VOLANT INTAKE WITH RAM AIR SCOOP

So does an intake help???

I am going to find out once and for all.
I also need to move my cold air intake. The factory intake sucks up too much dirt, rocks, water and sand. A snorkel solves most of the problems except for snow. So I'm going try the Volant ram air scoop to draw in more cleaner air flow.

Current intake mod is:

1. K & N filter
2. silencer removed
3. MAF screen removed
4. UniChip for tuning

I also have a 2 1/2" cat back and intake spacer.

Results from current mods:

1. filter didn't seam to add much power but reved better
2. removing the silencer let it breath and rev better
3. removing the screen threw the factory map off and reduced power
4. Correcting the fuel from intake mods(with the maf cal/ unichip) was good for 1 second 0-60 Huge difference

I decided to go with the Volant intake because of the long intake tube should be better for producing torque, the ram air scoop and was the intake most people said improved MPG.

The AEM looks higher quality but also may be tuned more for top end power and I think the Volant is tuned more for mid range and I want maximum mid range power.

The ram air scoop is huge.

So decided to do a test to see if the ram air scoop works better than the factory cold air intake. I installed the scoop and used 4" aluminum dryer duct to connect it to the factory air box.

And............................................
It works...... Just installing it felt about like the same power until I adjusted my fuel map.
I was .3 lean after installing the scoop.
After remapping it ran better, had more power and better part throttle power........
I really like this set up and the truck is running the best it ever has.
Plus the factory intake sucks up too much dirt, rocks,water and sand into the intake and I was getting sick of it.

Now time to install the rest of the intake.
I believe the longer intake tube will produce more torque and smoother intake tract will produce more top end power.

I also decided to try a new set up for my PCV bypass.
I don't run direct vacuum to the PCV it's like having a vacuum leak and sucks oil into the intake.

So I ran the breathers in side the air box so it will still get indirect vacuum but not suck oil and have protection from dirt and mud.

I also taped shut the fender intake and I'm only taking air in through the ram air scoop.



So intake is installed. The intake is good quality but not great. Some of the holes don't quite line up but I fixed them with a dremel tool.

I fire it up and it's running good but has a shutter. I ck the dash command and it's running crazy rich at idle. After a few tweaks I'm back to 0 trim.

After a quick drive it's running good:

1. feels like it runs much smoother
2. power feels smoother
3. fuel map now feels too lean and needs work
4. low end power does feel better
5. part throttle feels better
6. mid range feels much better
7. revs much better

So to get it running I had to lean the map out and may have went too far.
It changes the map and can't use the same settings as the stock intake. So I have to redo the whole map.
But so far it seams like it has more power from idle all the way through the power range.
Something I hadn't planned on is that the engine runs smoother and smoother power through the rev range.

So far seams really good but I have to finish my map to able to say if it has more power or not.

The part throttle power seams better and I may be able to create a better MPG map.

Lessons learned so far:

1. The computer needs to be remapped when you change the intake to function properly and get maximum results.
2. Changing the intake/filter with out remapping nets very similar power at lower RPM.
3. The ram air scoop works and can draw more air and more power.
4. The factory intake sucks up too much dirt.
5. Seams like the Volant Intake works better than the stock intake with the stock map.
6. The Volant Intake seams to get slightly better MPG.
7. Paper filter may be slightly more restrictive than a K&N oil filter making my low RPM slightly richer.

Results, Does It make more Power?

1. Yes it makes more power.
2. Better part throttle.
3. Pulls much better over 3000RPM.
4. (edit)
5. Yes it makes more power all the way through the RPM range with a similar 0 trim map and I'm still tweaking.
6. Pulls harder, smoother and more linear power all the way through improving driveablity.

