Is it worth the $$... K&N CAI on a 3.5L?

[Freyspath]

So ever since I got my pathfinder I have been very interested in getting the K&N Cold Air Intake. Supposedly its supposed to give you 14 extra horses, but on the dyno it shows that the 14hp is only at redline (5.800rpm). I dont really push it to those levels on a daily basis.. I usually drive it casually with an accessional flooring now and then.

The majority of my driving is 60% highway and 40% city streets. The city streets consist majority of hilly paved terrain.

Would the K&N CAI be beneficial to me? Is it worth the money? Comments and thoughts welcome!

-- By the way, if you have a pic of it installed, post it!Thanks!

[Pwnin O'Brien]

I have the K&N FPIK on my Pathfinder and I don't think you should waste your money. Instead of buying the overpriced FIPK, I think you should buy the K&N drop-in filter and delete the white intake resonator (the udder looking this behind the driver side front quarter panel). This way, you will be able to pull in the cold air from the louvers next to the fog light and you will have better air flow with the new filter.

The problem with the FIPK is that it doesn't pull cold air in. The conical filter just sits in the spot where the factory air box is and the heat shield doesn't actually block any engine heat. The engine just ends up pulling in warmer air than with the factory intake installed.

[Freyspath]

The stock box looks pretty beefy as it is, so I was very interested in getting the drop in filter, because nothing seems to restrict the stock intake, except for that white resonator. As for sound, does it sound bad a**? When I put a K&N CAI on my explorer the sound of the cai was sick! Do you hear that at all in the pathy? Or is it pretty muffled down?

[Natedogg1701]

you could spend all the money for the K&N name or you could get any conical filter and do what several ppl on this forum have done. as pwnin said remove the white resonator ( not sure but i believe there is a sensor in there that will have to be relocated) and run 3" tubing down and let it sit and hide behind the plastic inserts next to the fog lights. idk if this is true but it seems as if it would create a slight ram air effect, correct me if im wrong, and it will deffinitely allow cooler air into the motor. it's a project on my "to do" list for my pathy.

[e2xx33]

...not sure but i believe there is a sensor in there that will have to be relocated....

There is an ambient air temp sensor in there...

[Pwnin O'Brien]

There is an ambient air temp sensor in there...

The IAT sensor on the 2003 model is combined with the MAF sensor, so the hole for the sensor should be plugged.

...run 3" tubing down and let it sit and hide behind the plastic inserts next to the fog lights...

This is the best place for the air filter and it will give you the best performance. This is also on my to-do list (moving the K&N conical filter).

[alexf20c]

the only way to get a true "ram air" effect is to place the intake above the aerodynamic profile of the vehicle. so basically, every car on the street today does not have a ram air hood scoop. if anything, a functional hood scoop only acts as a "cooler" cold air intake.

[Pwnin O'Brien]

all VG/VQ R50 Pathfinders/QX4s use an IAT sensor on the airbox. there's no such thing as a combined MAF/IAT.

Yeah, for 2003 and 2004 they deleted the IAT from the intake resonator and made a combined MAF sensor and IAT sensor. I didn't have the IAT sensor on my intake resonator (I just had a black rubber cap on the hole) and I did some research to find that it is housed in the MAF sensor housing.

[alexf20c]

i've never heard of one but i'm sure you know your truck better than me. lol

[Freyspath]

So let me throw this idea out and get your guys opinion...

If I bought the basic K&N drop in filter, and then took my stock airbox and put a couple holes into it, and then ran hose to areas like the side of the fog light, fender walls, etc (every where that cold air passes through) would that work/be beneficial?

That way the stock box remains intact but gets more air via tubs.

[Pwnin O'Brien]

I'll be honest, I think you will get the same gains if you just delete the intake resonator and leave the air box as is. When the vehicle is moving the air behind the fog lights/louvers is most definitely all the same temperature, so running hoses would probably not be any more beneficial.

[Freyspath]

I know i know, but the thing is im kinda scared taking off the fender, and then worrying about aligning it correctly. Is it an easy job to remove that resonator? If it is then ill just do that.

Thanks

[Pwnin O'Brien]

I know i know, but the thing is im kinda scared taking off the fender, and then worrying about aligning it correctly. Is it an easy job to remove that resonator? If it is then ill just do that.

