CAI Info?

[Nuke]

Well, the forum that I was a previous member on seems to have waned in it's ability to provide any useful input so here goes...

I just upgraded from an '00 3rd gen to an '08 4th gen 4.0L and have been trying to get info on what to look for in a CAI. I see the TRD and the K&N plus a few others. The TRD appears to envelope the filter element which I'd think would reduce airflow. Is there anything that I should be aware of between the various kits? Any help would be appreciated.

Also, on my Mustang, the bigger bang-for-the-buck with a CAI is a custom tune (similar to a chip reflash). Anything similar for our Toyotas?

This '08 is my 6th Toyota since 1981 and my 3rd 4Runner.

 

[Mike07SE]

Considering what's out there, the K&N would be one of the last ones on my list. Despite it having a 2-3 sided shield, it's a rather poor design of a CAI. The TRD/aFe (basically the same kit) and Volant are of the better ones out there. They use a conical filter inside of an enlcosed box that pulls cold air through the fenderwell like the factory. So now you have the better and higher flowing conical filter pulling cooler outside air through an optimized tube.

 

[riceandpho]

the trueflow works great, i have the xdi intake.

 

[Nuke]

Excellent guys, thanks. But is there any info available regarding reflashing the computer? I know that in my Mustang my CAI accounts for about 1/4 of the HP gain between the CAI & tune combo that is solld by various vendors. I'd love to be able to get more bang-for-the-buck than about 5-10 HP (and that's not neccesarily RWHP, either).

 

[CJ3Flyr]

Excellent guys, thanks. But is there any info available regarding reflashing the computer? I know that in my Mustang my CAI accounts for about 1/4 of the HP gain between the CAI & tune combo that is solld by various vendors. I'd love to be able to get more bang-for-the-buck than about 5-10 HP (and that's not neccesarily RWHP, either).

There's no quick, easy "off-the-shelf" programmer like there is for the Mustang. There's someplace (I forget:bash: ) where you can send the computer out but that has mixed results. Unichip maybe???

This CAI is of great interest to me. http://www.trueflow.com/ A couple of guys have it and claim it's pretty amazing. Search username riceandpho, I think he has one.

I have learned reading around the Tacoma & FJC forums is also helpful. Those guys tend to mod quite a bit and with the commonality of parts there's neat stuff to be learned. Not everything is 100% interchangeable but most is even if it's not cataloged that way...

:cheers:

 

[Vizwar]

I have the TRD CAI but I got it new with the truck and with the TRD cat back so I can't really say what it changed. The truck, in general, beats the pants off the stock ones I drove though.

 

[riceandpho]

trueflow xdi intake, at wot u hear this sucker sucking the air in.

 

[Uneek]

Traditionally Toyota ECUs have been one of the most difficult for the aftermarket to crack and reprogram. IIRC, I don't think there's a true reflash for the 4Runner's ECU. If anything is available, it's a piggyback system.

 

[barc111]

I have a slightly used K&N CAI you can buy cheap off of me. While working for a Toyota dealership the GM decided to accessorize mine to show customers instead of sell proofing one on the lot so I now rock the TRD.

email me: [email protected]

 

[dwallone]

I don't know about the chip-mod, however I have a TRD cat back and a TRD CAI on my truck. I negotiated them in with the dealer when I bought the truck... drove it stock for 2 weeks & had the exhaust put on... then drove it for another 2 weeks before having the CAI put on. I haven't had anything dynoed but I would guess a combined 10 hp increase... The exhaust offered a tad more off the line power (I would guess more so a gain in torque than hp). Nothing big but I could just tell I needed to not give her quite as much gas as I was having to the previous week to get the truck up to speed as quick as I wanted. There was no real gain in practical performance after the CAI install. THe only thing I could feel was in the last 2 Grand of the RMP range she pulled a little harder so really to tell a difference you have to be WOT... doesnt happen very often unless you love stopping at gas stations. ZERO mpg increase from either, but the growl from both at WOT is sick.

Hope that helps.

Oh, and there are 6 bolts used to keep the heat shield on the top of the TRD CAI... be sure to tighten them like a man before you go WOT to hear the thing. I left the dealer, did a couple "test" runs going down 40 and by the time I got to work and popped the hood 2 bolts were gone. It vibrates so much that they wiggled loose (and the dealer probably half-ass tightened them). I bought 6 replacements from home depot and tightened them myself and havent had to re-tighten yet.