Toyota RAV4 Forums banner
Cancel
Create thread New Garage Forums

Cold air intakes?

Jump to Latest
1 - 18 of 18 Posts
#2 ·
As the 3rd gen RAV is still a bit new... there probably isnt the demand for this type of mod for the after market manufacturers to invest in yet.... As for exhausts, take the RAV down to your local exhaust shop and see what they can come up with....
 
#3 ·
AussieRAVer said:
As the 3rd gen RAV is still a bit new... there probably isnt the demand for this type of mod for the after market manufacturers to invest in yet.... As for exhausts, take the RAV down to your local exhaust shop and see what they can come up with....
Click to expand...
good answer...but how much would be the investment to build a CAI? my guess... cost of $40-50
 
#4 ·
R&D costs money... the final parts may only cost $10 to produce in massive quantities... No one is going to develop a CAI with out researching (Who will buy the CAI if it only gives you 1hp and crap mileage?)... DYNO runs, tuning the length/diameter of pipe etc cost money.....

I'm sure someone on this site can make something up from existing parts for under $100 - but if the result is worse mileage or negligible hp gain, why bother?

Toyota surely would have spent more than 5 mins planning the intake system for best torque, power, response and mileage.....
 
#5 ·
If the marketer intends to secure CARB EO # for an intake, my guess is that this process is both onerous and time (money) consuming since they would need to deal with governmental regulatory agencies. All this gets rolled into their R&D cost to bring a relatively simple part to market, therefore adding to the timing and cost.
 
#8 ·
AussieRAVer said:
R&D costs money... the final parts may only cost $10 to produce in massive quantities... No one is going to develop a CAI with out researching (Who will buy the CAI if it only gives you 1hp and crap mileage?)... DYNO runs, tuning the length/diameter of pipe etc cost money.....

I'm sure someone on this site can make something up from existing parts for under $100 - but if the result is worse mileage or negligible hp gain, why bother?

Toyota surely would have spent more than 5 mins planning the intake system for best torque, power, response and mileage.....
Click to expand...
WOW it sounds like a lot of work...and it can be just done in a computer with the right software...and then send it to the choosen manufacture...and sell it for what? $200-$300.00. it is very hard to believe that a product that has a retail price of $200-$300...could have a high cost of production...but i may be wrong.
 
#10 ·
I think with the new makeover for the new rav4's, the buyers market has changed quite a bit. I think we will see less and less aftermarket parts for our cars. Unfortunately. You guys agree?
Click to expand...
I think aftermarket parts will always be there so people can make their own vehicle stand out. As far as performance, the V6 already has 269 hp so there is no rush to make up for insufficient power.

When I bought my integra the first thing I was looking for was a new muffler and CAI. The first thing I am looking for with the RAV4 is a trailer hitch and cargo mat. Someday I may buy a K&N Air Filter but I am not in a lineup for a CAI or dual exhaust at this time. I am only one owner though.
 
#11 ·
04passat said:
AussieRAVer said:
R&D costs money... the final parts may only cost $10 to produce in massive quantities... No one is going to develop a CAI with out researching (Who will buy the CAI if it only gives you 1hp and crap mileage?)... DYNO runs, tuning the length/diameter of pipe etc cost money.....

I'm sure someone on this site can make something up from existing parts for under $100 - but if the result is worse mileage or negligible hp gain, why bother?

Toyota surely would have spent more than 5 mins planning the intake system for best torque, power, response and mileage.....
Click to expand...
WOW it sounds like a lot of work...and it can be just done in a computer with the right software...and then send it to the choosen manufacture...and sell it for what? $200-$300.00. it is very hard to believe that a product that has a retail price of $200-$300...could have a high cost of production...but i may be wrong.
Click to expand...
Cost of the manufacturing of the componenst needed to assemble an intake is only a part of the overall cost. There are R&D costs that must get factored into the retail pricing equation, and as I stated before, if CARB certification is pursued for this part, then the regulatory process adds more cost to the marketer.
 
#12 ·
Personally I won't make a CAI for this car. This is a truck and the last thing you want to do is remove it's off-road capability by having a water sucking tube down at the bottom of your car. What you should do is make a SRI out of an existing SRI system (cut to fit) and make yourself a heatshield to block the heat and also run flex tubes to route the cold air to the filter. It's really not that bad. All you have to do is measure the throttle body and hit up a big aftermarket truck shop to see if you can get one to fit. The reason I'm saying to modify an existing SRI is because to a certain point, it's gone through the R&D... it's just not maximized. You get the flow and insulation that may not be there for home made ones.

As for exhaust, it's really not that bad either. Magnaflow sells mandrel bent tubes in sections. All you need is an exhaust shop that knows what they are doing to have them measure, you order, and have them weld it together with a resonator, hangers and flex joints. Then you just take your pick of mufflers and a tip.
 
#14 ·
go 5 hole said:
04passat said:
AussieRAVer said:
R&D costs money... the final parts may only cost $10 to produce in massive quantities... No one is going to develop a CAI with out researching (Who will buy the CAI if it only gives you 1hp and crap mileage?)... DYNO runs, tuning the length/diameter of pipe etc cost money.....

