CAI and exhaust worth It???

Hey team
Simple and straightforward question.
Is the CAI and Exhaust system worth it? Or is it just a waste of money

Trying to increase horsepower and torque but only if the methods are worth it

 

This is just my opinion. I've had the intake and trd exhaust. The exhaust only sounds good, intake makes it rumble more until you floor it, then it sounds like a beast. I didn't notice any performance gains.
On the flip side is Sprint booster or pedal commander. Niether adds any HP but eliminates throttle response if set right
Many will swear they can stomp on the pedal just as fast probably haven't tried it or had it adjusted wrong. For me it was the best performance item short of a super charger that is $$$$ more than I can spend

 

An engine is a pump and getting the air that is at only 14.7 psi at sea level into the cylinder is the key to power and efficiency. Anything that you can do to enhance the Volumetric flow rate of the air into the engine will enhance the volumetric efficiency which is why superchargers work so well. The naturally aspirated intake design is disadvantaged because the airs temperature and pressure are at ambient conditions so the continuity equation has to be considered. The Volume flow rate or the Weight flow rate or the Mass flow rate are all related by the physical characteristics of the air where the specific weight of the air has a direct bearing as does the resulting density. But that is just one part of the equation. The other part is the velocity of the air in the intake plumbing which based on the RPM of the engine. This will be the same for both an OEM intake system and a CAI modified system. However, as the engine sucks the air into itself there are bends and sweeps and orifices and the air filter all of which each contribute to small reductions in the flow rate at the throttle plate when it is WOT which is otherwise the flow control valve. The CAI intake is banking on reducing these reductions in getting the air to the throttle plate over what the OEM air intake system has going for it. But the gain is going to be at best single digit percentage points in overall performance to be had.

The same can be said for the exhaust but anything you can do to reduce back pressure will trade some torque for the most part in the lower RPM range and will boost peek horse power in the upper RPM range. Again this also has to do with the velocity and the exhaust gas temperature both of which directly influence the volumetric flow rate of the exhaust system. As these parameters are altered the performance character of the engine is changed and often one thing is traded for another.

My testbed has been a pair of early 90's 3VZ-E's and with all of the incremental changes I have made to my 91 4Runner it drives very differently from my son's 90 4Runner that is mostly still stock and is slower. But his loves to be short shifted below 3,500 and mine likes to be reved above and kept above 3,500 with better roll-on to 5,500. Where as my sons 4Runner more of less signs off above 3,500 RPM.

 

I believe in the newer runners the computers adjust fuel and air mixture, so if you add a after market cai the computer will adjust to oem specs. I could be wrong, i mean hell i have been married 3 times so?

 

It is worth getting a CAI and exhaust, but don't expect a humongous power gain.

 

Like, I posted above in my long explanation the hp gains will be single digit percentage points for any one modification that you make. But because you are questioning the vehicles performance and what you are experiencing is getting all too familiar from your personal experience when you put you right foot down, the answer is always going to be a personal choice on the value of the modifications you decide on. If nothing else the viceral sound is a nice thing if you enjoy your 4Runner as much as I and many others do!

 

I have the Trd exhaust and like it for the sound but i do not think i gained any HP. waiting to hear someones rig with the combo of Trd CAI & Trd exhaust before i get the intake

 

I think there are other things I’d rather spend money on, TBH. @atgparker mentioned all the technical reasons. Personally, if it doesn’t have 8 cylinders, I don’t want to hear it at all.

Forced air on the other hand...

 

I originally did an Airaid CAI and Borla cat back exhaust. The Airaid was setting off the engine trouble light so I replaced it with the TRD CAI. Performance seemed to be little better with the Airaid over the TRD but was still minimal. The performance gain with the TRD intake and Borla exhaust was minimal. I did not measure horsepower but I am guessing $150 to $200 per horsepower. Is that alone justifiable? Probably not. BUT It sounds great and feels like it is more fun to drive (maybe my imagination). It puts a smile on my face that made it justifiable for me.