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TRD Fresh air intake or stick with original, that is the question

Discussion in 'Performance and Tuning' started by 2021 Barcelona Red 1794, Feb 12, 2023.

  1. Feb 12, 2023 at 11:44 AM
    #1
    2021 Barcelona Red 1794

    2021 Barcelona Red 1794 [OP] New Member

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    TRD exhaust, 2 1/2 front suspension leveling kit, 285/75/R18 Toyo AT3, Under Cover SE hard lid.
    Looking for some opinions.
    I have seen some negatives and positives in here. It looks to me that the TRD fresh air intake is the same as original except for the filter and air horn.
    Is it worth the $425 to upgrade and does it actually add better air flow to the engine?
    What do you guys think?
     
  2. Feb 12, 2023 at 11:52 AM
    #2
    RobertD

    RobertD SSEM#123, ASCM#4 "I call it Vera" ~Jayne Cobb

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    Air horn? TRD Fresh?

    If you mean the TRD intake system, it uses the same lower portion as the stock intake. You get a cooler lid, a better filter, and the tubing from the air box to the engine is improved. Really depends on what you are expecting from it. If you just want better flow, look into the SABM (stock air box mod) and look into a AFE dry filter. Getting the TRD tubing would be the most beneficial part to the kit but is that worth 425....
     
  3. Feb 12, 2023 at 11:53 AM
    #3
    BlueRibbon4x4

    BlueRibbon4x4 Let’s color match it

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    The original intake actually has a offshoot in it to quiet it down. You’ll get a new intake tube as well. I noticed a 1mpg increase. Everyone has a different opinion on if it’s a gimmick. Ultimately it added some sound from the engine bay which I like.
     
  4. Feb 12, 2023 at 7:48 PM
    #4
    2021 Barcelona Red 1794

    2021 Barcelona Red 1794 [OP] New Member

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    TRD exhaust, 2 1/2 front suspension leveling kit, 285/75/R18 Toyo AT3, Under Cover SE hard lid.
    Yea, TRD Air Horn. Part number 9 of of the performance Air Intake kit PTR03-00140.
    It‘s made of rubber and fits in between the fender and lower housing.
    It must be more efficient in some way or it would not be replaced.
    I will look into the SABM though
    Thanks for the advice
     
  5. Feb 12, 2023 at 9:05 PM
    #5
    TundraTXTSS

    TundraTXTSS New Member

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    Window Breakage add on Alarm,Wireless Charger. Console Safe, Rear Dif Breather Relocation, Rear Under seat Storage, Hard wire for Radar Detector, Tonnneau Cover, Brake Sensor Protection,SABM with TRD Filter, Tailgate lock, BFG's, LED Running lights.D-3 Tuner.
  6. Feb 16, 2023 at 1:59 PM
    #6
    ryanallaire

    ryanallaire New Member

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    drop in K&N filter, removed resonator.
    I'm having issues loading the site for the SABM...
     
  7. Feb 16, 2023 at 2:13 PM
    #7
    Rocko9999

    Rocko9999 New Member

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    Better at lightening your wallet. Put the $425 in a mutual fund instead. Hopefully when you are too old to care about ambient air intakes you could have $4,200 for yourself.
     
  8. Feb 17, 2023 at 7:52 AM
    #8
    HulkSmurf14

    HulkSmurf14 ...Weighted Average...

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    Tastefully enhanced...
    Over the last x5 fill ups since doing the SABM, I have 100% increased my MPG by 1+ mpg...cost me all of $28 buying parts off Amazon...worth it in my opinion, though, I am boosted so I'm not certain on an NA engine...
     
    bulldog93, RobertD and Silver17 like this.
  9. Feb 17, 2023 at 9:16 AM
    #9
    running214

    running214 New Member

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    Bilstein 5100's, Morimoto gen 2 XB headlights and fog lights, TRD sway bar and skid plates. Nothing else needed!
    I spoke with the dealer about this issue. They have for the most part stopped selling them- unless a customer specifically wants one and then they custom order it. The service guy said that people have a tendency to over oil the filter, which then hits the MAF, and destroys it. Many people have to replace the MAF sensor then go back to the factory set up. The cost to go back to the factory set up is about 1k from the dealer, and Toyota has stopped making any claims about increased power or fuel efficiency. This mirrors my personal experience. I saw nothing noticeable from a cold air intake, so IMO its a gimmicky add on that gets you pretty much zero. I installed a K&N filter in the factory air box, and again- no improvement anywhere. I just like the idea that I dont have to replace the air filter every other oil change, so it saves me a tiny bit of cash there.
     
