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TRD cold air intake worth it?

Discussion in '5th Gen 4Runners (2010-2024)' started by jason2006, Jan 20, 2019.

  1. Mar 2, 2023 at 9:33 AM
    #181
    aggrobot

    aggrobot New Member

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    Picked mine up for 350 shipped. Eager to install! My take: it’s all about perspective, and managing expectations. Im THRILLED to get 10-15HP and 15-20tq for 350.00. People pay this much for a pedal commander, which adds nothing. Not going an exhaust because THAT, IMO, is the cost that really pushes this pair of mods over the edge, and provides a bit less value. Ive got a local tuner out this way, and im really hoping to do baseline dyno, then dyno w/only intake, and then dyno after retune. He’s already got dyno results after a retune with no intake. Should be interesting!
     
  2. Mar 2, 2023 at 9:38 AM
    #182
    whippersnapper02

    whippersnapper02 New Member

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    FIFY
     
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  3. Mar 2, 2023 at 9:42 AM
    #183
    aggrobot

    aggrobot New Member

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    I mean, i guess I wasnt at the dyno myself, but there’s plenty of info that runs contrary to your fix. *shrugs*. Either way, im expecting somewhere between 5-8% bump if im lucky. Nothing earth shaking. As already stated, Im most interested in learning if more gains are to be had after a retune.

    Along these lines, please show me the dyno results in which the intake added nothing at all. Im aware of the OTT tune thread in which they removed the air filter. All this illustrates is that the air filter isnt a restrictive component of the stock intake.
     
    Last edited: Mar 2, 2023
  4. Mar 2, 2023 at 9:50 AM
    #184
    whippersnapper02

    whippersnapper02 New Member

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    I can say up to 1000hp and still be ok because I didn't give a guarantee and can sneak in some more fine print. You may see a tiny bit better throttle response but seat of the pants power gains will be a placebo due to the added noise. Been there done that with the TRD intake on my Tacoma.
     
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  5. Mar 2, 2023 at 9:52 AM
    #185
    aggrobot

    aggrobot New Member

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    You can say all you want. Again, please show me the dyno results in which no gains were had. The data out there which does exist doesnt tell this exact story.
     
  6. Mar 2, 2023 at 10:06 AM
    #186
    whippersnapper02

    whippersnapper02 New Member

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    Do you know of any dyno results showing the gains of just the intake? I'd like to see it.
     
  7. Mar 2, 2023 at 10:09 AM
    #187
    aggrobot

    aggrobot New Member

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    Here are a few I found right off the bat:
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3mGw7hc1hEY

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4aSTX7372I4&t=28s

    Again, not huge. Not bragging rights kinda stuff, but im going bigger tires. If I can pick up some tq along the way, this is a bonus. Slowing these rigs down is death by a few dozen cuts. Offsetting any of them even in a small way is worth it to me. $350.00 is hardly what I call an expensive mod for these rides. Dudes payin more for molle panels to mount animal heads inside the car.
     
  8. Mar 2, 2023 at 10:17 AM
    #188
    whippersnapper02

    whippersnapper02 New Member

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    1st one is with an exhaust and no baseline shown but typed up with the gains. No dyno sheet anywhere.

    2nd one shows 5hp typed which is nothing you will feel and also sounds like they used a high gear to dyno when it should be a 1:1 gear like 4th. Still no dyno sheet though.
     
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  9. Mar 2, 2023 at 10:20 AM
    #189
    aggrobot

    aggrobot New Member

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    The first one is an exhaust and intake, yes but it does have a baseline. With no j-pipe, these exhausts bring even less value than an intake. This is more speculation, but at least ive come with actual data.

    Yes, without a retune, you cant lock the transmission for a true pull, but again, i came with *something*. You wanna pick this apart because it’s not aligning with the popular perspective, im fine with that too. It’s still more data than anyone else has brought the thread. Sure maybe they were lying about it. I’ll take the independent study/results over TRDs, or some dudes on the internet chortling at the water cooler with literally no hard info in-hand.
     