Thanks

Removing the intake resonator is a five minute job. You just have to remove the black plastic wheel well trim (the piece closest to the front of the vehicle) on the front driver side wheel (I think it's like three clips). Then you just have to remove like three or four bolts and then you're done!

[Natedogg1701]

isnt part of the resonators job to keep water from getting into and splashing into the intake? just curious if it would pose a bit of a problem in that area.

[Pwnin O'Brien]

isnt part of the resonators job to keep water from getting into and splashing into the intake? just curious if it would pose a bit of a problem in that area.

Well, there's a lot of speculation that the resonator helps to prevent water from entering the intake, which is probably true seeing that the resonator pulls in air at the highest possible point inside the quarter panel, so it would be pretty difficult to get water in it. I think the primary design of the resonator is to reduce under-hood noise from the intake; the little compartments on the resonator aid in reducing the intake noise.

I think it's safe to remove the resonator as long as you keep your vehicle out of deep water (more specifically, as long as the water line is below the factory air box).

[fastpathy35]

I have the k&n cold air intake and i love it. Ive used the drop iin filter and returned it. I noticed 1/2 mpg increase. The whole kit i got a tad over 2 and the power helps a lot. Its already paid for itself a couple times. And i have a tube running up from next to the fog light up and that hurt my mileage. Especially in the cold weather. The thing is you get a 'ram air' set up and our computers put more fuel in to keep the a/f ratio at the stock settings. With the drop in filter and removing the resonators i doubt you will run into that problem but you get too much air in there and you will lose the fuel economy youre wanting. And yes, with the intake the pathfinders sound wicked.

[alexf20c]

i have a K&N drop-in filter for the VG33, if anybody wants it. i've gone back to a paper filter and have no use for the K&N. PayPal me for shipping (probably like $5 to the lower 48) and it's yours.

[Natedogg1701]

so fastpathy, you bought the K&N kit for the pathy and you got that much of an mpg increase? nice, quick question, do you have youyr resonator box removed too?

[fastpathy35]

Yep. I went from averaging 16.5 to over 18. And now with all ive done i can get 21. But not through the week having to drive over a mountain. I have all the extra stock airbox stuff removed. after about a year with the fipk i ran a tube from the grill at the foglight. On the highway it pulls better but uses more fuel. I like the power so i left it. Even with new spark plugs and clean filter i can barely break 20. This is the most efficient vehicle ive had so im good with it. I cant drive a car. Im 6'4" and this is still a little cramped. Im sorry my sentences are so choppy, its not fast to type on a phone.

[Natedogg1701]

so with the tube run from behind the foglight to the box thing K&N gives you, the shield thats supposed to block engine heat, you actually lost mpg? well honestly i average shyt mpg, like literally around 12 to 14,i do have a heavy foot but back nd forth driving on rural streets being nice to it my mpg sucks, so im looking for a mpg increase more than i am power. and might i ask where you got the electric fan and how you have your installed? like is your sensor installed after your thermostat or is it a little probe stuck into your radiator? and was it a pain to put in?

[alexf20c]

wouldn't it be easier to just pop the hood and look for yourself?

[fastpathy35]

Oh i have a pretty heavy foot. I got through a set of tires in less than a year. Ill race anything. And with the races i encounter and going up and down the mountain ive never averaged less than 16. And i have the 4x4. Idk if theres a problem with yours or maybe your location changes the mileage... On the electric fans i have a 10" and a 14" mounted diagonally, with the electric thermostat. The probe is stuck through the radiator. I had only the 10" at first foolishly, and it only overheated in 97 degree weather in standstill traffic with the a/c on. With both, ive never had a problem. You would not believe how much drag a clutch fan has on an engine though.

[alexf20c]

i average 12-14mpg. best i ever got was 14.9 city, and 19.0 highway. but the latter was ALL highway miles and cruising at 50-60mph.

[Pwnin O'Brien]

Yeah, last night I averaged 14mpg on the highway with a cruising speed of 65-70mph. This sucks.

[GRNMACHINE]

Yep quite the gas hog, at least you have 70 more HP though!! Heh Heh

Anyone know if the 3.3 has an IAT in the resonator part?

