TRD Cold Air Intake - initial thoughts & review

No, per the Magnuson Moss Warranty Act.

https://www.autoanything.com/popups/MossWarranty.aspx

"When accessorizing your vehicle with aftermarket parts, your warranty claim cannot be automatically denied, nor can your warranty be voided, if you install non-OEM parts in your vehicle. The burden is on the dealer to prove the aftermarket parts caused the failure. For example, if your windshield wiper motors fail, your vehicle’s warranty claim can’t be denied because you installed aftermarket windshield wipers that are different from OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) parts. Similarly, if a wheel bearing fails or a fan belt snaps and you have an aftermarket exhaust installed, the dealership would have to prove the exhaust system caused the bearing failure or the belt to snap in order to deny a warranty claim. In these types of scenarios, the dealership should have no reason to deny your claims."

 

Added an intake to my 1st gen and was happy. Did not increase HP! Definitely more noise, but it looked cool and did improve butt throttle response. Usable power lowered from 3000rpm to 2700 driving up to altitude where we go often. Sweet for skiers, less MT shifting saves the knees!

Because of that, thinking of adding this to a 2019. Need help in deciding to spend $371.20. Don't care about fancy looks or increased noise.

For those who have actually added this TRD intake to a 3rd gen V6:

• Will I really feel a difference in throttle response, or get some more better bottom end at altitude? Seems like the new tech could negate the gains seen in my 1st gen.

 

I personally did not feel any gains.. in fact, i was hoping to get a bit better millage but didn't either...But it sure looks good!!

 

Your 3 gen comes from the factory with a CAI. Check it out, look at the stock air box and see that it pulls the air from the same right fender as the TRD CAI does. Just add a K&N air filter or the TRD performance air filter.

 

Can any of you with the TRD CAI speak to any gain in MPG? I don’t care as much about gaining power as mitigating loss in MPG due to slightly larger tires than stock in the future and if this CAI improves MPG by at least 1 I think it would be worth it.

 

A CAI will do absolutely nothing to improve fuel economy.

 

If there is any gain, it's tool small to measure given all of the other variables. I have one and would probably get it again, but not mpg, but I like the "varooom" sound when you punch it.

 

Unless you know a way of violating the laws of physics, then it literally isn't physically possible for a CAI of any sort, either factory or aftermarket, to improve fuel economy in a modern fuel injected engine. Sorry, fact of life. That said, there have been some very exhaustive studies surrounding the bogus claims of "new" air filters improving fuel economy and the results were pretty convincing, a dirty/restricted air filter will eek out slightly improved fuel economy, if only because the power of the engine is so restricted which causes slower acceleration.

 

Appreciate it guys. My truck is coming and I’ve seen some YouTube vids about the TRD CAI that mention mild mpg improvement. Thanks for bringing some reality to the question. I’ll put that money to better use elsewhere.