TRD cold air intake worth it?

This may have been covered already, so forgive my ignorance - does the filter that comes with the OEM TRD intake:



require oiling after cleaning, or is it a dry filter that only gets cleaned? If it is oiled, is there a replacement AEM type cleanable dry filter that fits the TRD airbox?

Next question - what do these, circled below, do on the stock intake? Apparently they must not do too much, as they are eliminated when installing the TRD intake...

 

The TRD CAI that I been installing Do Not Come with any filter and I am not going to say get the K&N Oil type ones because I have cleaned several MAF Sensors that made a code come up because they were covered with oil film and fine grim So Protect your Engine with good quality Air Filter I been using the WIX - 49350 since it fits very good and I have low pressure air cleaned mine a couple times so far no visible issues.

 

It smooth out Air flow with every rpm change shifting transmission in D making shifting softer and safer for clutch plates.

 

Uhhhh what?

 

Ummm no.

 

A better and more valuable investment would be a tune, such as from YotaWerx Tuning.

 

Every IC vehicle has an AI. Not every one has a CAI. For a very long time 99% of cars had a simple round air filter sitting directly on top of the carb that directly drew in hot under hood air. It was only in the late 80s/90s when FI started to appear that I recall seeing non-round filters and cars with ducted intakes. As late as the early 00s I remember having cars where the intake was ducted to a location that wasn’t really “cold” like for example just to the grill area behind the radiator.

 

Yes it fits fine. You have to piece together the parts but I put it on my 23 without issue.

As noted both the stock and TRD intakes are CAI. The main difference is looks and the TRD lacks the resonators so it changes the engine tone a bit. I did it because I like how it sounds, I think power gains are nonexistent.

 

Lol

 

I have installed them on 5 FJ Cruisers, 6 Tacoma's, 3 Tundra's (2007 and a 2012) two 4Runners a 2020 <--- Mine and a 2021 so that makes 16 total No issues I have all the Part numbers plus I have a person's 2018 Tacoma coming in this weekend to do.

Edit: 1 FJ Cruiser was mine 2 Tacoma's were mine and 2 Tundra's were mine.

 

Since you order the parts separately from Toyota, I take it you source the wire loom, vacuum line, zip ties, and plastic plugs for the air box separately...? Got any photos of said airbox holes that need plugging?

I'm considering this because I like the looks, but also to allow access to the passenger side of the engine. Early on, I had a fuel injector wire chewed by a critter, and it's a royal PITA to get in there for inspections with those resonators in the way.

 

I Order my parts from Bam whole sale Parts (you can too) I go to Toyota Web site Drawing for Part numbers. As for Zip ties I get from a Local Electrical Supply house (Codale Electric Supply) because I want good quality Zip ties (Panduit) that don't break like the cheap ones auto parts stores have.

The Wire Harness Adapter for the MAF I get from Michigan motorsports They have been of a good quality and extra Long at 24 Inches and Yes it cost more than the cheap Ebay ones but since I have to warrant my work.

And the Hole that needs Plug installed I have only seen that twice I do not have a Picture of that hole it is just 1 hole and both times it was the 4Runner Install and the First time I was not prepared for it so I took a piece of 1/8 inch plastic and used my Plastic heat weld to patch it close it was very time consuming So for the second one I just purchased plastic Hole push plugs and put a small bead of Silicone around it first.

 

vacuum hose is a standard item you can find in any auto parts store.

The wire loom cover is also a pretty stand part you can find on Amazon, auto parts wholesalers or at most electronic stores or online at sites like DigiKey. You could probably get away with just wrapping the exposed wire in tape but that doesn’t look as neat.

Plugging the holes is not critical. You can just put a piece of tape on the [edit meant to say side one] one if you want. The bottom one is a gap around one of the rubber isolators and it really should be left open as it functions as a drain in case water ever gets into the box.

 

It is the Little Side Hole that makes the Whistle Noise as for Tape? No can do that will just wash off and does not meet quality workmanship Standards.

The Top Hole in the Lid is for the Filter indicator Put one there.

The "Gap" around the bottom Rubber Mounting Grommet is fine to leave alone and as for Cutting Back the Wire Loom I no longer do that because for a Mere $19 I can purchase an very good extension and just plug it in be done in 10 seconds versus the time it takes to unwrap, separate and Rewrap with time being $$$$ and with guaranteeing my work I just can't.

So no Short Cuts no Tape Jobs No Problems down the road or some where way out in the Boon Docks where I really do not want the Break down to be My Fault.

 

I've not seen that wire harness extension mentioned before, just the separation of the oem wires out of the loom. Do you have a part number for that?

I'm a little unclear - do you install the filter indicator in the top hole, or plug that hole instead?

 

The indicator goes on top of the air box

 

I know that, I was just unclear whether @wdsteven used the indicator or plugged the hole.

 

Go to michiganmotorsports and Email them the Model, Year and Make with what you want because the ones I did were for 2020 TRD PRO 4Runner and a 2021 TRD Off Road 4Runner

I do not plug the Top hole I Install the Filter indicator because they Do work and save time out on the trail for quick checking of filter health.

 

So the pigtail connector from michiganautosports plugs into the existing connector in the original harness, then into the MAF plug on the air tube?

 

Yes plug -n- play but make sure you contact them for the correct one

Edit: oddly enough Toyota used 2 different brand MAF sensors and I do not know if same 5 wire plug I would think so but!

 

Typo in my post - i was referring to the small hole in the side of the box. Cut a piece of black gorilla tape round and pop it over that its never coming off and basically invisible unless you know where to look. I have the filter indicator in the top spot.

As to wrapping the wires.... I would agree that electrical tape looks less than professional at times - except - that the damn factory electrical tapes stuff all over the vehicle! I take it you are installing these for others as a service which is why you want it to look professional? If not, I'm not sure whats so hard about unwrapping the bundle and putting some loom on the sensor run, that part of the job took me about 10 minutes and cost me nothing as I had loom on hand... YMMV

 

To those who ordered parts separately - in watching one of the install videos, they show the oem MAF sensor that re-mounts onto the new TRD air tube being mounted with new allen-head screws. Do those screws come with any of the components you order separately?

Sorry for all the questions. I tend to research new projects into the ground before pulling the plug...

 

The Screws have come with some and not with some either way it is OK to me Just don't drop one Like I did on the very busy shop floor it was an adventure and a half to find it and the screws are Torx Head screws on some and other have just a plain Philips head. other than that all the Hardware required is there.

 

Yes I am installing them on other owners Rigs and I decided to go with the Extension when someone came to me with a MAF sensor not working after they Installed their own and did slice a wire with a Razor and and so looking at that made me look at what it would or could cost me to make that same mistake and it gets down the road out in the hills and fails. The cost is too high to risk reputation, Friendship, and what it would cost to fix it right.... Na I'll past on doing it that way.

 

You can purchase that part (hose)without the resonator and install that. It will save you some $

 

HPS makes the Runner specific hose but they won't sell to a CA resident even though they're in CA. I purchased the K&N tube but I never installed it and I'll be selling it soon.

 

Has anyone actually installed one of these? I'd rather do this than buy a TRD or other intake since we are just looking for cool noises.

 

I have not but I am definitely leaning this way instead of a new CAI. I just want the resonator gone, it does nothing but occupy space under the hood

 

Agreed, I’m surprised some enterprising person has not figured out a “ Resonator Delete” DIY mod.