Has K&N come out with their FIPK yet, or is it still the "off-road only" version?

It's still the AirCharger version according to their web site. Mine passed emmissions with flying colors though.

That's what I thought. Where did you get your Aircharger?

K&N sent me one

Damn you.

At 5280 feet up, what kind of smog inspections do they have? While I sure it would pass the exhaust probe here in California, I am not sure it would hold up to the visual inspection.

Colorado (Denver) is very strict on emissions, we have tough tests. Visually, it looks like an air filter element, but they don't go snooping under the hood here.

got my air charger from 4x4 parts and center at colorado springs. they have a good website and offer really good prices. it was 12$ to have it sent to el paso

I just noticed on the K&N website, that the Aircharger is not for the SC Xterra. Has anyone installed it anyway? What are the alternatives?

I've been running the Aircharger on my XE-S/C since last August. Kansas has no vehicle inspections at all. The S/C intake system is identical to the normally aspirated system so all parts are interchangable. It did provide a little more power and I also have the Calmini exhaust. Also the you can hear the S/C whine a lot more than before.

That sounds great. I am really ready to buy this but was hoping they would be smog approved first.

Ian, or anyone for the matter? have you found a prefilter for the aircharger? Summertime here and we have some very dusty trails. It would be nice to put that foam prefilter over it.

I have a trim to fit prefilter on my Pop Charger. You can oil it if you wish, I just use it to help keep the bigger debris from getting lodged in the pleats of the filter. I don't recall the size or the part number but Summit Racing carries them.

Thanks AG but I am sure the K&N filter is a slightly different shape. I do like your box that you built arounf the filter and the "tube" for the fresh cool air! Now ChuckH and I need to workout something that works with our Airchargers and ARB's.

Are you talking about a drop in filter? The foam I used you cut to fit whatever size you need. In my case the foam was way taller than the filter and of course too long. You trim it so that it conencts to itself when it wraps around then connect it using the suppled velcro like strips. Or, maybe I am misunderstanding you....

Doh! I have the K&N Aircharger, siimilar to the Pop charger. I didn't know the K&N foam wraps were cut to fit!
Thanks!

I think this is the one I got. There are some smaller kits too. Just search Summit for pre cleaner and they will come up. There are only three universal kits and that is probably what you want. Here is the link to the one I have:

Pre Cleaner

This is the email I got today about the FIPK from K&N.

Dear Customer,

We are currently looking for vehicles like yours to develop an FIPK Kit for
your vehicle. If you live in the surrounding area (Southern California) and
would be willing to allow us to use your vehicle, use this link to our web
site. http://www.knfilters.com/vehicles/needuus.htm. Fill out the form at
the bottom of the page and the R&D department will contact you when their
ready for your model vehicle. I have no release date yet. Please check back
in 60-90 days for a possible update. Also you can check our web site at
http://www.knfilters.com it is updated every Monday with new products.

Thanks for writing,

Melina Martinez
Technical support
K&N Engineering

I took my truck down there last summer to do a test fit for the FIPK on both my fontier and my X. I never heard back from them. I even called them a couple of times and they told me they were still in development. Maybey I should try calling them again.

Call up Melina in exactly 90 days, so she can post another thread telling us to wait another 90 days. That should be about right.

WTF? What do you mean they are coming out with the K&N FIPK soon. I've got one sitting in the house waiting to be put in this week from 4wheelparts. Yall are confusing me.

You probably have the Aircharger. The FIPK would be 50 state street legal. The Aircharger is sold as offroad, but probably passes smog in most of the states.

I just got off the phone with K&N about the FIPK. He told me it's the exact same thing as the air charger only it will have a CARB cerification number on it. The "official" street legal FIPK systems should start shipping in about a month.

RIIIIIIIGHT.......wait a month and see what happens.

See what the UPS man brought me today.



It's part number 57-6005 for those who are interested.

When you get started on the install of the FIPK could you take some pictures please? I want to see if there is actually anything different about it. Not likely but I'm curious. Thanks!

