Performance boost from TRD Pro Exhaust system and air filter system

I was interested in getting the TRD Pro Exhaust system and air filter system installed on my 2018 OR.

From the website, looks like they are a compatible fit:

https://www.trdusa.com/parts-detail...odels=Tacoma&categories=all&subcategories=all

https://www.trdusa.com/parts-detail...odels=Tacoma&categories=all&subcategories=all

What kind of fuel economy, horsepower, and torque improvements can be expected with these mods?

 

Effectively nothing...noise at best.

If you want to change how the truck drives, the OVTune seems relatively popular.

 

1-2hp on the intake, 3-5hp on the exhaust...all the gain is in mid-range rpm. Not much for 1200 bucks!

 

This website seems to make them sound important for offroading...thoughts?

http://www.fourwheeler.com/how-to/129-1009-10-favorite-first-truck-upgrades/

 

Lol. Like taking a pair of work boots out of the back.

 

It’s called marketing...they write an article to get you to buy aftermarket products. The truck is an extension of you...so put on what you want and not what some tool says you have to have.

 

Don't buy into the hype man. It's just marketing.

 

I had some cash to blow so I got the TRD CAI. Sounds great, looks great no extra power, no better mpg.

And your better off with a URd exhaust over a TRD one

 

Don't drink the kool-aid man. Seriously the "performance" gains are NIL. sound and aesthetics should be the only deciding factors. Different strokes for different folks

 

Seriously though it sounds great at 4-6000rpm.

But performance wise your better off taking the charcoal filter out, cutting off the restricting portion that feeds the air box from the wheel well, and getting a straight tube from The stock box that bypasses the resonator box. Similar sound, 1/3 the price. ALL THE GAINS

https://www.carid.com/2016-toyota-t...e-882403168.html?parentsubmodel[]=ENGINE|3.5L

 

Best bang for the buck:

https://youtu.be/boQfUScLQT4

 

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/2016-toyota-tacoma-v6-ecu-tuning-alpha-release.495735/

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/poll-ovtune-reviews-3rd-gen.535928/

 

Nothing but sound. If you want performance gains, do as others have mentioned and go straight to the OV tune which is probably less than the cost of the cold air and catback.

 

I wouldn't expect much from Toyota products. You can get a little more gain from some of the way less restrictive stuff out in aftermarket, but if you want real power down low you should consider the OV tune. Without the tune all I gained was top end power from my intake and exhaust mods and its not very usable power.

 

I am super happy with my TRD exhaust, no drone with a nice rumble.

 

Any noticeable improvement in fuel economy or performance?

 

I live at 7000' so every little bit helps.

 

It’s negligible. The main benefit I see from the TRD Pro exhaust is the material it’s made from. Even then, I’d only swap if your current pipes rusted out.

Most vehicles these days come with CAIs that are suitable for HP numbers above what the engine is operating at already. Turbo charged cars benefit from using a test pipe because of less restrictive flow when compared to the stock model used to pass emissions, and even then you need a tune to take advantage of it.

If you’re looking to get better fuel economy and power band, look to the OVTune. It’s cheaper, and will get you what you want.

That said.. they’re both OEM, and quality parts.

 

I installed the TRD Performance Intake and TRD cat-back exhaust on my 2018 Taco at 1,000 miles, then took a long trip and now have 2,000 miles on the truck. I recommend them if you have the funds available, I paid $300 for the intake from OEM Part World (w/o the oiled filter, I retained the stock paper filter) and $700 for the exhaust when my dealer matched online pricing. Technically they are probably not worth the money, but they are worth it to me. I enjoy the subtly enhanced sound and complete lack of drone, seem to feel a bit of increased power above 3,000 RPM and improved gas mileage from 18 to 20 mpg overall although both of those could just be the truck breaking in. Installation was straightforward for both, about 1 1/2 hours for the intake in my garage and 2 hours for the exhaust on a lift at a local auto craft shop using the muffler removal tool and PB-Blasting and tapping a factory stripped nut on the cat to muffler connection.

Here's where I got the intake, you can save $50 by skipping the TRD oiled air filter and re-using the stock paper one like I did:
https://www.oempartworld.com/?year=...160&p=catalog&mode=search&scat=&search_in=all

I also plan to do the OV Tune 1.04 or 1.05 once Mat moves Orange Virus Tuning to Virginia, and expect that will make the truck once again subtly better.

It's all a chunk of change, but I like to "optimize" my vehicles, and this Taco will probably stay in the fleet and outlast me so I don't mind making it how I want it. HTH.

 

Just finished a 24 hour round-trip to Florida, third trip of the year. Now have 6K miles on the Taco, with 5K on the TRD intake and cat-back exhaust (also OV Tune flash). With those miles and these mods the truck now drives much better than new. Satisfying performance and appropriate sound especially above 3K RPM. Makes the truck what it should have been stock. We're bonded now. Very satisfied and would do all again.