cold air intake

fi? Am supposed to know what that means?

 

Forced induction.

 

OP, my bottom line is that I thoroughly enjoy the way my aFe system looks, sounds and the tickle it gives my butt dyno. I also run the TRD catback so there may be some compounding benefits. It’s your money do what you want. For me it’s worth it.
TRD, aFe or S&B are all solid options.

 

TRD, S&B, Injen are all high-quality aftermarket enclosed air filter CAI.

Do not waste your money on an open-air filter system kile K&N as it will pull in heated air from the engine compartment.

I did the HPS silicone intake tube, Green Filter, and a TRD intake accelerator. I have the TRD aftermarket exhaust. I do have a tune and that was the best money spent for serious performance gains.

 

Aaaaaah

 

All modern vehicles pretty much come stock with cold air intakes. The airbox pulls air from outside the engine bay, thus a cold air intake. However, the Tacoma cold air intake doesnt have a tight seal on the airbox at the fender, and could theoretically allow warm air in from the engine bay. The TRD intake upgrade solves this problem by sealing the airbox to the fender much better, and it also provides a high flow air filter. You'll get more noise and maybe a few <5 hp gain if any. Most aftermarket cold air intakes are really only noise makers with high flow air filters providing the benefits. Just swap out your stock filter with a performance on if you want any possible gains for cheap.

 

My outfit is a 2nd gen but....should be nearly the same. The normal factory intake air temp is always right at 5 degrees over actual ambient. This intake point is in the RH fenderwell directly over hot pavement - and near the right front brake. Stop and go traffic on a hot day here in Tucson - jacks up the difference.
I have seen several versions of fitting this model of truck with a 90º rubber elbow and then running the intake passage directly back to the cowl plenum at the base of the windshield (hole saw needed). People have told me that this arrangement can get the inlet air temp closer to ambient. Also prone to suck in a bit of powder snow. Probably not worth making a change for HP sake.

 

If you really want to do this get the actual "functioning" parts of the Toyota CAI kit...a Toyota Intake Flow Accelerator and the TRD Air Filter. Although you won't get the pretty red TRD box and tubes, it will take your cost from $300 to less than $80, so it won't hurt as much when you find out it doesn't make much of a difference. I did this and it made zero difference one way or the other for MPGs. The butt dyno says it's got just a tad more pep, but who knows if that's a placebo effect or not.