  10. Mar 2, 2023 at 10:23 AM
    #190
    whippersnapper02

    whippersnapper02 New Member

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    We'll be here for you when it just ends up making noise. That's what Toyota pals are for.
     
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  11. Mar 2, 2023 at 10:24 AM
    #191
    aggrobot

    aggrobot New Member

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    Im hoping to do some dyno results with the local tuner myself. The TCM does need a lock to do a proper dyno pull. For whatever reason, dude are happy as hell to look at a supercharged 4runner dyno without complaining about the TCM lock.
     
  12. Mar 2, 2023 at 10:29 AM
    #192
    whippersnapper02

    whippersnapper02 New Member

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    I had issues when throwing my supercharged Tacoma on the dyno with the same lockout issue and no baseline. The power does come close to TRDs claim when you take into account driveline losses but it's a supercharger, not a pipe. At least I posted up the dyno sheet though. In the end, it was still a slow turd.

    https://youtu.be/lS4DaF_QcGw
     
  13. Mar 2, 2023 at 10:40 AM
    #193
    aggrobot

    aggrobot New Member

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    My own experience with CAI are all the same. They sound neat. Gains are small. Sometimes there’s more to be had with a retune. IMO, a 10-20tq gain is just that though. Worth it? Ive decided so, others clearly have not. The anecdotal results are all the same: improved throttle response, more low-end grunt, sounds cool. Honestly this is a pedal commander competitor which I feel is more rooted in a principle that makes sense to me. But as I said from the very start - all about perspective and managing expectations.

    As an aside, that taco is awesome!
     
  14. Mar 2, 2023 at 12:53 PM
    #194
    Mr Rutherford

    Mr Rutherford New Member

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    Do what makes you happy, TRD CAI makes you happy, do it. I did. I am reminded of the great Ron Swanson:

    “The whole point of this country is if you want to eat garbage, balloon up to 600 pounds and die of a heart attack at 43, you can! You are free to do so. To me, that’s beautiful.”
     
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  15. Mar 2, 2023 at 2:18 PM
    #195
    aggrobot

    aggrobot New Member

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    Yes, it’s a 5hp gain, and also a 17lb-ft tq gain. Thats a 7.7% gain in tq in their case.

    Here’s an FJ with a CAI doing 10 pulls, and sharing the results.
    https://www.fjcruiserforums.com/threads/dyno-results-for-fj-cruiser-in-ph.435249/

    All three of the results ive shared present similar, modest gains. They could all be lying. Either way, as Ive said, there’s some actual data and shared experiences to suggest modest gains can be had.
     
  16. Mar 2, 2023 at 2:24 PM
    #196
    whippersnapper02

    whippersnapper02 New Member

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  17. Mar 2, 2023 at 2:26 PM
    #197
    aggrobot

    aggrobot New Member

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    It’s not a different engine, it’s a different head. They provide both baseline results and gains from the intake, BUT you raise a fine point about it not being 100% apples to apples though. I agree that this cant be looked at as definitive info proving anything.
     
  18. Mar 2, 2023 at 2:36 PM
    #198
    whippersnapper02

    whippersnapper02 New Member

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    It's also different internals in the dual VVT-i engine. Friction was reduced I believe by deleting one of the main bearings but it's been some time since I've read the info when it was torn down by URD. At least this dyno has proof of a measurable difference. I had that same intake for all of 5 seconds but my hood struts didn't clear the box.