And Frey, may only be seat of the pants, but I notice a difference in seat of the pants with the Jim Wolf POP charger which is like the K&N without the intake tube or shield. I reinstalled all the stock intake/filter recently trying to eliminate some engine noise and it definitely feels slower.

[fastpathy35]

I think the 3.3 was rated at a lower fuel economy. It just didnt have the power to comfortably pull its everyday load. I may be wrong, i dont know a whole lot about the vq33. Are you all running at least mid grade fuel? Our pathfinders werent designed for regular unleaded. You hear so many people using regular and say its fine but those same people keep using up o2 sensors, and the fuel economy isnt the same. And if i added it up right, just using mid grade, if you gain at least .75 mpg then you break even. It like here there is a $.12 difference. idk your driving conditions and i dont know your trucks, 14 just seems low. If i hit that, something is wrong. I even cruise around town in second gear to hear the exhaust and i dont get that low.

[Pwnin O'Brien]

I think the 3.3 was rated at a lower fuel economy. It just didnt have the power to comfortably pull its everyday load. I may be wrong, i dont know a whole lot about the vq33. Are you all running at least mid grade fuel? Our pathfinders werent designed for regular unleaded. You hear so many people using regular and say its fine but those same people keep using up o2 sensors, and the fuel economy isnt the same. And if i added it up right, just using mid grade, if you gain at least .75 mpg then you break even. It like here there is a $.12 difference. idk your driving conditions and i dont know your trucks, 14 just seems low. If i hit that, something is wrong. I even cruise around town in second gear to hear the exhaust and i dont get that low.

I have the 3.5L and I averaged 14mpg on the highway! I always fill it with 93 octane, but at my last fill up the guy filled it with 87 (One reason why I hate how you can't pump your own gas in Jersey). When I first bought the car I was putting 87 in it but I got a lot of pinging from the engine and so I just started using 93. Now that I have 87 in the tank I don't have the pinging anymore. I figure once I burn through this tank completely I'll just continue using 93.

I've tried to find out which octane fuel to use for the 3.5L engine. Some say that at 10:1 compression you should use 89 or higher octane, others say no lower than 92 octane. Most people have said that since the ECU will just retard the timing with the lower octane fuels it wont matter which octane you use.

The difference in price between the 87 and 93 is roughly $0.20/gallon here. This is the worst fuel economy I've had with this Pathfinder since I bought it three years ago; it's even worse than my old V8 (4.6L) Range Rover, which is pretty hard to beat in crappy gas mileage.

I want to do the electric fan conversion, but I don't have a garage to use until I clean mine out and it's just too damn cold to work outside.

[JonathanPrem]

FastPAthy what kind of engine mods do you have in your R50 and did they improve gas mileage ?

[fastpathy35]

Wow even stock i always averaged around 16...i have flowmaster super 40 series dual exhaust, electric fan and cold air intake. Ive removed the spare but that doesnt count for anything. I even run a tire a little larger than factory.

[fastpathy35]

i dont know if it will help, but i only run the iridium plugs, i use 89 octane fuel, the 93 i actually do worse, not sure why. The vq35 you arent supposed to run synthetic oil. I even had a guy do some reasearch bc he said 'yeah the manual will say that but i have a system that tells me the recommended sythetic replacement.' Nada. So i run conventional only. Here in georgia, its usually not that cold so i use 10w30 instead of 5w30. I change my oil every 4500 miles. The tires i have are 255/70/16. Just a little taller than stock.

I checked my mileage this morning and i wont get the best going over the mountain all week but 18.7...last time i got 18.4. Going up the mountain i take overdrive off and i usually run around 60mph. Up one side. Then the other side has a few u-turns so im constantly accelerating. im probably changing my oil today so i should be able to post over 19 on my next fill up.

Im not at a very high elevation, and its not usually cold or wet here so maybe that helps me. Oh and try your hardest not to use ethanol fuel. I guess there are other factors that need to be figured in but im not sure why so many people are reporting low numbers. My ex's aunt gets 21 but hers is a 2wd. Like i said earlier, my pathfinder gets the best mileage out of anything ive bought so 18-21 is good as far as im concerned.