NOW THE BAD after a week of driving

1. They relocate the MAF sensor and it throws off the computer.
2. The fuel trim readings are wacky
3. and it is throwing codes for being out of range/O2 sensors just went bad at the same time no more codes, but it's at the limit.
4. now the computer is over compensating reducing power.
5. MPG is the same

NOTE:

1. I may have bad oxygen sensors, replacing this week.

UPDATE:

1. Replaced the oxygen sensors, it did run better and minimal better MPG
2. Changing my mapping strategy is also improving MPG
3. Above 3000 rpm there is no doubt that this intake produces more power
4. Working on the 2000-3000 rpm range of the map stock intake is good in this range
5. Still tuning, a little flat around 2500 rpm, runs much better than stock over 3000 rpm

I would definitely recommend getting the ram air scoop and not using the fender intake.

Note: adding just an intake or modding the intake may or may not result in better performance. The increased air flow will lean out the mixture reducing power. So the net gain could be minimal depending on your truck.

Next will be to test it off road to see if the ram air scoop resist dirt, sand and water better.

So far no dirt or water gets in the ram air scoop.

Still like the intake, I feel it's a good mod that helps top end power and no more rocks and sand in the intake.

Now I have sent my ECU to orange virus tuning to be reflashed...
The Volant intake is smaller diameter than the stock intake that is why it was running so rich at low rpm.
Hopefully OVT can adjust for the new intake and fix the factory tune.

I would say ram air scoop very good mod good money spent.
Full intake ok mod below 3000 rpm good above 3000 rpm with the stock computer... But again results can vary using the stock ecu...

UPDATE:

The intake works great off road. No more rocks dirt and sand in the air filter.
It does suck up bugs but nothing crazy.
Went through tons of big puddles at speed no problems.
Some water made it in but mostly superficial, no noticeable amount and the filter is dry and no muddy water...

So the ram air scoop gives you more and cleaner air than the stock intake..

UPDATE:
Now with the release of HPtuners software we can reflash the ECU...
This means we can re calibrate the MAF sensor and get the most out of this intake.
The unichip worked ok and I just finally got it dialed in...
But now we can actually fix problems in the ECU..

Like I said the intake runs rich below 1200 rpm and lean above 1400 rpm..
Because we can fix the ecu I got the MAF sensor calibrated in about a week and runs much better. The cams also are advanced too much at low rpm and the ACIS opens and closes at the wrong times..

Just those few tweaks made part throttle power much better and can do all "normal driving at less than 35% throttle.. No more Toyota mush pedal and first MPG test was positive, almost 1-2 mpg but, still testing... 16.6 full lift, 33s, I was averaging around 15 mpg... or less..........

Still love this mod, a necessity for off roading

 

Awesome write up! One question - will disconnecting the battery reset the ECU for a new intake, or is a remap mandatory?

 

The best thing to do after any performance mod is to reset the computer and it will run OK.
But if you remap it you will get the best results.

When adding an intake you are changing the position of the MAF sensor so they are trying to cheat the system.
But if you add more air you need to add more fuel..

 

So the Volant intake works and makes more noticeable power all the way through the RPM band.
Even with the stock intake modded 100% with the same ram air scoop and better filter the Volant was still better.
The longer smoother intake tube helps smooth out the power band and increase power. That's why they changed the 16 intake.

Just the ram air scoop "with tuning" improves power and the full intake adds more.

So do intakes work? Yes they work great "with tuning" and work ok to good with out. Well still working on a functioning map.

 

Do you have a baseline dyno?

 

I should have done a base line dyno a few years ago. But didn't seam worth the money and time.

I still plan on running it on the dyno.

But this intake is running great, changes the power curve and helps the low end torque( to balance out going to 33s).

Pulls up to 75 much easier and runs much smoother.

I love it, In fact I din't think an intake would help much over a modded stock intake but I was wrong should have got it a long time ago.

I was grinning all the way home, that's how much better it is with a tune. Can't hardly feel the 33s any more.

 

How does one get it to remap? Is it as simple as disconnecting the battery or do I need to techstream in and reset it from there?

 

You would need to buy a piggy back programmer like the maf cal or unichip.

