Volant is in a enclosed box. If your planning on doing any off roading you will probably want the Volant.

 

hey sam, i have the k&n and must say, it is quite easy to install, however, it doesn't sound to me like the volant should be much harder. it also seams like the volant is a better system out of the box without any tinkering, the k&n is not a true cold air induction out of the box like the volant. however, with some modification, the k&n can be isolated from the engine heat and it has a bigger conical filter(can flow more air). also with the k&n you can remove a piece of rubber next the the washer fluid resevoir to pick up some extra cold air from the front air dam instead of getting it all from the fender opening. this however does require a little tinkering and as such i would recomend the volant for you if you don't feel like messing with the K&N. both will give you solid gains. after modifying my k&n i could feel i picked up a little extra that you perhaps may not get with the volant. also i think the volant looks a little cleaner. just my opinion, and remember, i have the k&n.

hope this helps, let me know if you want more details on the K&N.

 

I'd say both systems would be something you could install yourself. The only thing that concerns me is that the K&N moves the location of the MAF closer to the TB and rotates it 90°. Those with the K&N haven't reported any ill effects, so maybe it isn't anything to worry about. I've never installed one myself, but the majority of my friends who own trucks have gone with the K&N and been pleased. It's probably more of a name recognition thing than anything else. If you do go with the Volant, I would at least make the simple modification of covering the air ram scoop's hole. While the K&N isn't a "sealed" box, it is larger and has a more potential of pulling more air. You have to weigh the positives and negatives, more air vs less air (but possibly cooler air.) I for one don't think the end result in temps will be noticeably different (at least not $50+ worth difference.) We've seen dyno's from both, but with variables such as exhaust mods. I believe the greatest improvement seen here was with the K&N.

 

Welcome aboard and glad you found your way here!

As far as the intakes I agree with Sammy. The K&N seems to offer a lil more performance wise but the Volant installed looks more like a complete package and has a great look and the fully enclosed box. Don't think you can go wrong with either of them.

Chris

 

if you are in a smog state the the K&N is illegal so be weary of that, as it is deemed off road only on the k&N site

 

I have to say I have the K&N and love it. I put it in, in less than an hour. My thoughts on it were if I wanted to stay with the closed box look I would have done some of the mods to the stock box and bought the K&N drop in filter. Not knocking the volent box at all, don't get me wrong, I like the open look a little bit more and it's not completely isolated from the air around the eng but over all it makes a good seal. It made a difference that I could notice as soon as I floored it and so did the guy I was passing. A nice loud growl too. love it. I have less than 3000 miles on my Titan so gas mileage is still rough. It did jump up a little on the display but not enough to brag yet. As of right now. I had a K&N on a ranger edge and drove it off road in the mud and muc and never had a problem with it. They make a cover for the filter too that helps with any big stuff that can be takin off and cleaned.
Just my thoughts, hope they helped

 

I'd say both systems would be something you could install yourself. The only thing that concerns me is that the K&N moves the location of the MAF closer to the TB and rotates it 90°. Those with the K&N haven't reported any ill effects, so maybe it isn't anything to worry about.

Is it possible that they moved it to the top of the tube like that in case
someone over-oiled the filter? The oil that got sucked in might be able
to flow underneath it without contaminating it. Just an idea.

Steve

 

The only way the MAF sensor gets oil on it from the filter is if the filter is over oiled. K&N instructions are very explicit on oiling the filter to avoid just that. There is no way the mounting direction of the sensor matters at all. The hot wire sits in the middle of the intake tube either way. I have the K&N and I like it. I noticed an immediate performance gain, no waiting for the ECU to learn.

 

Anyone install the Volant with the snorkel/Ram Air whatchamacallit?

If you did, how about a report?

37L1

 

I thought Jetforeman, (I think Jettech now) was going to, but he never said anything about it if he did.

 

Ok, I was trying not to do this, and I hate to do it as my first post for fear of getting flame sprayed, but I really could use some help....
BTW, this site really rocks! I found a different Titan forum right after I bought my Titan and hung around there for a while before I found this one. This forum is definitely better!

Unlike other forums I belong to, this one has a classier group of members, so I don't think you have to worry about being flamed.
In the event someone get carried away, Cali-Titan has a fire extinguisher for them and we know it.

As for your original question, IMHO, the K&N was the best choice for me for two reasons: it cost ~$50 less and usually an open element (K&N) air intake will make more power than an enclosed one (Volant).
Welcome aboard, :cheers:
For those who don't know the physical differences, I've attached pics of each.

