K&N Cold Air Intake

I just installed the K&N CAI kit, also known as the K&N FIPK Generation II, 57-9934.

Some will say it is snake oil, but I like it. Toyota says The TRD CAI doesn’t fit the newer models, the installation looks really complicated and it costs $475. The only other CAI that is legal in California is the K&N.

4Runners have a cold air intake- the stock air box and the TRD box aren’t a whole lot different. The K&N kit comes with a filter, which is arguably better than the TRD filter, an intake tube- the important part, and other miscellaneous parts. It uses the existing air box.

I installed it at night with a flashlight in less than an hour- super easy. Priced at $198 it costs quite a bit less than the TRD, which put it into my price range.

K&N includes a guarantee that it will give you an extra 5.84 HP. Hard to judge that, but it does improve acceleration and it sounds great. Curious to see if anyone else has installed this kit and what you think of it.

 

I’ve been curious about the K&N as well, wonder if anybody has any dyno data for the 4.0 engine.

 

In every car group I've belonged to over the last 20 years, the consensus has always been snake oil, or at least not enough to quantify without a drag strip or Dyno, though often the claimed gains are with the margin of error of the dyno.

I have read some anecdotal reports of improved throttle response or increased mpg though, so I'm eager to hear your longer term results.

I will say though, I'm leary of the filter itself, and would prefer a non oiled filter.

 

I think I remember seeing a post where someone dynod one with a cold air and exhaust, they gained like 8hp over stock.

The dyno chart was pretty disappointing, it showed the 4.0 making barely 150tq at 2,000rpm.

 

Top- Stock intake tube with hamster house attached to side- looks like HP killer.

K&N install with straight tube. Comes with stickers- including CARB sticker required in CA. Wonder if the TRD would fit the stock air box?

 

Dyno chart:

 

dont sure if I ever got mine to 5400rpm