Ditto. My car's a perfect test bed for things like this, because I drive around 3,000 - 3,500 miles a month, and change my oil at exactly 5,000 mile intervals, which works out to about every 6-7 weeks (!). My car is only a little over 8 months old, and has over 25,000 miles on it, but have had NO oil issues whatsoever.
I'm assuming you're basing your "engine wear" question on the assumption that taking off the snorkle will allow additional contaminants into the intake? If so, think about it; your air filter - which is the real point at which air enters your engine - is unchanged. It is STILL filtering exactly as it was before, there's just a shorter trip the air is traveling to it.

 

Although it's somewhat to help capture cooler air from closer to the front of the engine compartment, the biggest reason -as with almost all new cars -is to reduce the intake noise. All those bends and nooks in tube are computer designed to help act as a sort of muffler on the woosh of the air rushing into the airbox.
Manufacturers believe that most of the buying public wants a quiet, comfortable, isolated driving experience, and that's why even new Toyota Corollas have more body and cabin insulation than say, full size American cars of 15 or 20 years ago....

 

yup the difference between stock and a cut up air box on my 97 blazer was/is amazing. 4.3 v-6 fed through a snorkel a baseball couldn't fit through. cut half the air box off and yes it's warmer air but the engine doesnt have to work as hard to get it anymore major improvement in accel, mileage plus it now has this cool gulping sound when i stomp on it.

hopefully will remember to de-snorkel the toaster later this week.

 

Ooh, I may have you beat. I've had mine about 7 1/2 months and have 24,800.

 

WOW! That's too weird - I have exactly 24,796 miles on mine right now!
I got mine Aug. 8th...

Man, I thought I was racking up the miles quickly!

 

I'm assuming you're basing your "engine wear" question on the assumption that taking off the snorkel will allow additional contaminants into the intake? If so, think about it; your air filter - which is the real point at which air enters your engine - is unchanged. It is STILL filtering exactly as it was before, there's just a shorter trip the air is traveling to it.[/quote]

Yes , the picture Thomas posted earlier is easily understood .You have also suggested a higher flow filter which would could increase dirt I believe I have read some owner studies on this as well.

My continued skepticism is based on not understanding why Toyota would include ( and pay ) for a totally us less part . I am still hoping a Toyota mechanic will offer their opinions. Secondly , the kind of wear I'm worried about will not show up in a couple oil changes. I usually keep my vehicles to about 100,000 on the od.

 

Exact numbers? 24,746. I got it September...I wanna say the 10th. So what's that? Almost 8 months?

I've noticed I just end up racking up more miles than most people and have for the last decade or so. I guess I always end up with my life on the other side of the city from where I live. If I live on the south east, my office is on the west and my friends/church on the north side. Then if I move to the north, everything changes on me! On top of that, I'm a Realtor® so driving is a big part of my job.

What's your excuse, BoxOffice?

Sorry for the threadjack.

 

If you were on Synlube you wouldn't have to be changing the oil every 6 weeks - I just hit the 1 year mark and just shy of 10,000 miles on it and everything it still looking great and running smooth.

 

Unfortunately, I've got a 160 mile commute 3-4 days a week into L.A. That racks 'em up pretty quickly, which is why I bought the Toaster in the first place. Economy AND style!
I just realized mine will be 9 months old tomorrow!

(P.S. Threadjacking forgiven. )

 

I've read all 15 pages and finally decided to do it. Installed K&N filter, filled up my tank and ready to everything, kinda. Before I got from my automatic 26-28 mpg. Will tell u results in two weeks.

 

Wow, congratulations! You actually read all 15 pages! I would get a little annoyed by all the people who come in on page 13 and say "I've read half" or "I don't want to read it, just give me the highlights" or wotnot. I have to hand it to you for sticking it through!

 

I just did another small hwy trip again to go fly my rc airplane this weekend. Exact same route as last time. 43mpg for a total of 100miles. Couldn't quite get that 47mpg on the return trip like I did last time. But at an average of 55mpg on the freeway I'm happy with 43mpg.

 

ok, after reading every page and message in this thread, i'm gonna try this tomorrow..

I don't have the K&N yet, hopefully I can find it local. Is it a fairly common size? or are they all different?

Should I wait to pull the snorkel until I get the K&N?

 

I took my snorkel off a couple weeks ago and am still running the stock filter. My mileage improvements are modest. I think the K&N will help more. But I don't think it'll damage the engine to be using stock filter.

 

OK. I read all 15 pages and have just one question. Has anyone done this mod who lives where it gets hot? I live in the Sacramento area and today the temp was 95 degrees. **May 8th and its 95 frickin degrees sheesh** My concern is that with the snorkle off the intake will be drawing in really hot air from the engine compartment. My box is black and it is not unheard of to get 110+ degrees during the summer here. Im thinking that I will have to rig up some sort of custom intake tubing like the guys at the beginning of this thread. Any thoughts?

 

Ive done it and im in San Diego. No problems so far.

 

Ok, just pulled the snorkel. Way too easy..

The box sounds a lot throatier, very nice, we'll see about the mileage soon!

 

Ditto. Its been over 95 here all week. No diff at all in running temps so far.
My MPG has taken a hit however, with running the A/C all the time!

 

Wow. What a difference. I didnt even bother to take the bolt off. I just pulled the end off of the air box and tucked it off to one side then re-set the EFI fuse. The engine does sound much more throughty and it is peppier too. This mod is a must do. I dont know if I will get any better milage as I tend to drive like a mad suicide bomber and more power will just cause me to put my foot in it even more but the box feels great now.

 

Enjoy!