  10. Feb 17, 2023 at 9:22 AM
    #10
    15SR5CM

    15SR5CM New Member

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  11. Feb 17, 2023 at 9:29 AM
    #11
    Ponderosa_Pine

    Ponderosa_Pine

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    Northwest
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    Magnuson Supercharged, Dobinson Lift, 315/70r17 on Rockwarriors, Heftyfab bumper, Dirty Deeds 3” race exhaust
    I’ve done both the G-Tek kit and the do it yourself Homedepot Sabm. I did the Gtek the second time around (different tundra) and although it’s spendy it was super nice to have all the parts and they all fit as is, vs trying to get all the right pieces and cut to fit. Instructions are very detailed too. Either way SABM is the way to go along with doing the throttle body coolant bypass and charcoal filter delete (which take 15mins and are free).
     
    bulldog93 likes this.
  12. Feb 17, 2023 at 9:36 AM
    #12
    Silver17

    Silver17 Used, but returned and sold as new member

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    I haven’t driven that much since installing the magnuson intake box with the SABM but I have noticed a seemingly higher average on my scangauge that shows the MPG for the current driving session. Too soon to say for sure, as it has been unseasonably warm where I’m at lately as well which helps. I’ll definitely be keeping an eye on it, but don’t want to be naive about the fuel savings. 5 fill ups seems like a decent amount of data though if you regularly track it.
     
    HulkSmurf14[QUOTED] likes this.
  13. Feb 17, 2023 at 2:23 PM
    #13
    ryanallaire

    ryanallaire New Member

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    drop in K&N filter, removed resonator.
    I've read posts of people putting the SABM and getting odd noises or even vibrations, is this a common thing? or maybe they did something wrong?
     
  14. Feb 17, 2023 at 2:54 PM
    #14
    Silver17

    Silver17 Used, but returned and sold as new member

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    ryanallaire[QUOTED] likes this.
  15. Feb 17, 2023 at 3:56 PM
    #15
    pursuit2550

    pursuit2550 New Member

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    Stay stock. CAI are snake oil. As for the SABM, it's more of a product for boosted applications.
     
    Rocko9999 likes this.
  16. Feb 17, 2023 at 7:21 PM
    #16
    el_conquistador

    el_conquistador New Member

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    Just a few
    I love my hot air intake sound. No real mpg difference but I wasn’t expecting any.
     
    Tundra Dude 45 and tyr0981 like this.
  17. Feb 19, 2023 at 8:51 AM
    #17
    ryanallaire

    ryanallaire New Member

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    drop in K&N filter, removed resonator.
    I wouldn't say they're snake oil, they're not promising 20+ hp gains otherwise I'd agree with you. I think any mod with a tune is worth it
     
  18. Feb 19, 2023 at 1:55 PM
    #18
    pursuit2550

    pursuit2550 New Member

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    With a tune, 100%. While they don't promise 20+HP, I wise though, there is no benefit that you will actually notice. And the K&N to me are the worse. I prefer and have had on previous Tundras the AFE dry flow. I bought it so I wouldn't have to replace the OEM filter. Just wash and reinstall.
     
  19. Feb 19, 2023 at 2:34 PM
    #19
    CMikeB

    CMikeB New Member

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    I just re-installed my TRD CAI last week. First time around, I missed the "unhook negative battery terminal for a while" quote in the instructions and was left unimpressed with the performance. This time, it's behaving well enough to keep it in place. I like a neat orderly underhood appearance and it satisfies my OCD pretty well!:DResized_20230214_055455.jpg
     
  20. Apr 25, 2023 at 10:44 AM
    #20
    azTony

    azTony member since sept, 2017 and over 1,600 messages

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    The SABM a is not difficult when you buy your own parts and install yourself. It literally took about 2 hours from start to finish
     
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  21. Apr 25, 2023 at 11:03 AM
    #21
    tyr0981

    tyr0981 New Member

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    I love the noise of mine!!! But the problem is i stomp the gas now for the noise, so i say it worsens MPG..... :bikewheelie2::mudding::woot:
     
  22. Apr 25, 2023 at 12:33 PM
    #22
    RobertD

    RobertD SSEM#123, ASCM#4 "I call it Vera" ~Jayne Cobb

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    But Smiles per gallon is better :rofl::D
     
  23. Apr 25, 2023 at 12:56 PM
    #23
    ryanallaire

    ryanallaire New Member

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    drop in K&N filter, removed resonator.
    Get an exhaust :)
     
    Tundra Dude 45 likes this.
  24. Apr 25, 2023 at 1:24 PM
    #24
    RichterScale

    RichterScale I identify as a potato

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    I do too. Regardless of whether or not it's worth the money or increases performance/efficiency, etc, yada yada, that looks really sharp.
    Did you order that engine cover or did you paint it yourself?
     
  25. Apr 25, 2023 at 2:00 PM
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    CMikeB

    CMikeB New Member

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    Thank you,I painted it....a couple times!:D
     
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