Of course on K&N's website they state "excluding supercharged" for this FIPK.

Axle-
Where'd you get the FIPK from?

They used my X and Frontier for prototypes so I got mine shipped directly to me from K&N for FREE!!! And since I no longer have my Frontier they gave me one for my F150 instead.

As for pics it's a little too late for during the install, I already put it in. Took about an hour. I'll take some pics of it installed a little later and post them.

Here's the pics of it installed.







Like stated above the guy from K&N told me it's the exact same thing as the Air Charger system only you get the nifty little black sticker as seen in the first pic that makes it CARB exempt.

So what is the verdict regarding running the FIPK/AirCharger on the SC models? Any significant increase in performance, throttle response, fuel efficiency increase/decrease, etc? I don't want to fork out $250 just to hear my supercharger whine.

There must be a reason K&N excluded the supercharged. Any thoughts?

-Dan

I second this question.

Also, are there any differences between the stock intakes (hoses, etc.) for the NA V6 and the S/C V6?

yeah, the S/C has a vacuum hose attached to the intake body. If you do the "boost mod" that hose is blocked off or not used so it won't apply.

Terrific but I don't have the boost mod and don't plan on it... So then what?

If you look at my third pic you will see a little black plug right in the middle of the tube. If you need a vacum line there the kit came with a nipple and section of hose to put in it's place. I don't see why you couldn't use that for your vacum source.

I have read a thousand posts on the K&N FIPK and I am almost ready to buy one for my 2000 XE V6. But I haven't read alot about the sound it creates.

I have the Calmini exhaust and i like its tone, I just don't want to add anything that will even remotely make my X sound like a 4x4 "rice" rocket (for lack of a better term).

Can someone out there describe to me the sound on the intake end I can expect?

Thanks!

slamson00-
I too have read all sorts of posts on intakes and this summer plan to get the calmini and the K&N aircharger/FIPK. Basically you don't have to worry about your X sounded like an import. The intake will only enhance the sound of the calmini system, if it was gonna sound like an import, you'd have to have some sort of high tone muffler and a big 'ole 4'' tail pipe/tip (for effect). from what I've read, the intake/exhaust combo gives some power and sounds real good, my advice don't worry, and go for it if you got the $$. Hope this helps

-Russ

Thanks for the info Russ...

I did purchase it earlier this morning after reading some more info on it on the net. Like you said I am hoping it enhances my Calmini exhaust systems sound and most importantly performance. Would love to have a little extra for passing in the mountains on my way to trail runs. Only time will tell but from the posts I have been reading people have been getting great results with the FIPK and Calmini combo.

I didn't want to start a whole new thread for this...
I've been all over this site, and on two search engines on the web....K&N hasn't returned my email...

I'm thinking about slapping on an air charger. K&N says they may not be emissions legal in all 50 states ...anyone got a list of states where they are/aren't legal? Here in Hawaii, they have no emissions testing, but I may be moving to Cali or even back to NY in a few months, and I don't wanna invest $200+ in somthing I'll have to tear right out :rolleyes:

The FIPK is the exact same thing as the air charger. The only difference is that the FIPK has a CARB exemptin sticker that comes with it to make it smog legal. The air charger is what they label the product as untill after the CARB testing is done.

Here is the sticker that comes with the FIPK to make it smog legal.

Sweet! Being that you're in Cali and are running it, I'll take it as a lock! I'm stoked! Thanks for the scoop!

Axle, have you noticed a decrease/increase in MPG since adding the K&N FIPK? Just curious to know if sucking in more air makes the X wanna use up more gas.

Just to let everyone know I was the guinea pig for a new FIPK filter for the SC engine. Dino at K&N stated that they should have the part number out soon. You can call K&N and they may have it now.
Difference I have seen so far. The engine has allot more get up and go, much nosier but love to hear that super charger scream. Gas mileage about the same if not worse could be because I have been getting on it I am testing it out driving normally now. Now I just need to get a cat back and the truck is done.

K&N now has the Aircharger listed for the SC models. Looks like they are working on it.

Gas mileage has stayed the same.