Cold air intake for performance and mileage?

Was wondering if any/many of you have installed aftermarket cold air intakes? Some say it helps with performance and mileage?
Your thoughts. Thanks
Just purchased a 4runner TRD off-road 2017, already thinking of all the modifications I want to move down the road.
Getting ready to order a Gobi rack for starters.

 

Congrats on rig! Looks great! General consensus is that CAI's don't add power or MPG. Really all you are getting is the cool sound it makes when you step on the skinny pedal. It may add 1-2hp but I doubt the ol' butt dyno will be able to notice. But they do sound pretty awesome!

 

Thanks,had a feeling I was going to be the answer. I like the sound, but I think I'll use my money for other modifications instead.

 

Good plan!

 

I was under this impression too but am seeing .7 mpg more after install. With 295s, 3" lift, steel skids and sliders, and a lead foot mind you. Others are stating 1-2mpg increase depending on mods/weight

 

DON'T BUY IN TO ALL THE HYPE LIKE WHAT K AND M FILTERS WILL BOOST YOUR PERFORMANCE BY 20 OR MORE HORSES ITS BS YOU BEST BET IS TO STAY WITH YOUR FACTORY EQUIPMENT TOYOTA KNOWS WHAT'S BEST FOR YOUR ENGINE.THAT'S WHY THEY WILL GO 400.000 MILES MY 4RUNNER HAS 345.500 MILES ON IT AND STILL RUNS AS GOOD AS EVER BECAUSE I BUY ALL MY PARTS FROM CAMELBACK TOYOTA THERE PRICES ARE MORE THEN FAIR. AND ALL THE PART ARE OEM TOYOTA CERTIFIED. LARRY B

 

Congrats on the new 4Runner! I was wondering the same thing for my 2009 4Runner. If you had to choose a Cold Air Intake, which one would you go with?

 

Today, I purchased the AFE Intake, Throttle Body Spacer, and Exhaust (20% off through AFE web). Suggested +36HP total. We'll see... Intake is on back order until next week. Will post pics and thoughts once installed. Also picked up a Pedal Commander so I'm looking forward to better response out of the 'Ol Girl

 

would you do a wright up after you install that product i want to know if you feel a noticeable difference in your 4runners performance and or gas mileage.

 

Feelings don't matter. Data does. You need to quantify results, because anyone that spends money for this stuff will tell you that it "feels" quicker or more efficient, because they don't want to "feel" like they threw money away. That means strapping your car to a dyno for baseline AND post-install measurements, under the same weather and humidity conditions. Gas mileage runs are a little easier to do- select a representative loop of street and highway driving (try a hundred miles) and fill the tank back after the up with the same pump each time. I laugh when guys point out that their AVG MPG readouts moved up or down a point- this is not clean data unless the meter is reset every time. Even then, the gas pump measurement is more accurate.

People who buy this stuff won't do this, and companies hawking this stuff rarely provide data.

"Up to 36HP and +1.5 MPG gains possible!"
"It makes a cool noise now."
"I'm pretty sure that maybe it feels faster. My cousin Randy thinks so too."

These are examples of non-data.

 

Let me say this Tory... while I appreciate your passion when it comes to this subject, AFE is NOT, K&N, AirRaid, Borla, etc... they make far better products than the run of the mill noise-maker. When it comes to moving air in and out of a normally aspirated engine, (in my humble opinion), AFE does not have an equal in the commercially produced arena

 

Okay, let's see the data. Data supersedes both of our opinions.

 

AFEpower Air Intake System and Throttle Body Spacer have been installed.
3 words... Beast, Angry, & Nasty
*Paid $364 and $89 - no tax, free shipping

 

AFEpower CatBack Exhaust System installed (304 stainless with black muffler and black 4" tip. Easy bolt on though I did enlist a shop to weld the connections rather than simply using clamps. Quality construction and great tone/note not only at startup but throughout the entire RPM range as well. The combination of this exhaust and the AFE intake has my rig sounding like no other T4R I've seen (in Colorado or Florida). Ive added a pedal commander as well... and putting it simply, my truck FLIES! Last week it drove like a milk truck by comparison.
*Paid $549, no tax, free shipping

 

Cool, how much power/MPG did you gain?

 

I lost 20 horses and my MPG are worse by 3... it's NUTS!

