TRD vs. K&N vs. AEM intake system
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SkylineGTRracer
New member
TRD is the exact same as the AFE but the AFE has a little scoop at the bottom.in a sense this is the best engineered in terms of pulling air out of the fender however all of them still run within the same ambient air temp. K&N is a good intake but with stock tuning they really won't reach their claimed numbers unless you are driving above 3500 RPM and above sustained. I also have a AEM air filter and has been great so far.
davefisher
New member
I use a K&N drop in filter, as I never saw much benefit to the cone style filters (other than an increased chance to ingest some water during heavy rain, etc. The K&N drop in is good and I would recommend it. Good luck in your search!
blindside
New member
i would say its all about preference.. they all would sound the same.. they just differ in looks and design.. power wise not really much over stock(well at least the sound makes you think you have that much of power increase) :thumb3:
I personally have K&N just because its cheaper, didnt wanna pay that much for a tube and a filter
I personally have K&N just because its cheaper, didnt wanna pay that much for a tube and a filter
chaz
New member
one problem with an aftermarket cai is they flow too much air, now combine that with a high flow cat back & u can/may loose some low end. so a reprogram may be in order. i had to compleltely seal my volant box, get a powercore filter & get a high flow maf (urd, etc.) to gain back my low end after those mods. a unichip programmed for just for the mods u have helps too but u may get other issues with plug in devices. (had that before)all this may only result in very little if any hp increase but at least for me it did increase throttle response & give me back bottom. 
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Aquabear
New member
I debated the same thibgs and decided on the AFE. Had got my AFE awhile ago. Impressed when opened the box. Look foward to install after finals next week. First on my list for install! Then new speakers, spark plugs, new diff fluid and see what else. Maybe a lift! Let the Summer begin!
Back when I had a supercharged tacoma, I tested all the "cold air intakes" on a full race dyno and found that ALL of them made -4 horsepower. The reason was because any aftermarket filter makes more turbulence, which actually reduces your laminar flow past the MAF and causes the computer to back off the timing because of incorrect AF measurements.
All of these plastic intake things are just snake oil and have no chance of working. I find it interesting that they are still on the market...perhaps the same people who like them might like these: https://www.amazon.com/Single-Universal-Turbonator-Inflating-Acceleration/dp/B008LR2BTM
All of these plastic intake things are just snake oil and have no chance of working. I find it interesting that they are still on the market...perhaps the same people who like them might like these: https://www.amazon.com/Single-Universal-Turbonator-Inflating-Acceleration/dp/B008LR2BTM
BlackWorksInc
New member
The TRD stuff is mainly rebranded K&N... not that I'd use an oiled filter on a modern MAF vehicle...
Pathfinder5243
New member
IMO
The K&N is a good product but not for a MAF vehicle. aFe manufactured the 4th gen. TRD intake which is a dry system. The only way to make power out of this is to remap the MAF.
The K&N is a good product but not for a MAF vehicle. aFe manufactured the 4th gen. TRD intake which is a dry system. The only way to make power out of this is to remap the MAF.
HiVel-JR
New member
OH, I hope i don't regret this.... I ask this because i dont know, plus you would be the person i would ask this.
Why not use an oiled filter on a modern MAF vehicle?
BlackWorksInc
New member
OH, I hope i don't regret this.... I ask this because i dont know, plus you would be the person i would ask this.
Why not use an oiled filter on a modern MAF vehicle?
Well I guess you could use it if you cleaned the MAF like every oil change? Basically the oiled filters use a tacky oil to make up for the fact they can't filter very well. So usually the tacky oil gets sucked through the entire intake (easily if you over oil it, occasionally still when you oil it "just right") and all over the MAF which means dust and debris sticks to the now coated intake.
Basically they foul up MAF Sensors very easily and quickly, which is why they aren't the best for use with a MAF Sensor vehicle.
Yep. I ran an oiled Amsoil filter for several years in my Ranger 4x4 and had many problems. I never over oiled it and went through 3 MAF sensors. Only 1 time was I able to clean it and have it work, the rest were wrecked. Took me awhile to figure out the cause too.
According to k&n that is an urban myth.
I have used them in every car I've ever owned and have had zero problems with any MAF. I have cleaned MAFs on my cars and never once was there any oil on them.
Personally I'd save your money on one of these intakes. Better money spent elsewhere. Unless you came across one for like 100 bucks. It's not really a justifiable upgrade.
I put an aftermarket air filter in my car day one, So I dont have to worry about if it's dirty or not. They get cleaned every 100k miles. It's easier Maintenance.
Also most people will never clean and oil their filters being they don't have the car for more than 100k miles and they come pre oiled. And if they did. It states how to oil it correctly.
I do not own stock or work for K&N. I'm a chewlies gum representative.
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I have used them in every car I've ever owned and have had zero problems with any MAF. I have cleaned MAFs on my cars and never once was there any oil on them.
Personally I'd save your money on one of these intakes. Better money spent elsewhere. Unless you came across one for like 100 bucks. It's not really a justifiable upgrade.
I put an aftermarket air filter in my car day one, So I dont have to worry about if it's dirty or not. They get cleaned every 100k miles. It's easier Maintenance.
Also most people will never clean and oil their filters being they don't have the car for more than 100k miles and they come pre oiled. And if they did. It states how to oil it correctly.
I do not own stock or work for K&N. I'm a chewlies gum representative.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
BlackWorksInc
New member
I'm just going by what I've seen. Almost everytime I've had to replace a MAF on a vehicle or had MAF DTCs on a vehicle it's been equipped with either a K&N or an oiled performance filter.
Either there was no oil on the filter and the sensors became too dirty, or the oil made it's way onto the sensor and intake tube. BMWs, Toyota, Mercedes (why would you put a K&N on a Benz!?), Ford, Chevy, ect. seen various vehicles and most common thing I saw when they had a K&N or similar style filter was one of the two above scenarios.
Either there was no oil on the filter and the sensors became too dirty, or the oil made it's way onto the sensor and intake tube. BMWs, Toyota, Mercedes (why would you put a K&N on a Benz!?), Ford, Chevy, ect. seen various vehicles and most common thing I saw when they had a K&N or similar style filter was one of the two above scenarios.
