TRD CAI worth it?

I have the same set up right now. TRD cold air intake and TRD catback exhaust the improvement is noticeable and besides the fact I like the set up.

 

That's a very good point. Nay-sayers are using the age old argument... with no actual experience.

I have the TRD intake - its not a CAI.... there's a less restrictive filter and a different shape box and also a different intake port.
I also have a 3" Magnaflow cat back.

When OVtune (the folks that are tuning this engine) was starting the process of tuning this engine with a chip, their first thing out of the gate was the engine needs to breath better.... specifically the exhaust.

Better intake and better exhaust = better performance. Not seat of pants BS its real.

Air flow into and out of a gasoline engine is a thing...

 

You have to wash and re-oil the filter once a year and it does a worse job filtering than paper which seems like a risk/hassle to me.

 

No. A CAI will give you a few more hp at wide open throttle only. No mpg gain at all. Actually, most see a slight loss because they give it more gas to hear the noise!

Everyone think how often they are at wide open throttle.... there you go.

 

Trd intake is a CAI by definition. The TRD intake has different parts from the OEM intake but both are cold air intakes.

 

Yeah I guess that's true ... air is being pulled in from behind the fender and not the engine bay. Toyota doesn't call it a a CAI they call it a "trd performance air intake system."

 

Absolutely... unless you have an ECU comtrolling the air intake, which it does. You can run NO filter and not get more air into the engine. The computer is not gonna let it.get more air. Now, spend $700 and now you will get a bit more air lol.

 

There is a difference in how the TRD intake seals the fender area better than the OEM from what I gathered. There is of course the different filter like many said.

 

I can honestly say the TRD intake wasn't a horrible investment. Alone it might not do a lot as @Joe23 said.

I have the TRD CAI, URD Spec-U exhaust and OVTune.
OVTune has openly said our exhaust is the most restrictive part of our truck. Being that I opened up the exhaust and TRD intake lets in at least a little more air due to the air horn design and less restrictive path; I am certain that it helps at least with my setup.

After all the mods my truck feels like night and day. I actually enjoy driving my truck daily now.

 

Prove your trd intake improves hp/torque

 

I'm running a K&N CAI but it works very well when you've got a TRD Supercharger and Doug's Tri Y shorty header

You're engine is basically a big air pump so the more air you can stuff into the engine then get it out efficiently you'll make more hp

 

Having mod numerous cars and raced them, I can confidently say you would not get much benefit with the air intake. Maybe 0.5 mpg more, but that is it.

The reason for intake/exhaust replacement is when you already tuned your vehicle to take such modification. Having just CAI won't do anything cause you are still restricted on the exhaust. If you do get new exhaust system, then you have to get your computer tuned. On top of that with more sufficient air intake/exhaust, you can adjust air-fuel ratio for better burn rate and also increase engine temperature to run higher octane better.

Most people just put CAI for looks and sound, then get the placebo affect and justifying the reason for buying them. If you really want better throttle response, I would just get a tune that adjusts your torque converter which most do. Reason why people say they get better response is not cause of shift points (it does help), but mainly due to upping the torque converter/management up. Although this can wear out the transmission/drive-train more.

 

A CAI is only worth it, IMHO, when it is joined with other mods, ie exhaust, (full exhaust from header back), turbo or supercharger, and finally a tune.

@OVTune is working on an intake TUBE (keeps the stock box, huge plus, but relapses the tube and resonator) and exhaust. However, the big kicker with him is he can create a tune to actually maximize the gains from the intake and exhaust.

 

^^^Right on! Matt at OVTune is the one person I'd go with on this one. Said the engine has no problem with getting air, its getting it out. So the best thing to do for HP/Torque gain is the OVTune, and if you want more noise go for the exhaust.
Its not that the nay sayers don't have experience with CAI's, maybe its that they have shelled the $$ out in the past and not been satisfied, and therefore choose to not do it again.

 

How do you like the spec u? I heard it is very loud and at times very obnoxious, and that is is a PITA to install due to things not lining up properly.

 

My K&N CAI I basically run it dry but use a K&N Filter sock over the filter to keep dust off the filter media . After many Years helping a Dirt track team we've found out that a oiled filter slows the car down significantly as it flattens the fuel mixture

 

It's good, can be a bit louder than I like but I have a carchemistry exhaust silencer that I'll install when the weather is nicer and it isn't nearly as bad now with the OVTune. The exhaust is only annoying at 2500 rpm, above and below that it is amazing. You can also go the Vibrant resonator route.

Things lined up okay for me, you do need to trim 1" off a section but a grinder makes short work of it.

Even before the tune it increased gas mileage and could be felt throttle response/power wise.

 

The problem is, some spend $400 on something, they expect something in return. Not just bling or sound. So they try real hard to get their butt dynos to feel something. Even imagined. There is truth, and there is fantasy. It's fantasy to think anything will come from a CAI only. Sorry guys, that's the truth.

 

I, and many others, have seen gains in mpg. I got about 2-3 better mpg with it

 

Ask the tuner tuning these trucks about the restrictions... they've had these on the dyno.

BTW I didn't make a claim about improved hp/torque but now that you mentioned it, it does.. and it's not subtle. I've been driving this truck for 2.5 years now... and STILL lovin it every time I get behind the wheel... Vrooooom.

Stock it was ... meh, I knew there was potential cause IS350 @ +300hp same engine, just sayin.