Feedback on Volant CAI

[rockwall]

I installed a Volant CAI in my 2003 V8. I can report that after the first 100 miles my mileage has gone up by 1mpg. This is not gigantic, but I bought it for the approximately 22 hp gain. My Runner jumps very noticeably from the line with the CAI. To be honest, I also have a Magnaflow Cat-Back system and the two together really boost throttle response. The sound produced by the CAI is musical to the ears of a gear head. Overall, I could not recommend the Volant higher.

 

[4RNNR]

looks great

congrats

 

[ARK_SWAMP_RIDER]

Good deal, thanks for the update! IF it actually will help gas mileage some (assuming you can keep your foot off the gas trying to hear it) I could probably justify it.

 

[MidwestT4R]

Just installed it in my 2004 V8 two days ago. I do notice the extra kick but the first tank mileage might not show much improvement. I keep putting my foot into it just to hear it!

 

[2005v8sport]

LOL,

My mileage decreased after putting it on my 2005.

 

[rockwall]

I definitely have seen it go down a little bit of late, due to the harder acceleration that keeps seeming to happen! I guess it doesn't make sense to have more HP and a sweet sound and then baby it to save a little gas.

I'm going on a road trip this weekend and I am interested in seeing how my highway mpg is effected.

 

[bigwebb83]

you'll find that if all things are equal the mileage will be the same. if anything it will go down slightly. when the maf sensor picks up more air flow it adds fuel to compensate and keep the target air fuel ratio in tact. therefore more air = lower mileage

 

[DRC]

Looks sweet. I have thought about installing a CAI but the price / value equation seems lopsided to me. Meaning that a CAI seem way to pricy for what you get out of them.

If I may, I have 2 questions…
First does it actually give you more HP, or is a CAI more for the sound then anything else?

Second, and this may be a dumb question, I thought a CAI was supposed to pipe in are from outside the engine bay so the air is always cooler. In your pic it looks like I can see the air filter through a large hole in the box. Wouldn’t this pull in hot air from the engine bay?

 

[rockwall]

Volant claims that the CAI produces a dyno-tested 22hp gain. The box does draw cold air in from the fender well. The air intake hole is considerably bigger than the other hole. Volant says that the CAI draws in more air than needed. The second, smaller hole allows excess air to be evacuated, preventing turbulence in the box and reduced performance. Air seeks it's own pathway, so the large hole will draw it in and the smaller one will pass it out, not vice versa. I can report a definite boost in performance and a sweet, sweet sounding engine. The mileage difference is iffy.

 

[DRC]

I can report a definite boost in performance and a sweet, sweet sounding engine. The mileage difference is iffy.

Thanks rockwall,

I don’t know much about CAI, except what I have read in posts, and most people talk about the sound more then the HP so it makes it hard to determine if the $300+ is a good investment, in terms of HP gains, or not. Sounds like you are pretty happy with the performance you are getting so this helps me with my decision to get one or not.

 

[MidwestT4R]

I just got mine this week from autoanything.com. Regular price 274 bucks with free shipping. The day I was on they had a 10 percent discount if you bought right away. So the price was reduced to 247 bucks with free shipping. Also, Volant has a rebate going on for the CAI which gets you a free second filter and a cleaning kit which would have cost another 70 to 80 bucks combined.

All in all a pretty good deal.

 

[GottaBeTRD]

saw this thread bowsen the 4th gens and thought id give my opinion on it.

ive got one on my 3rd gen and love it! for you guys with the 4th gens i think you have more options though. like one of these

this connects to the front hole of the volant air-box. this one specifically is for the newer tacomas. im assuming it would work for the 4runners too.

one more thing as for the filter check out the powercore filter that volant makes. IMO it made a huge difference for me. it keeps my throttle body clean and the filter last maintenance free for 100,000 miles. plus it tones the noise down a little

 

[klennop]

They don't make a powercore filter for the V8, the one you can "fit" actually restricts the airflow vs the Pro 5.. I talked with Volant about it and they said they were working on making a powercore that is larger for the V8.

Rockwall is also correct about the hole in the front of the box, Volant told me the same thing when I questioned it.

Some people close up the hole in front, I did it initially but have since opened it back up. My truck seems to like it better with the hole open.

I have gained 1mph in city driving and the truck seems a lot more peppy. I didn't notice any decrease in low end either. I also just added the Magnaflow cat back so we will see how that works.