Question for you Cali guys on CAIs

Evenflow is right. I was a state certified smogtech for 4 years. Intakes and exhausts do not change a fuckin' thing when it comes to emissions testing as far as mufflers and intakes go. Hell some dyno tuned vehicles tuned in the correct hands are capable of passing EVEN CLEANER then with the stock tuning on the computer. He is not spewing BS at all. Shit has changed at this juncture for state of California inspections now. So watch your asses. Predominantly for the intakes which about 98% of the time net you 0 gains over stock.

 

If the smog tech can catch it, yes. However, most smog techs haven't a damn clue about removing the secondary filter on the Tacoma and most don't even know that there is one in the first place. As long as the air filter cleaner assembly is intact, hoses are routed correctly and everything appears to be in functional condition, as well as emissions passes and the MIL is not illuminated, you are a green light thumbs up pass.

Let me put it to you this way, the underhood emissions label has no indication that there is a secondary charcoal filter after the primary (at least I believe it doesn't last time I checked). The machine is not sophisticated enough to tell you that there is one either. 9/10 you will pass the other time being that the tech has preliminary knowledge about it. So as long as your intake is CARB legal has a label for it or you have a paper of it's certification, you should be good to go. Truthfully the majority of techs don't give a rats ass about exhaust as long as it's modification is performed after the catalytic converters.

 

The entire reason all traditional CAI's aren't legal in cali and cali emmission states is because they remove the secondary hydrocarbon filter... I tried explaining this a few weeks ago that AEM recently came out with a sort of short ram intake for the 4.0's which utilizes the stock air box and stock charcoal filter... And I was ridiculed for it, but honestly is the only carb legal aftermarket intake available at this time (for 2012+ at least) everyone else, with a 2005-2011 can still use the TRD cai kit, which also utilizes a carbon filter to be compliant.

 

Honestly there is seriously zero point in changing out the stock air box. It gets adequate air flow as it is and can more then keep up wirthe airflow demands of the 4.0 engine even in supercharged form. If it can keep up witb the demands of the 4.0 supercharged then it damn sure can keep up with the demands of the 4.0 N/A.

The intake market is nothing but a gimmick up until you talk about very high horsepower engines. Most of the time it is purely snake oil.

 

Exactly, and thats why I like the aem kit so much, it keeps the stock box and just puts a larger , smoother tube on there with an airflow accelerator on the end (very similar in design to the trd cai) and a higher flowing dry flow filter, its great, and at less than half the price of a normal cai , and it looks nice.... Just my .02 though... Im just trying to stay carb legal and have a nice looking truck

 

Me personally I'll stick to tried and true stock and keep my stealth appearance. I like it that way.

 

To each their own my dude! Its truely different strokes for different folks when it comes to the great induction debate lmao

 

I've just found the need for an aftermarket intake is unjustified as all it basically does is give you a fancy tube and a conical style oiled filter which you can reuse. It also complicates you situation for emissions purposes if you live in California and does nil for horsepower gains. Thats why I feel the way I do towards the great stock vs. Aftermarket debate. I have had my fair share of aftermarket intakes and have always found they were entirely useless. Unless of course you get an over the radiator OTR intake (which I have had to, holy crap do they work insanely well at making your modifications even more effective in power gains) but our entire intake manifold runner assembly needs a complete redesign to position the throttle body truly forward facing towards the radiator which would then make you vehicle "ram air" capable. We have an aftermarket manifold option available, but the design is so expensive that you are better off upgrade to forced induction then at which point something as little as a retune, or pulley, or even an injector/ fuel pump swap and retune or something as simple as upgrading turbo's or increasing boost will net you HUGE gains well over what ram air would ever net you for hp gain vs. cost.

 

I used to live in Cali and just wanted to say I wouldn't be worried about an officer pulling you over just to check your vehicle for parts. I've never experienced it and never knew anyone who has in the 8 years I lived out there. Maybe an over the top car might if its obvious to an officer, but I've driven several lowered, wide tires, loud exhaust, CAI, headers, tuned Mustangs and officers never pulled me over to see if I was legal or not. I wouldn't worry about an CAI on the Tacoma. It won't be that noticable.

Now, if the Tacoma had a big block sticking out of the hood and it sounded like a drag car, an officer will probably be curious and pull you over.

 

Wow guys...lol. only reason I have my K&N CAI (if you can even call it that) is that I got it off another local TW guy for $20 and I like the sound of it with my exhaust making it a bit louder but that's the only reason I have one lol

 

I completely agree with you dude... But again. That aem one I bought is souly for looks, and with it being carb legal I can justify spending $250 contrary to popular opinion. Afe actually makes a super stock kit for the tundra which is highly similar in the idea to the AEM kit that I have. I take the truck to shows so having alittle something under the hood is always fun. It's a good mix between form and function. It's just something nice to have, especially since (LEGAL) intake options for the 2012 tacomas are so few. And look, nobody who buys an intake should be looking for gains lol , persons buying an intake are looking for looks, sound, and a reusable filter... And /maybe/ I stress, maybe throttle response, but thats it lol

 

Aren't you guys going to tell him about the border crossing inspections? I mean, California is like Stalinist Russia and Nazi Germany with Ho Chi Mihn sprinkled on top.

 

My only point was that for the price of an intake I would not expect any gains out of it. It is solely a cosmetic/audible increasing mod that can potentially only complicate emissions inspections for you in California.

 

Did you, indeed, even read the OP?

 

Yes I read it a while back but this is directed at everyone in general. It does not apply so much to the OP.