 

i have the volant intake and i am glad. the power gain was noticable and now with my headers and exhaust i can really feel the pulling power. this thing gets stronger by the day it seems.

 

i have the volant intake and i am glad. the power gain was noticable and now with my headers and exhaust i can really feel the pulling power. this thing gets stronger by the day it seems.

I'd like to see 2 things: pics of your JBA's installed and a dyno of your mods -- PLEASE. :cheers:

 

I just installed my K&N today, and I agree with Steve about the $50 cheaper, but I actually like the open look to it. I just didnt really like the way that the Volant looked with the box and all. Sounds killer too...

 

Thanks to everyone for all of the quick responses. This is one the best forums of almost any topic that I hang around at.

Unfortunately today was a very bad day for my plans to mod my Titan. First I went looking for dual exhaust (separate post under Sammy's on Flowmaster) and that was a bust. I then spent quite a while talking to the Nissan dealer about cold air filters. Like I mentioned previously, I am no car expert. If there isn't Uranium under the hood, then my brand of engineering is not very useful. Naturally the Nissan dealer had never heard of Volant or the K&N, and began discussing with me whether they were a "true" CAI or just ram air induction systems. We looked at my truck and a 350Z for comparison and he said the CAI's that they have put in 350Z's actually move the filter outside of the engine compartment (like somewhere very close to the grille or inside the fender). I told him the K&N and Volant both were in the same place as the factory filter, but the Volant was contained. So what is the diff?

He mentioned Stillen as a possible source and they do make CAI's for Nissan, but none yet for the Titan. The Nissan dealer thinks that Stillen will probably soon make a CAI for the Titan and maybe (? not really sure ?) it will actually move the CAI from so close to the engine.

Anyway all of this confusion has caused me to probably delay my mods. I think I could probably do either the K&N or the Volant, but now I am not sure whether I should or should wait. What do you guys think? Are these true CAIs or ram air induction systems? And does it make a difference?

As for the comments on open or enclosed CAIs for off-roading, my Titan even though it is a 4x4 will probably never go farther off road than the shoulder of an interstate so I am not to worried about the K&N being open for debris.

 

Neither are ram air, unless you add the ram air scoop to the Volant. Ram air kits only benifit the engine once speed is built up, and most people are looking for the added benifits off the line. And you won't see any kits that move the filter out of engine compartment, or much further than the oem placement. There just isn't room to do so. The major benifit of these kits is the increased filter size and the smoothed flow of air. Both systems use large concical filters that have more surface area than a standard flat filter. They also allow the air to follow a smooth path, where as with the oem system the air has to make sharp bends which create turbulence. They also remove the accordian style tube that further restricts the air flow. The Volant is perhaps more of a true CAI, as it pulls air from the same place as the factory, the fender well, and only from there. The K&N pulls from the same area, but since it's not completely sealed, it can pull air from openings in the grill as well.

 

I have the k&n took about 1 hour to install w/ a few basic tools. very easy. Noticed increased response the second i stepped on the pedal. Kind of loud at first, but i wouldn't change it now. the truck seems to get faster by the day. dang, this truck really hauls ***. my wife even loves it, and is starting to call the titan "hers". k&n is a good choice, they also have local service in Riverside call info for the number.

 

they both are cool, and as sammy said the volant is more a true cold air,and you can deaden the noise if you do casique mods---yeah you can save 50 dollars--but do you really want to pull hot air into your engine--I know I dont ( and I dont why peope are forgetting this but the k&N is not street legal---nissan could easily void any engine damage warranty claim just based upon this and you would have no clan at all)

and even on the street that open filter will get dirty way faster than the volant. is it worth the 250-300 maybe if you have some play money. my honest recomendation is to get both the intake and exhasut. If I had to choose only one then it would be the exhaust--as the titan will run a little off kilter with just a intake, and the stock restrictve muffler and y pipe

 

The rerason that the K&N is not street legal in calif. is because CARB has not yet tested it. I had the same thing happen with my tundra. Once CARB tested the K&N I was able to obtain a CARB sticker.Also, N. Calif. does not have a smog checks as in s. Calif. so know one would know.
By the way, If you are worried about to much dust etc. entering the filter while offroading, don't. K&N has a "sock" that goes over the filter that eliminates that concern.

