The Truth About the AFE Cold Air Intake & TB Spacer

[@sleepingpanda8927]

Came here after the install video. Thank you for your blunt honesty and real world review.

[@Mike-cu6gk]

Finally someone honest 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼 I purchased the S&B closed air intake for my 2023 v6 Tacoma, I wasn’t expecting to get any gains from this besides a little more air flow and a better sound when I step on the gas pedal, and that is exactly what happened. Even though I don’t accelerate at top speed at every red light as if I’m driving a 4 cylinder Hyundai or a 1990 Altima, it’s nice to hear a better sound when getting on the Highway instead of that screaming cat noise that come from the OEM air filter box. One last thing my gas mileage stayed exactly the same .

[@tacosauce4x4]

Yeah I’m always upfront with the mods and reviews that I do. There’s a lot of people who will make baseless claims when it comes to performance improvements, and that does nothing but put money in the pockets of manufacturers. Never understood it.

[@dru24334]

yeah i just went with the OE replacement filter from them instead of an entire intake kit. Trying out the dry filter instead of oiled ones.

[@tacosauce4x4]

Yeah just stick with OE filters for engine longevity above all else. Unfortunately the only real way to get more power out of this engine is either a tune or supercharger/turbocharger

[@benk.9889]

Thanks for the update. I have an 07 and always looking for ways to get better mpg. I did the K&N intake few years ago. No change in MPG but did notice power gains going up long hills on the highway where a gear would hold when before I would have to downshift (6spd manual). Thanks for the vids!

[@tacosauce4x4]

Yeah it definitely gives a little bump in the top end, but IMO not worth the extra noise. It's all subjective though

[@LRBP]

Most if not all intakes now days are cold air intakes from factory. Even a 2003 Tacoma with the 5vz had a cold air intake. I remember not being married and not having kids and waste a ton of cash trying 3 aftermarket intakes. At first you think they work because of the sound, after a while you start to doubt any gains. Every time I went back to stock the truck felt better. After 3 intakes I ended up just doing the elbow mod which was removing the elbow that connects the intake to the fender wall and was actually a restriction and that was free, imagine that. Now I have a 5th gen 4Runner, same thing, cold air intake from factory.

[@tacosauce4x4]

It’s a cycle that every young wrench head goes through lol

[@SeaPeople3]

I appreciate your honest observations. Throttle body spacers are a joke, indeed. As to the intake, since I believe your engine is a direct injection type you wont notice any difference. You will only notice a small difference in the regular multiport fuel injection systems, due to being able to "trick" the MAF, this is often how the people making these market the "horsepower increase", and a small MPG change. I wonder if you had a tuner if the difference between Cold air intake or stock would be visible, I'm just spit balling there. Assuming your engine is stock, your assessment is what I would expect. A thumbs up from me.

[@tacosauce4x4]

Interesting point about tuning. So the guy who developed the original VFtuner software (formerly Orange Virus) said that the most restrictive part of the whole drive train is actually the y pipe, and then the rest of the exhaust system. But then you're talking catted dump tubes, headers, new y pipe, etc. Not worth the cost of purchase and install for most

[@SeaPeople3]

@@tacosauce4x4 ahh the y pipe issue, that's unfortunate but you're right, not worth it.

[@daniksautodetailing3085]

Yes and no. For a daily driver, no gains. For a racing aspect to a car with a built motor and forced induction along with a tune in the ecu, yes more air and less restrictions is better than oem air box. Very nice previous video snd very good explanations!

[@tacosauce4x4]

Absolutely agree! This video was geared more towards people like myself who want to keep their vehicle street legal and try to eek out some more performance. And based on my findings that doesn't happen by simply dropping in an intake and spacer

[@xivyrider07x]

Glad you've seen the light brother. Throttle body spacers are useless.

[@tacosauce4x4]

It was more of a situation where curiosity got the better of me and I had to confirm for myself. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

[@pineychristian]

Most modern vehicles have a very efficient air intake from factory. I have found throttle body spacers help some vehicles. It does add torque across the RPM range. Did you test the spacer separately from the intake ? I always make 1 change at a time.

[@tacosauce4x4]

I probably should have but didn’t. Seeing as neither made a difference I can say there would have been no point in retrospect. I have had my eye on the Anderson engineering manifold spacer. Supposedly that helps to move the torque band lower, which is where these trucks need it.

[@Venumousll]

A tune and pedal Monster/commander you will notice a huge difference in performance! My 07 Tahoe Ltz is night and day difference.

[@tacosauce4x4]

I have a tune and that was the best money spent on performance by a long shot. Everything else is just a band aid

[@EPsanddrags]

what air filter system are you going to end up with? the original or k&n?

[@tacosauce4x4]

Original intake system, k&n filter.

[@wailingalen]

K&N filters have been proven to not filter as good as a good quality oem filter, but do flow better, so it's like racetrack only use at your own risk type deal, or whenever dust isn't an issue 🧐 Yes like others have said unless you already have forced induction and or other mods you will net very little, bc modern oem intakes are engineered pretty well, so most people just do it for the sound. I myself am going to install an afe super stock induction on my 23 wrangler 3.6, which is basically a resonator delete and high Flo filter, to get a little more intake whoosh noise 😋 it uses the oem air box which on these new JL is engineered pretty well, but replaces the stock tube with the resonators

[@chuyhdz3082]

Thanks for the update .. any other air intake brand you think might work ?

[@tacosauce4x4]

Unless you're running a forced induction setup it's all snake oil.

[@Smokeiescall]

I felt a small hp gain with the k&n intake. Throttle body space is definitely a waste.

[@tacosauce4x4]

Yeah, but imo it wasn't worth the noise with the AEM at least. It was loud, but not a good loud if that makes sense? At the end of the day I didn't think that, plus the relatively minor/neglibable bump was worth the price. To each their own, though.

[@Smokeiescall]

@@tacosauce4x4 I understand

[@kahai808]

I run one of these and they do shit! But I don’t want to run a snorkel. I plugged the intake hole in the wheel well because I chop my fenders. At least I have an alternate route to get air from the front. I’ve debated on putting my stock box in and make new fender liners. Haven’t decided yet.

[@tacosauce4x4]

Even with a snorkel it didn't make a power difference. If anything the snorkel amplified the noise and made it even more obnoxious. Sounded like I had a vacuum cleaner under my hood over 3k rpms

[@definitionXrp]

U don't like whistling noise?

[@tacosauce4x4]

Only while I work lol

[@scottvaj4434]

Do you know if a tune could maximize gains from this intake system? I have OTT tune on mine and am wondering if I can do anything more for some more extra power.

[@tacosauce4x4]

It might but would probably be minimal

[@chrisparker1852]

My spacer doesn’t whistle at all….🤷🏻‍♂️

[@tacosauce4x4]

I honestly think it's because of my snorkel. You can hear the intake a little bit more than stock. So with the spacer there was definitely a whistling sound

[@stevenpeterson7234]

You should have done an engine tune, high performance coils packs, bigger exhaust cam gear, headers, exhaust, bigger/straight fuel lines!! 4 ingredients to make better mpg!!

[@tacosauce4x4]

Might as well have bought a totally different truck at that point lol

[@Seattle808]

@@tacosauce4x4facts!

[@insertname8888]

Poor quality products = poor results

[@tacosauce4x4]

Yeah $400 for a hunk of plastic noise maker ain’t worth it