 

NOW THE BAD after a week of driving

1. They relocate the MAF sensor and it throws off the computer.
2. The fuel trim readings are wacky
3. and it is throwing codes for being out of range.
4. now the computer is over compensating reducing power.
5. MPG is the same

Still working on mapping it...

 

Ah, so much for me hearing about them fixing the issue. Its thrown cel for yrs, and they supposedly fixed it. Thanks for the update!
I think Gadget has a map for this intake, give him a ring

@Gadget@URD

 

Yeah I'm still working on it.
This dang Toyota computer is a PITA...... Makes the truck run like crap.
My FRS has a Subaru computer so it can be reflashed, so I can fix all the nonsense and it runs great....
So I'll see if I can fix it. It was awesome for a while till the dang learning computer starting over compensating....

Part of the problem could be the unichip but we'll see....

 

Crap i missed the uni part

 

I have had a volant w/scoop for over a year and never have had a CEL. Just make sure you get the Donaldson filter. MAF sensors don't like the oil from the filters and when you have a supercharger, @inwood customs, it sucks the oil right out of the filter. It runs WAY better with the Donaldson than the oiled filter, too.

 

Does Rain water get in thru the Ram Air Scoop thru the air filter ??

 

So far no rain water, I have to test it in big puddles but there was no mud up that far so I doubt any water makes it that far..
I also have to test for sand but I sure It's way cleaner than the wheel well intake...
No problems with snow so either.

The ram air scoop work great, I love so far....

 

I may have bad oxygen sensors, I'm replacing this week..
MPG just keeps dropping like crazy. from 17 to 16 to 15 to 13 now 11...
I know I had a near perfect map and now my long term trim is crazy negative.
I just changed the plugs and everything was fine.

 

I am considering this intake I know I can easily install this intake it would not be the first one I have done, but this will be the first on a truck. So should I take it to my friend performance shop and have him do all the things you mentioned?

 

NO! Just install per instructions. This thread is B.S. and he did a lot of unnecessary stuff. If you aren't doing the scoop, you are wasting your money.
1. There is no MAF problem with this intake, OP had other issues.
2. The oiled fake K&N filter copy sucks, get the Donaldson.
3. The scoop will suck in water in deep crossing, but no rain or anything. BUT, the box has plenty of room for water in the bottom and can be sucked out later.
4. It will bring down intake temps a little, but not really any substantial performance gains.
5. Unichips don't do shit but mess up sensors.

 

I love and hate TW, someone always has to talk shit like above......
From my experience so far:

1. I think it throws off the MAF sensor calibration and no way to fix it that's the bad, still working on it.
2. Very easy to install maybe 30 - 40 min..
3. I ran my breathers in the box "not necessary" and I still may need an oil separator, but better than sucking oil and water into the intake.
4. I would block off the the fender intake, it sucks up too much dirt and rocks.
5. The scoop is a must and the best part of the intake and raises the intake 4-5 more inches...
6. With no way of tuning the net results will be minimal but it runs slightly better...
7. If you don't have a way of tuning, just add the ram air scoop and connect to the stock intake would be the best dollar for dollar mod..

For these trucks there are only 2 intakes to get for off roading, a snorkel or the volant w/scoop...
I didn't want to cut up my fender and snorkels suck in snow so I went with the volant w/scoop...

Overall I like and would get it or the just the ram air scoop.
With a stock tune you will it feel more at higher RPM.

For tuning the best value is the urd maf cal.. and now they just added a plug and play.
This will eat a little more gas but run great.
The unichip will also adjust the timing but is a lot more money..

 

Replaced the top O2 sensors...
Runs better but still shows negative LT trim, so the sensors were old but not junk.
Runs better, a little better mpg but, still bad.
I have about the perfect map, any changes make it run worse.
So I have a very good 0 map.

So, power good, MPG bad, so far......
But we are still in winter, with winter gas but, I'm trying a new map, I may have figured something out...