Is it worth it to get a CAI

A

Ah4Runner

New member
I recently purchased a 2000 4Runner SR5 with the V6 3.4L and are very satisfied. I pick up is awesome for this car and more than I was expecting. However on my last vehicle I put a CAI system and felt the improvement. So I was wondering if anyone knows about the benefits or if it's even worth getting one for this car. Thanks
ugupaguz.jpg
 
Register to hide this ad
Not really

Not many on here see a benefit Unless you also increase the exhaust flow which would Also include the 2 cats, lots of $$$.
Then there's the issue of filtration, most on here agree oem type paper filters filter the finest dust better, since they breathe 14+ more air than fuel, that's kinda important to engine longevity.

From me looking at how toyo designed their intake, i see the "constriction" (if any really) occuring within the passenger fender. Remove your passenger running light module and have a look, the tube from the air box makes a nice tight 90 degree bend then it gets skinnier and skinnier. I wonder if removing that at the bend won't help?

Then there's the air box mod (making a hole in front of air filter and placing a closeable vent on it for watery situations). Many on here swear by that but again for any Real gains you'll need more exhaust flow. Toyo took 7 HP off the 3.4 on runners compared to 1st gen tundras to 'quite' them down, waste of 7 HPs in my opinion, just turn up the sound! Luck! :banana:
 
Best bet is Airaid tube and the deck plate mod if you plan on any offroading in water. The only reason to add it is for the sound. I
 
***Caution - this post contains 0% personally tested data.***

So the motor in my T4R is basically stock; this despite my grimacing at how slow it is every time I accelerate at WOT. Why haven't I done anything to help it out? Because years of reading have convinced me that the only way to improve engine performance for our V6 rigs is to add a supercharger (a turbo would work too if that level of custom interests you), and I have always had a better use for the two to three grand minimum it would take to properly install one. More, if I did the fuel mods needed for safely running at sea level.

Once an SC is installed, I believe that mods to allow better flow on the intake and exhaust might do something other than make it sound louder/faster. And I am perfectly willing to have a few examples of dyno info change my mind - but to this point I haven't seen anything concrete, and I have looked - a lot.

tl;dr - save your money and buy an SC with fuel mods.
 
For my MR2 I had a custom header and exhaust built. Dyno tested before and after. The gains were all of 3 hp/2 tq. Kept the stock intake because real world dyno testing showed that the stock intake actually out performed every after market CAI out there. Now if I do the cams on the MR2 with the header/exhaust I can expect a measurable gain of at least 20 hp. This is for an MR2.

For the 4R I suspect your biggest gains for N/A bolts ons will be the same based on what I have read so far. Of course the TRD SC seems your best dollar to hp/tq value but dropping $200+ on a CAI for no measurable game is about 8% of the cost of that SC.

Now I wonder if anyone makes cams for the 5VZ....
 
Last edited:
Ah4Runner said:
I recently purchased a 2000 4Runner SR5 with the V6 3.4L and are very satisfied. I pick up is awesome for this car and more than I was expecting. However on my last vehicle I put a CAI system and felt the improvement. So I was wondering if anyone knows about the benefits or if it's even worth getting one for this car. Thanks
Click to expand...

My opinion... If your goal is to increase the engine's sound/volume for the cheapest price, do the deckplate mod. If you want to make space in the engine bay, maybe for a compressor or just for the looks, and you don't mind the volume increase, maybe a CAI is your best option. If you want to increase engine horsepower/mileage, I don't think it is worth it. I think the best bet for that route on the cheap is to keep maintenance up to date, fanatically (fuel filter, air filter, tire pressures, MAF, PCV) and don't run tires that are too big for the gearing.

Alternatively, if you want big power and you don't want to spend big bucks on the SC - nitrous.

BUT, I also don't have any personal experience with a CAI on these engines; only what gains I have seen on other engines and read about on this engine.
 