 

they both are cool, and as sammy said the volant is more a true cold air,and you can deaden the noise if you do casique mods---yeah you can save 50 dollars--but do you really want to pull hot air into your engine--I know I dont ( and I dont why peope are forgetting this but the k&N is not street legal---nissan could easily void any engine damage warranty claim just based upon this and you would have no clan at all)

and even on the street that open filter will get dirty way faster than the volant. is it worth the 250-300 maybe if you have some play money. my honest recomendation is to get both the intake and exhasut. If I had to choose only one then it would be the exhaust--as the titan will run a little off kilter with just a intake, and the stock restrictve muffler and y pipe

Smoke, how did you arrive at these statements? IMHO, they're both wrong.
First, for the millionth time, refer to the Magnusson-Moss Act about the voided warranty issue. This urban legend will never die I guess.

Second, what in the world do you mean by "the titan will run a little off kilter" - WHAT?????? I added the K&N AirCharger and picked up ~20 rwhp, and this is "off kilter?"

 

Thanks for all of the response. I think I am going to sit a while and wait to see if Flowmaster comes out with a kit specifically for Titan and then I will probably go with the Volant (or Stellen, if they make one by then). Thanks.

 

Smoke, how did you arrive at these statements? IMHO, they're both wrong.
First, for the millionth time, refer to the Magnusson-Moss Act about the voided warranty issue. This urban legend will never die I guess.

Second, what in the world do you mean by "the titan will run a little off kilter" - WHAT?????? I added the K&N AirCharger and picked up ~20 rwhp, and this is "off kilter?"

Hey Steve this is from truckperformance.com under technotes on the fpik (http://www.truckperformance.com/products/?productID=755342)

"Filter is cleaned by first brushing off any large embedded dirt. Then spray on the K&N cleaner and let it soak for 10 minutes. Next, Rinse off the element with LOW pressure water. (Always flush from the clean side to the dirty side.) Then allow filter to dry NATURALLY. After filter has dried re-oil with K&N air filter oil only. Apply evenly to entire filter making sure to oil down into each pleat. Then re-install making sure the element seats properly in the filter case. Not Smog Legal"


from K&N website (http://www.knfilterchargers.com/search/product.aspx?Prod=63-1088)

K&N's AirCharger® Off-Road & Racing Performance Kits are similar to FIPK’s except they are NOT legal for sale or use on pollution controlled vehicles in some states and they come with K&N’s Off-Road/Racing Limited Warranty. K&N intake systems replace your vehicle's restrictive factory air filter and air intake housing. K&N intakes are designed to dramatically reduce intake restriction as they smooth and straighten air flow. This allows your vehicle's engine to inhale a larger volume of air than the OEM air filter assembly. More air means more usable power and acceleration throughout the engine's RPM range. The filters on these kits are washable and reusable. Most of our intake kits are relatively easy to install using tools commonly available (see installation instructions)


In regards to the off kilter---all I meant is that my ecu couldnt quite get the shifting correct with the added influx of air, until I equalized it with the exhaust--maybe sammy can explain this better from a more technical standpoint--I dont know why. I notice you too have both---you didnt notice this issue at all? I dont have a dyno--but like I tell others I spin my tires at will--so I know I increased in torque, and hp hits like crazy at 3000rpm and above. which seems about where your max points hit on your dyno right??

and in reality dude--if you wanted me to clarify just say so, there really is no need to say that I am spreading urban legends and get testy or whatever, if it was legal here in cali I would have bought the K&N as I like them as a company--I didnt want to wait for the Titan FPIK

and I have read the section of the consumer code you referenced--but imagine a regualr dude going to a nissan tech with that---how far do you think obscure law sections will work in getting your car fixed if there are any adverse affects. k&N wont protect you, as they already have your 250 ---I am sure you know all aftermarket parts are at your own risk as Nissan can so "No we wont fix it",and what are most going to sue nissan over a air charger kit???

 

how far do you think obscure law sections will work in getting your car fixed if there are any adverse affects.

Actually, the Magnuson-Moss Act, which states, in part, in Title 15, United States Code, Section 2302, subdivision (c), - is a very well known law, and K&N Distributions provide a flyer (in bright orange) to authorized resellers who are encouraged to make visible for potential customers worried about warranty invalidation.

Point in fact, every Nissan Parts department I have been in (about 4 different dealerships in Washington & Oregon) not only are authorized distributors of K&N, but have this notice posted for all the world to see.

If you are really that worried about warranty invalidation, I'm sure you could easily request a letter from the Nissan Infinity Corporation reassuring you that your warranty will not be invalidated through the use of an aftermarket cold-air intake. But honestly... what could it possibly do? Screw up your ECU programming? Disconnecting the battery cable over night will reset this for you anyway.