Volant CAI? Not so sure.

5Rangers · #1 02-08-2010, 08:31 PM

I am thinking of putting a Volant on my 04 3L Edge so I wrote Volant with a question. See the emails below:

Dear Sir,
I'm interested in puchasing a Volant CAI for an 04 Ford Ranger with a 3L engine. The Volant pn is 19130. I see that the system comes with a device called a Mass Air Flow Regulator. The mass air flow sensor is used to find out the mass of the air entering the combustion chamber.

My question is what is the purpose of the regulator in the installation? And, how does it function?

Answer from Daniel at Volant Tech:

It regulates the amount of air the truck will pull in, so it sets the correct air fuel ratio

My response:

Hi Daniel,
Thanks for writing back. I am slightly confused by your answer. Not being arguementative but how does it regulate airflow? In my mind and please tell me if I'm wrong, but since the intake allows more airflow the stock sensor will cause a lean fault. So I'm thinking the regulator is an electronic device that goes between the plug and the sensor to trick the computer to allow the engine to run richer to coincide with the increased airflow, correct?

Again, not being argumentative, but I believe, mabye you can verify for me but isn't the device that "regulates the amount of air the truck will pull in" , the throttle body?

Anyway,, everyone on the boards howl about the Volants except for a few anti - CAI guys. But has anyone experienced this amount of foolishness from Volant tech?

bigcountry · #2 02-08-2010, 09:09 PM

ok first off wow. next thing why a CAI maybe looks idk but when someone feeds you a load of crap like that. thats a huge sign to stay away the thing doesnt have any moving parts so how does it regulate anything? next i wouldnt plug or hookup anything to my truck unless it came from ford.

FireRanger · #3 02-08-2010, 09:54 PM

Good grief.

1. The product description and the email reply are total bull. Right off the bat, that means "Don't buy this product".

2. There is no such thing as a mass air flow regulator. There is no regulating of anything. There is a mass air flow SENSOR, but this is not something that should need to be replaced.

3. Lets think about this. If it is sensing volume of air flow, why would you need a different one? You could put a leaf blower on the intake pipe and it would accurate measure the air flow. You do not need a new one to measure MORE AIR. It is already designed to measure whatever air is flowing.

4. The only thing actually regulates how much air gets sucked in is the throttle plate which is controlled directly by a cable attached to the pedal in the cab. (except at idle when it is controlled by the IAC)

5. Your stock intake is already a CAI that will already flow more air than you need. Buying an aftermarket CAI is like putting air conditioning a building in Antarctica.

DHEM · #4 02-09-2010, 04:01 PM

that all basically means they are selling you a stock performance or worse air intake system and saying it will improve everything. Your ranger already has CAI stock, dont buy it. If you want some extra performance get a cat-back exhaust and a tuner.

bigcountry · #5 02-09-2010, 06:10 PM

if you want REAL power get some roller rockers a 1.6:1 ratio ones they will give you about 10hp and they cost the same if not less than a catback exhasut system

5Rangers · #6 02-09-2010, 07:37 PM

I talked to a different guy in their technical dept today, he began to feed me a load of crap but when I began to correct him, he finally told me what I was wanting, that basically the regulator is a miniature electronic device the goes between the MAF sensor and the wire harness, its job is to correct the signal from the MAF to avoid lean faults. What I thought. He said allot guys forget to install them thinking it is an extension to allow the harness to reach and the harness reaches without it so they don't put it in an then get a CEL. He also recomended to pull the power off while installing to allow for PCM relearning after installation.

bigcountry · #7 02-09-2010, 09:36 PM

you can do whatever you want if you want to buy it go ahead and get it. but the odds are against you in getting little if any power from maybe sound and forsure looks

5Rangers · #8 02-11-2010, 09:02 AM

I appreciate your advice Bigcountry, I'm going to get it and put it on, if is causes problems, it'll come off and stock go back on. I'll let the community know what I experienced. On another note I put a Dynomax catback on the other day, I like the sound, not to loud, just a bit more then stock. I'm an old guy compared to allot on here so I'm a bit conservative. Maybe a tuner is in the future or some pulleys.

FireRanger · #9 02-11-2010, 09:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 5Rangers

I'll let the community know what I experienced.

We already know what you're going to experience. Nothing.