    5A78E349-75DC-4E60-8768-B0A67678F69D.jpg
     
  19. Mar 2, 2023 at 2:43 PM
    #199
    aggrobot

    aggrobot New Member

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    Alright, well then we’ve sort of established that in addition to there being no data supporting the claim that they’re useless, there’s only flawed data to suggest the notion theyre not useless. I really dig this topic and hope to do some of my own info gathering on this in the very near future. If I end up throwing it on the dyno, I’ll be sure to share. Im not sure I care too much if it doesnt do anything at this point, but Id sure love to prove one way or the other for myself. Having gone through this with an old Evo 9 back in the day, I can certainly speak to how easy it is to gather the info poorly, and hopefully I’ll get some working data.
     
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  20. Mar 2, 2023 at 3:47 PM
    #200
    BGH2023

    BGH2023 Luvs his 4Runner

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    C197DA63-7A04-470A-8093-3F3B413885C3.jpg


    I like mine. If you provide data that it adds some ponies and torque, I'll like it even better.
     
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  21. Mar 5, 2023 at 12:33 PM
    #201
    TXLutzy

    TXLutzy New Member

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    I don't have much experience with 4runners - but, I do have experience tuning all sorts of other engines/vehicles.

    I scanned the thread and saw the +19 torque number. On a 287lb/ft engine +19 is 6% more torque - which is unlikely to be noticeable anywhere except for the dyno (if that claim is even true).

    What make more sense to me is: "it sounds better" to people who like engine sounds.

    Once you start adding different parts to your engine, you need to tune it to take advantage of those parts. Just slapping on a different air cleaner isn't going to add more fuel to the cylinder.....which is what a tune would do. It would take advantage of the additional air and enable more fuel to be used / burned and thus more power.

    Depending on the application, a less restrictive exhaust could actually harm drivability. You really want the torque as low down in the rev range as possible.

    I'm now inspired to see if anyone has done cam swaps, tunes, etc. 4.0l is pretty big lump. Off to youtube.
     
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  22. Mar 5, 2023 at 1:05 PM
    #202
    glwood54

    glwood54 Stop making me buy stuff!

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    There are several members on here that offer tuning for the 4R.
     
  23. May 27, 2023 at 8:24 PM
    #203
    TB693NY

    TB693NY New Member

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  24. May 27, 2023 at 8:29 PM
    #204
    BGH2023

    BGH2023 Luvs his 4Runner

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  25. May 27, 2023 at 8:44 PM
    #205
    TB693NY

    TB693NY New Member

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    Ok, so some of the parts list on the forums could be out dated so could you provide some part numbers please?

    I thought the PTR03-89100 was the whole kit or you still need to order other parts in order to install the CAI?
     
  26. May 27, 2023 at 9:10 PM
    #206
    BGH2023

    BGH2023 Luvs his 4Runner

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    their is a parts list on the first page of this thread I believe. If you buy from some of the many Toyota dealers across the country many sell the parts and offer free shipping. I used a dealer out of Kansas. https://www.lewistoyota.com/

    r
    ead through this whole tread and use the search feature. It will help ya with the whole deal. Plus some good vids on install on YouTube.

    none of the parts that I'm aware of have changed.
     
  27. May 27, 2023 at 9:13 PM
    #207
    BGH2023

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    I ordered the extra adapter listed in the pic. Made it real easy instead of splitting wires.IMG_7161.jpg
     
  28. May 27, 2023 at 9:16 PM
    #208
    BGH2023

    BGH2023 Luvs his 4Runner

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    Heres this list I used.IMG_7162.jpg
     
  29. May 27, 2023 at 11:00 PM
    #209
    whippersnapper02

    whippersnapper02 New Member

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  30. Jun 1, 2023 at 8:23 PM
    #210
    TB693NY

    TB693NY New Member

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    So I made contact w/ a Toyota Dealer I've purchased parts from before. He says it can be installed in my 2022 4R TRD Pro but it may fail an emissions test and pending on the state it could be an issue. So the question is has anyone that lives in a state that requires emissions testing during yearly inspections come across any issues with the TRD CAI? My mechanic said if the check engine light doesn't come on then it should pass inspection. Apparently it shows up when they hook up to the od2. Thoughts?
     

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