I have a 97, with a deck plate mod to the stock airbox, and I replaced the stock muffler with a Magnaflow stainless steel highflow muffler. The truck runs a lot better with less effort afforded to get up to speed, than it demonstrated when I first bought it. I am a proponent of open exhaust and air intake on just about naything, but I try to do it with reason. I picked up a little in MPG, when I added the muffler, and even though it will take some time to pay off the higher cost of the muffler, I can see it's impact on the engine performance and capability. Just my .02 worth.
 
With mine the ONLY thing I did to it to get better gas mileage and tried it all was to put on an AiRaid Kit and change the muffler.
I got about 2mpg better on the highway and maybe .5 to 1mpg city.

So for me personally it was well worth the $250 total for both as I saved about $150+ in fuel cost the very first month while on a close to 8000 mile trip.

The truck "feels" better, sounds as though it is breathing better and without any doubt has much better throttle response.
Power? negligible
Sound? Better depending on what muffler
MPG? definite improvement.

Overall as far as I am concerned this is what should be on the truck from the factory. The engine just feels like it runs better.
When you have owned a vehicle for more than a year, driven it many miles you know you get that connection where you can just tell when something isn't quite right, or when it is running perfect like that feel you get right after you have just gone through it, cleaned everything, changed oil, etc you can tell its just running a bit better/smoother.

That is what changing out the intake and muffler did with mine.
It DOES run just a bit better and the extra 2mpg is all the proof I need.
 
Hell, you can practically have my K&N.

**WARNING** May result in sucking up mud, water, dirt, etc. Though it makes it sound boss since it won't filter anything :driving:

I felt like I had more power after removing the CAI since it would just accelerate with no sound, versus way too much sound for little acceleration.
 
I am planning on running a snorkel and redoing the intake tubes to help with airflow. I am more interested in headers and high flow cats. I recently SCd and compared to my buddies taco with the same set up I s pushing better. I like the SC so far but I am thinking I have some air flow restrictions that are not helping me. A CAI is a possibility but I prefer to run something that will before friendly to wen I have to do creek crossinfs
 
Most snorkel systems work off the stock box in stock form unless you piece it together yourself which is easier than you think. There are a couple homemade snorkels around and I haven't seen any complaints. I might build one by the end of the summer.
 
Nunyabiz said:
That is what changing out the intake and muffler did with mine.
It DOES run just a bit better and the extra 2mpg is all the proof I need.
Click to expand...

So what does your average come out to then? 23 mpg on the highway? Did you do the high flow muffler at the same time as the CAI? $250 for both is a great price!

The only problem I see with your response is just putting a high flow muffler usually costs some low end torque. The loss is minimal and because the 5VZ is a truck engine you probably won't even notice it. It's worse if you do a cat back exhaust without a set of properly designed headers to take advantage of the reduced back pressure.

The reason I mention this is the take off will be ever so slightly slower than it already is making most put more pedal down to compensate thus reducing your gas mileage in a city traffic condition. Unless you drive you 4R like an old lady in a Prius. YMMV but even with a CAI your city driving usually takes a hit. If you are actually seeing a .5 mpg increase then you are one disciplined driver.

As for the highway, this is where you will definitely see a mpg increase. I had the same CAI + muffler only setup done in an 04 Corolla and I averaged 29-30 mpg city and 38 mpg highway. Not much better than the stock engine. I think most drivers will find the same holds true for their 4R's and never realize the cost benefits.

If you really want cheap power, lose weight. For every 8 lbs you shave off your truck (or you) you typically free up 1 hp. Get some light weight rims and tires and not only will your mpg increase but so will your acceleration and braking power because of reduction in rotational mass. I know this isn't practical for an off road vehicle but if your 4R is a paved road only warrior it's something to consider.

If that isn't enough get the SC and most have mentioned. $2600 bolt on fix and you get a nice bump in hp and torque. If you want a more efficient set up invest in a custom turbo install. Even a small turbo putting 7 psi is going to be more economical than the TRD SC and you will see about the same gains. That will set you back at least $4k though unless you do all the work yourself.

