Which cold air intake actually makes the most horsepower on the 4th Gen Toyota Tacoma? Gale Banks puts four intake systems to the test: the factory Toyota intake, K&N, SXTH Element, and Banks Ram-Air System.
Using engineering analysis, mass airflow testing, and a Mustang chassis dynamometer, Gale reveals which intake delivers the most power, which restricts airflow, and why one aftermarket intake actually produces less horsepower than stock.
In this episode of Banks Speed School, Gale examines the design and construction of each intake system for Toyota's turbocharged 2.4L T24A-FTS engine. The objective isn't simply to determine which intake flows the most air. It's to understand how intake design affects pressure loss, compressor inlet temperature, turbocharger boost, and ultimately, horsepower.
Four Intakes. One Tacoma.
Each intake was evaluated for inlet throat area, air filter surface area, filter outlet dimensions, and mass airflow. The results revealed significant differences in restriction, with the Banks Ram-Air producing 46% less pressure loss than the factory intake at the engine's peak mass airflow.
But mass airflow bench results don't necessarily translate to horsepower.
To find out what happens on the truck, Banks conducted repeatable 35-second wide-open-throttle lug-down tests on a 2024 Tacoma TRD Off-Road equipped with the non-hybrid 2.4L turbocharged engine. A Banks iDash Data Pro recorded temperatures, pressures, and engine operating parameters at 25 samples per second.
Horsepower Results
The chassis dyno results revealed dramatic differences between the four intake systems.
| Intake system | Wheel horsepower | Gain vs. stock |
|---|---|---|
| Toyota Factory | 256 hp | Baseline |
| K&N | 252 hp | -4 hp |
| SXTH Element | 268.9 hp | +12.9 hp |
| Banks Ram-Air | 279.2 hp | +23.2 hp |
The biggest surprise? Despite outperforming the factory intake on the airflow bench, the K&N intake lost 4 horsepower on the dyno. Gale explains how elevated compressor inlet temperatures can erase airflow gains and reduce engine performance.
Engineering Beyond Horsepower
The video also explores why filter size, air inlet geometry, turbocharger pressure, heat management, and sensor placement matter. Gale examines the check-engine lights encountered during K&N testing and explains why the Banks Ram-Air is engineered to deliver more power while maintaining 50-state emissions compliance.
Whether you're researching the best cold air intake for your 2024, 2025, or 2026 Toyota Tacoma, comparing K&N vs. SXTH Element vs. Banks, or simply interested in turbocharger engineering, this episode delivers the numbers behind the claims.
Data or it didn't happen.