 

Lol are you serious?

 

No

 

Find another stock 4Runner to run the quarter mile with. Mash gas pedals to floor. Both will cross the line within the margin of error for each other, about two-tenths.

 

Brother, I could tell you I did just that with my buddy and his SR5 and I could tell you I beat him by 7 lengths or 8/10 of a second and you'd just come back and say I was carrying less fuel, his tires were under inflated, I weigh 40 pounds less than him, or he has a roof rack and I dont.... and that's why I beat him. You spend your money how you want, I'll continue to spend mine the way I do, and at least one of us will continue to be happy.

In the mean time... my rig will look better, sound better, and get better gas mileage - while beating yours in the quarter mile. Though admittedly, the looks part, is simply my opinion...

 

Also... here are the dyno charts you were asking for (from AFE, not my shop). I imagine you'll find fault in the elevation, temperature, humidity, barometric pressure, position of the moon, time of day, day of the week, and other various differences of the 2 tests.

First one is intake, second is throttle body spacer. No dyno for exhaust

 

Yes! Now we're cooking with crisco. Data is not subjective. Well done on digging that up. I concede that the gains do appear to be more significant than the margin of error.

I disagree that all of the pieces add horsepower together like stacking Legos, but I digress.

P.S. Not with those heavy Icon wheels you're not

 

Well, I also like to give credit where credit is due, so... it has been fun bantering back and forth. By all accounts you are passionate and informed when it comes to this avocation that we share

 

Just want to make sure every clownshoe that gets a 2018 Runner (and then complains how slow it is) doesn't pop on the forum and think that a CAI is practically supercharging this pig.

 

Just getting a better response from the damn gas pedal would make me happy

 

THE SINGLE BEST MOD - that I have put on the truck is the Pedal Commander, period. The T4R off the lot, drives like a dog, like a milk truck.. it simply isnt enjoyable as a daily driver (from a performance standpoint). It simply cant get out of its own way. Dont get me wrong, I bought the truck for multiple reasons and I have loved it from day 1, but not necessarily for its ability to merge onto an expressway or climb highway in the mountains. Having added the PC, I have fallen in love with the truck, all over again. It removes all the lag and hesitation between your foot and the trotter body. the truck is not under powered as I had previously thought. It simply needed to be told to stop thinking about what I was asking it to do - and to just do it! I paid $280, no tax, free shipping (with a 15% off coupon). By all accounts, people appear to love the Sprint Booster as well, and its comparably priced.

 

In my truck I am the Pedal Commander



I guess I'm just weird haha!

 

I have read a lot about this mod and it is definitely on the top of the list for my rigs future enhancements.

 

Normally I would be inclined to agree with you on this matter, if not for...

1) the fact that the stock relay/signal from the actual gas pedal (ie your foot) to the throttle takes for-freakin-ever and requires you to depress the pedal to the damn floor to get moving and all the truck does is make a bunch of noise before its gets going

-and-

2) I own a PC, so when I speak to the differences it is a first hand account of the response that the T4R is capable of exhibiting when you get the factory out of the way.

As a result, the truck no longer feels under powered or like its simply over-revving while sitting in place. Drive with one before you knock it. I'll say this, I've spent $280 on far worse things in my life and I plan on driving this truck for another 12 years. I consider a mere $23/year a solid investment. The truck is a shit ton of fun to drive on asphalt now

**Id give up coffee for a month before Id get rid of the Pedal Commander - even if the name is a tad corny

 

Yes, I follow you. I know that in point-and-squirt traffic, you have to mash the pedal flat, wait for the truck to drop a gear, and then it gets moving. I just find myself driving very mellow most of the time; slow acceleration, coasting to stops, etc. I even kept the green eco light on my dash and actively use it to influence my right foot.

While not quick, the momentum that this truck brings is kind of terrifying to behold in LA traffic. Occasionally I'll find myself rocketing around one slow car only to jam the brakes to the floor, because there's someone else also going slow or turning into the lane. I remind myself that it's just not worth it, and then revert back to driving like there's an egg on the pedal.

Plus, I'm saving money on gas and brake pads.

Take this with a bit of salt. I grew up driving old Volkswagens and have learned to appreciate leaving 5 minutes early and taking the slow lane.