So is a CAI worth it in the end? By itself I would still say just slap a quality high flow filter in your stock air box and call it a day. For full setup? Not unless you do a whole lot of high way driving.

I have been through this situation several times on several different vehicles and the results are typically the same regardless of the engine. There is no such thing as free power. You have to lose it some where to gain it some where else. Because I am an engineer I had to prove it to myself by taking it to a dyno for a base line run and then again after the mods were done. If it costs you $50 for a filter and you get 1 mpg increase then paying $250 for a 2 mpg increase just doesn't add up in my bank account. Loud cars are over rated and I have one for a DD. :sad:

Just remember. At the end of the day it's your vehicle and if you are happy with the money you spent then that's all that matters. The rest of us are just saying what we would do with our rides. :biggrin1:
 
Kryptoroxx said:
Most snorkel systems work off the stock box in stock form unless you piece it together yourself which is easier than you think. There are a couple homemade snorkels around and I haven't seen any complaints. I might build one by the end of the summer.
Click to expand...


That is actually The plan. I can't seem to justify the 450 for the safari so I am gonna do something a little more "custom" lol
 
vanion2 said:
So what does your average come out to then? 23 mpg on the highway? Did you do the high flow muffler at the same time as the CAI? $250 for both is a great price!

The only problem I see with your response is just putting a high flow muffler usually costs some low end torque. The loss is minimal and because the 5VZ is a truck engine you probably won't even notice it. It's worse if you do a cat back exhaust without a set of properly designed headers to take advantage of the reduced back pressure.

The reason I mention this is the take off will be ever so slightly slower than it already is making most put more pedal down to compensate thus reducing your gas mileage in a city traffic condition. Unless you drive you 4R like an old lady in a Prius. YMMV but even with a CAI your city driving usually takes a hit. If you are actually seeing a .5 mpg increase then you are one disciplined driver.

:biggrin1:
Click to expand...

I have just the AiRaid intake plus their dry filter which is nice set up to the old airbox with a deckplate mod.
Then simply changed out the old stock muffler which had a pinhole at the top rear. Haven't touched the Cat though I am sure I probably should.
I am probably at best really getting maybe .5mpg better best I can tell with 100% city. 100% city where I live I was getting about 12.2-12.5 now I am getting about 12.8-13.1. Lots of up and down hills, short trips, lots of stop lights.
But definately getting around 2mpg better 100% highway.

I went from around 17.8-18.8 up to about 19.5 to 20+ (Best I got on the trip was 21.47mpg) and that mind you was derived while on a 7700 mile trip and hauling 800# of crap in the cargo area the whole time, so I would not doubt if my average mileage was better than the 19.84 that I got during that trip.
The best mileage I ever got with ZERO in the cargo area prior to that was 18.8mpg, that was best, not average.
I just haven't really done an extended highway miles road trip since that one last year so don't really have the "Non loaded down" numbers, usually if I am on the road for a full tank of gas or more it means I am going camping etc which means I am loaded with usually a few hundred pounds of gear.

So I feel I can safely say that I am getting a good 2mpg better highway.

I have noticed no appreciable difference in torque.
I spent $158 for the AirRaid and $93 for the Borla 40665 Turbo XL, though I did also spent $40 for the muffler install so technically was $290 total.

For me it was well worth it as I had tried everything to get better mpg and never gained a tablespoon better mpg no matter what I tried.

I have 17" rims not sure if they are heavier than stock or not but also have the better Tundra brakes in front and a 3" lift so smaller tires/rims are not a real option.
All I know for sure is that I am getting better highway MPG without a doubt and the engine just feels like it breathes better, runs smoother than stock now. That was very well worth the $290.
 
I've been pretty happy with my K&N CAI. Going on 7 years now with it on the truck although I did replace the cone under warranty last year.

There are a lot of haters out there though.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Members online

Total: 866 (members: 6, guests: 860)

Forum statistics

Threads
278,312
Messages
3,554,087
Members
248,016
Latest member
Advally Service

Share this page

Trending content

Back
Top