remove the hydrocarbon filter from TRD CAI?

[sandcrawler]

anyone who's installed the TRD CAI remove the hydrocarbon (secondary) filter from it? i was surprised to see one when i installed my TRD, and was thinking about it the other day so i did some searching and clearly the only reason the "old" (aFe design) TRD CAI wasn't CARB-approved was due to its lack of a hydrocarbon filter. the new 2010+ design (which is evidently a K&N, btw) has one, so... CARB-approved. i assume the new aFe CAI does not have the hydrocarbon filter? :shrug:

the new TRD CAI includes a sticker noting it is 50 state emissions-legal/CARB-approved so i was thinking that if you removed the hydrocarbon filter and slapped that sticker on the housing it would be highly unlikely you'd get any crap for it.

also, and i hope Gadget chimes in here, but apparently URD did some testing and found that the new TRD CAI causes the 4Runner to run lean, whereas the aFe doesn't. *sigh* i bought the TRD because i wanted to spare myself ever arguing with Toyota service about a non-Toyota part... now i'm wondering if i should have just gone with the aFe from the start. i do like my TRD though...

 

[sandcrawler]

wanted to add a couple relevant links:

New TRD CAI and Supercharger installs... - Toyota FJ Cruiser Forum
1GR Intake Comparisons.... - XR-Underground

it looks like Gadget's testing of the TRD CAI was actually done on an '07 FJ, so i'm wondering that much more if the lean condition he was observing was due to running the new CAI design on the previous, non-dual VVTI 1GR-FE (one would assume he did so simply because the new design is 50-state emissions legal, and was seeking a Calif.-friendly intake option). otherwise, it would seem crazy that Toyota would sell a new CAI that actually introduces a problem.

anyone running a ScanGauge and a TRD CAI seeing any codes? harper7, i'm looking at you.

 

[jawkdna]

Bumping this thread as I'm interested...

 

[Mutant138]

Prob be fine tbh. Additional chooch noises more then anything. Don't expect tangible numbers.

I run the TRD CAI with a stock dual layer filter. Waaaaaay to dusty out here to consider a performance filter.

Power to you otherwise.

 

[honda250xtitan]

Prob be fine tbh. Additional chooch noises more then anything. Don't expect tangible numbers.

I run the TRD CAI with a stock dual layer filter. Waaaaaay to dusty out here to consider a performance filter.

Power to you otherwise.

dude i ran a airaid dry CAI (cone style filter) on my titan for yearssssss out here. never had an issue but man talk about risk lol. i finally added a pre filter the last year i owned it lolol

 

[Mutant138]

dude i ran a airaid dry CAI (cone style filter) on my titan for yearssssss out here. never had an issue but man talk about risk lol. i finally added a pre filter the last year i owned it lolol

I mean yeah you can yolo it for sure. Prob be fine tbh. I do it on sports cars.

However, I go remote with this truck and rather play it cool with mechanical sympathy. Plus I bought this s**t new and it was a massive investment *cough money pit*. If it was a 5k truck yeah you know w.e. blower and a cone.

 

[monstarmike]

I just put a TRD CAI on my 2020 ORP. Nothing noticeable unless the peddle is really being mashed. I might have gotten a MPG more. Jury is still out there. Was at about 18.5 now running near 20 on the second tank after install.

I have no dash codes, but I can hook up Torque through my ODBII tool and see if anything shows in the scan section.

I've read a couple of threads on removing the hydrocarbon filter and my opinion is that we're not going to see anything noticeable during a daily drive. If you're going out to throw down on some quarter mile times maybe it helps. I'm still waiting to get some good highway miles during a trip to see if the TRD helps with mileage there. That's really what I'm interested in. For running around town the biggest help for MPG's is gonna be your tire selection.

 

[Whippersnapper02]

Removing it does nothing.

 

[Friggin Idiot]

If you're running closer to lean, using a SC, MAF calibrator, or something similar, removing it makes the exhaust smell more like a lawnmower.
I added it back (obtaining a stock air box from someone who dropped in a TRD), the exhaust smell isn't nearly as bad and I don't smell like I've been mowing the yard because I drove with the back window down.

 

[ElectroBoy]

Removing it does nothing.

This testing done in this video shows that there is a slight performance increase when you remove the hydrocarbon filter, but you can’t really feel it:
YouTube

 

[Whippersnapper02]

This testing done in this video shows that there is a slight performance increase when you remove the hydrocarbon filter, but you can’t really feel it:
YouTube

Basically nothing for your effort.