Remove Pre-filter or not.

What do yall think about this? One side of me says that those Toyota engineers would not have put it there if it wasnt needed. The other half says "Damn that thing looks restrictive".

 

Are you asking about the secondary air filter? From what I have read here at TW, removing it has a greater impact on 4 cylinder Tacos than V6 Tacos. Not worth the effort, IMO.

 

I removed mine... Not much effect, if any, but it made me feel better.

 

They put it there for a reason and if it doesn't improve performance perceptibly, why would you ever take it off?

 

^^^^X2^^^^

 

x2

 

I took mine off.

#1, there are some confusing looking tutorials on how to do it but literally all you have to do is cut little hole in it, stick your finger through the hole, and pull and it will pop right out. It's not a project, it takes 5 seconds.

#2, mine was thick. Thicker than people acted like theirs was, and thicker than a pic of one someone posted on an older model. And it is thick with tar like charcoal and created enough resistance where if you held it and blew on it all the air was diverted, which was more resistance than the actual high flow air filter I put in.

#3, my high flow air filter hardly made any difference till I took it off, and then I got more of the improved throttle responce and whoosh sound that I had expected.

#4 If they didn't have to ship to california it wouldn't be there

 

I took it off b/c it was an unnecessary barrier between the outside air and my engine. I'm not saying there was no increase in HP, fuel economy, etc... I just didn't notice one.

I'd do it again if I bought another Tacoma.

 

I just ditched mine due to boredom and not giving a crap about pollution. Didn't really see and difference after, if there was any it wasn't enough to notice. It sure did look restrictive though.

 

in CA does anyone know when you have to get smog checks, i got one when i bought the truck and that's it

 

Nice try, but that's BS. There used to be at least a dozen states with identical requirements as CA. In fact, NY had the same smog requirements even in 1980 as CA. I might be wrong here, but...don't all 50 states now have the same smog requirements? I think what's different between the states is how they check it (i.e. tax us to death to see if it's still there and working).

They're required every 2 years (which year depends on the model year of your truck, not when you purchased it). The first 4 years are covered. They charge you a fee on your registration in lieu of you taking it in for a smog. Smogs are supposed to be required beginning in year 6.

 

There are a lot of things manufacturers do "for a reason" that, if changed or modded, could provide better performance.

Having said that, I removed mine but wouldn't if I had it to do over again. However, FWIW, every aftermarket CAI out there removes it...

 

Mine will be removed, just cuz

 

It's not bs.. it's how it is. California still has the strictest emission standards in the country. Some locations are slowly 'catching' up to that... but CA still has it beat. As stated above, my county in Arizona is emission exempt (though they are working on changing that). I have straight through pipes on my small block chevy with no cats... and it's legal. In CA they'd probably throw me in handcuffs lol.

The reason is for the charcoal filter to catch exhaust vapors when you shut the engine off. It's a pretty weak 'need' for as much restriction as it presents. It's not that bad either but there's a reason performance vehicles work to remove air restrictions. The engine is just an air pump... the easier it gets air, the more efficient it will work.

 

If it was produced before 74(I believe It used to change every year but I think they caped it at 74) then there are no smog requirements in ca, That being said they it can be too loud. Straight pipes would be too loud. And IMHO you would have to be an asshole to run straight pipes on the street.

 

Meh, tbh I agree with that... eventually I'm getting it reworked so it's not so loud because annoys me just as much as anyone else. That said, there's a LOT of people that seem to really love it as is lol... But yea, even for newer vehicles my county doesn't have those restrictions... yet.

 

X2. I wouldn't. I thought about putting mine back in. There wasn't any difference in HP or MPG.

 

They're required every 2 years (which year depends on the model year of your truck, not when you purchased it). The first 4 years are covered. They charge you a fee on your registration in lieu of you taking it in for a smog. Smogs are supposed to be required beginning in year 6.[/quote]

my truck is an 05 and i bought it used in 2009, so do i need to get a smog in 2011(btw my old nissan pathfinder was smogged when i got it, not my taco)

 

Ehh it was a bit hash I'm drunk and a mopar guy.