I'm sure someone on this site can make something up from existing parts for under $100 - but if the result is worse mileage or negligible hp gain, why bother?

Toyota surely would have spent more than 5 mins planning the intake system for best torque, power, response and mileage.....
Click to expand...
WOW it sounds like a lot of work...and it can be just done in a computer with the right software...and then send it to the choosen manufacture...and sell it for what? $200-$300.00. it is very hard to believe that a product that has a retail price of $200-$300...could have a high cost of production...but i may be wrong.
Click to expand...
Cost of the manufacturing of the componenst needed to assemble an intake is only a part of the overall cost. There are R&D costs that must get factored into the retail pricing equation, and as I stated before, if CARB certification is pursued for this part, then the regulatory process adds more cost to the marketer.
Click to expand...
I agree with all you are saying but how can it be so expensive if the retail price of these CAI's is only around the $200's... Is there a CAI out there that has any kind of CARB certifications?
 
#15 ·
Zeoth said:
Personally I won't make a CAI for this car. This is a truck and the last thing you want to do is remove it's off-road capability by having a water sucking tube down at the bottom of your car. What you should do is make a SRI out of an existing SRI system (cut to fit) and make yourself a heatshield to block the heat and also run flex tubes to route the cold air to the filter. It's really not that bad. All you have to do is measure the throttle body and hit up a big aftermarket truck shop to see if you can get one to fit. The reason I'm saying to modify an existing SRI is because to a certain point, it's gone through the R&D... it's just not maximized. You get the flow and insulation that may not be there for home made ones.

As for exhaust, it's really not that bad either. Magnaflow sells mandrel bent tubes in sections. All you need is an exhaust shop that knows what they are doing to have them measure, you order, and have them weld it together with a resonator, hangers and flex joints. Then you just take your pick of mufflers and a tip.
Click to expand...

Right right...if you buy a RAV for off road capability then you are not a potencial customer of a CAI but I personally didnt buy mine for off-road capabilities so i would be a potencial customer for a CAI... :wink:
 
#16 ·
04passat said:
I agree with all you are saying but how can it be so expensive if the retail price of these CAI's is only around the $200's... Is there a CAI out there that has any kind of CARB certifications?
Click to expand...
one word - QUANTITY..... If you produce only 1 it might cost you $10,000 to get it perfect... now spread that out over 1000 - R&D is now only $10 per unit....

cpotoso said:
Sorry for my ignorance, but what exactly is a cold air intake and why would one benefit from it? Thanks for your replies!!!
Click to expand...
Cold air intake allows the engine to breath in fresh air (and usually colder than under the hood so it is more dense... more OXYGEN) to make more HP

Zeoth said:
This is a truck and the last thing you want to do is remove it's off-road capability by having a water sucking tube down at the bottom of your car. What you should do is make a SRI out of an existing SRI system (cut to fit) and make yourself a heatshield to block the heat and also run flex tubes to route the cold air to the filter.
Click to expand...
Its not really a TRUCK.... its a toy trucklet.... Dont even go down that road when you can have both a CAI and stay above any water issues.... its called a SNORKEL!!
Image
</img>

If you are going to go offroad and through water this is what you really need....
 
#17 ·
CAI

I have been a big fan of this, My MP5 has a CAI, and yes it made a difference.
It will add more power but with more air that comes in the more air you will need to move out.

Cat back what ever you need to do you will have to balance this, plus under stand there will be more noise at all speeds.

Keeping this in mind changing out the filter on the cold air and be easy or be a challenge. And what I did was have to filter, one for winter one for summer, change one filter before the winter then change it before the summer...

Just adding my experience with both...
 
Save
Reply Quote Like Like
#18 ·
=XGC=OzZ said:
I have been a big fan of this, My MP5 has a CAI, and yes it made a difference.
It will add more power but with more air that comes in the more air you will need to move out.
Click to expand...
Not so sure on this - Just because you now have a CAI doesnt mean that the engine will draw more air... It only means that the air you do suck in will (Hopefully) be colder (More dense therefore more OXYGEN)

Cat back what ever you need to do you will have to balance this, plus under stand there will be more noise at all speeds.
Click to expand...
I agree on the CAT back exhaust though... this is probably what has made the most difference as this is a bigger restriction in stock standard cars than the induction side of things.....

You can have a CAI setup and still use the standard air box.... you just need to make sure that it draws all the air from OUTSIDE the engine bay....
 
1 - 18 of 18 Posts
About this Discussion
17 Replies
9 Participants
Last post:
AussieRAVer
Toyota RAV4 Forums
posts
1.1M
members
174K
Since
2004
Rav 4 World is the internet's largest Toyota Rav4 SUV and EV online forum community. Discuss towing, modifications, and more.
Full Forum Listing
Explore Our Forums
4.3 General 4.3 Mechanical 4.5 RAV4 Hybrid (except Prime) 4.5 RAV4 Prime 4.3 Exterior