TRD intake and TRD exhaust worth it???

Placebo Effect. You didn’t gain any horsepower from installing the TRD CAI. Perhaps you felt the slightest increase in throttle response, but not more horsepower.

 

I would recommend the pedal commander, no added power, but throttle response gets ten times better. You can tune it to where you like it and I've had zero issues with it. I have both the TRD intake and exhaust and it seems to breath a lot better. Sounds good too, IMHO.

 

Get the exhaust. I had the exhaust on my 2018, then a few months later got the trd intake done, literally did not notice any change in volume or performance after the intake install. The exhaust is sweet though and looks cool, the intake isnt worth it in my opinion.

 

Appreciate it!

 

Simply put, people either love or hate CAI’s. I have both the TRD CAI and the exhaust (exhaust came stock on my Pro). The sound signature between the two is perfect for me. Throttle response has been improved as well. If you have the money to spend, you won’t be disappointed. Just don’t expect any miracles.

 

Putting an exhaust and intake with stock ECU settings makes your engine run worse. All your doing is shifting the peak HP and or Torque to a different RPM while, most likely, running more rich or lean than optimal as your ECU is trying to correct your intake and exhaust situation. Any proof manufacturers claim of HP gains are dyno tests within 10 mins of resetting the ECU/EMU. In most to all cases, stock ECU tables and engine mods equal less performance after ECU learns.

Also, nearly impossible to improve the intake track between the OEM air box and throttle body. This has been tested by many memebers over the years showing that a Deck Plate mod with a K&N drop in yielded the most gains with OEM ECU settings.

 

Installed Injen’s new intake and a Borla exhaust. Overall sounds great, but no perceivable gains. The most noticeable improvement was the Pedal Commander. As others have mentioned, Pedal Commander doesn’t add any power, just removes throttle delay.

 

The delay really drives me nuts sometimes when trying to rev match. Did you notice mpg drop with the pedal commander? Thx

 

The cost of an intake and exhaust will get you an OVTune instead. The OVTune would yield over double the HP gains of an intake and exhaust, not to mention the improvement in drive-ability and response.

If you want your truck to make noises, get the intake and exhaust. If you want it to actually perform better, get the OVTune.

 

Good point. Thanks.

 

@Mrtacoman88

No, no drop in fuel economy. The majority of my driving is short commutes in traffic so it’s never been that good. Pedal commander does have an eco mode that will actually add a bit of throttle delay which does help improve fuel economy a bit.

@bladsville

agree with the tune, but like the noises too. It seems the OV Tune is the best bang for the buck to improve power and drive-ability. Plan on getting it, but seems like there are a few bugs in the newest release that still need to be worked out.

 

I have the TRD CAI, Catback Exhaust, and OVTune. She purrs when cruising at 80, and the growl sounds awesome when accelerating.

 

If you have the manual, skip the OVTune and get one of the latest Toyota factory ECU updates. If you're under warranty, you get it free. If not, I think it's $50-70 for the labor (which is basically punching in some keys on a computer). People who have test both say the updated ECU update is as good if not better than the OVTune (for the manual). I got the update and the early hesitation in my manual is all but gone now.

 

Thanks for advice man. I might have the latest ecu update. Mine is a 2018. I got no complains on hesitation or jerking like some guys are complaining here about. I feel a bit of a surge at 3500 but im pretty sure thats normal and doesnt bother me one bit. I think its just switching timing. My truck rips pretty good. I can also go very slow in second gear without lugging the engine. A lot of times i start in second without slipping my clutch, if my truck is barely rolling. I will definately check with my dealer about the ecu. My biggest complain is the lag in the gas pedal. When thats gone my truck will be like a race car haha

 

wait, you are MT?

if you are serious about your original question, then the answer is that performance is available for you. only a bit for the AT's, but the MT's have a lot on offer, so take whatever the other says with a grain of salt. i used to use the Pedal Commander and it was great until i got a proper tune (OVT). never had a problem with it either.

i have a full custom free flow exhaust with rear cat removal, the OVT performance (Otto) 93 tune, and the TRD CAI although that bit doesn't matter in the least. my truck would shock the AT guys with how it drives. if you're serious about unleashing your hardware then you can do it. but it will cost you more than the Pedal Commander and an intake. the TRD exhaust, for example, sounds nice but is horrible for performance, the muffler is very restrictive. even with OVT you'll need some exhaust work to get her going right.

 

i appreciate keeping the info going but your statement in bold is out of date. that was kind of true for some trucks for about a month after the TSB was getting installed by users here. since then Mat has been doing multiple versions of MT tunes built on 04B13 from that TSB. the difference is no longer subtle. if you want more performance beyond that TSB it is available in OVT now. of course if it was me i would probably try the TSB before buying OVT for $700+ just to see what's up.

 

Just curious if you

Just curious if you saw mpg drop with OVT performance tune. Thx

 

i've been in the same neighborhood with mileage since getting the truck Dec '16. always ranged between 16-18. even after all the work i've done i'm still in that zone, but i drive much more aggressively now since the drivetrain can actually do it. and the mileage has stayed the same, interestingly, suggesting an improvement.

one other thing, i never saw any number over 18.0 since delivery. recently OVT rebased the maps for the MT's on that TSB mentioned above and did a bunch of rewrite work on the tune, and i can now see up to 19 for the first time. i kind of have to retrain myself on throttle use to do that, though. but the same power is there if i keep my foot out of it for a little extra mileage.

 

Thanks for info man. Yea i get 18 in the city and 20 on the highway. Wish they made sixth gear taller.