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zbennett

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@JustDSM

Id be willing to bet the sixth element CAI is similar to the KN one. However, I have to ask if any special consideration is needed for the KN open box CAI?

Just so Im tracking this thread correctly, Toyota service department won't be able to tell if the truck has an OTT tune on routine maintenance?

Id hate to pay $650 to void the powertrain warranty or even the hybrid battery warranty. I can see how the service department would argue that if you fiddle with the powertrain, it could void the warranty on just about anything directly connected to it, like hybrid components, driveshafts, axles, etc.

Do you know of any stories where someone's warranty was voided because of the OTT tune?
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JustDSM

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@JustDSM

Id be willing to bet the sixth element CAI is similar to the KN one. However, I have to ask if any special consideration is needed for the KN open box CAI?

Just so Im tracking this thread correctly, Toyota service department won't be able to tell if the truck has an OTT tune on routine maintenance?

Id hate to pay $650 to void the powertrain warranty or even the hybrid battery warranty. I can see how the service department would argue that if you fiddle with the powertrain, it could void the warranty on just about anything directly connected to it, like hybrid components, driveshafts, axles, etc.

Do you know of any stories where someone's warranty was voided because of the OTT tune?
We haven't tested the K&N intake systems in-house, but several customers have run them with our calibration without issue. That said, in full transparency, we’ve seen a number of users running the K&N 63-9043 report a P04F09C code related to the Evaporative Emissions System. Since we didn’t perform the installs ourselves, it’s difficult to determine whether this is due to installation error or something inherent to the reconfiguration of the compressor inlet elbow and EVAP line routing required by that system. I only bring it up so that, if you go this route, you can take extra care during installation, especially in that area.

We do have solid testing data on the SXTH Element intake, and based on that, we can confidently say it won’t cause issues with our calibration.

Generally speaking, most intakes on the market should work fine. But one thing to watch for: manufacturers don’t always disclose whether their system requires MAF rescaling for proper fueling. That can lead to problems if overlooked. Before buying, it’s a good idea to ask the intake manufacturer what level of deviation from OE MAF scaling their system introduces, and whether they’ve validated it on stock ECU data.

Our calibrations are built using OE MAF calibration data unless otherwise specified. For example, we do offer a dedicated tune for the larger TRD Pro/Trail Hunter airbox used on the Non-Pro/Trail Hunter trucks, which will trigger a CEL if not tuned properly. We’re also actively working on building a MAF calibration library for popular aftermarket intakes where the design significantly alters airflow behavior enough to justify a tune adjustment.

Now, regarding your concern about service departments detecting the tune, they won’t. We’ve brought tuned trucks to unaffiliated dealers for routine service and TSB-related repairs (like the Transmission Debris TSB), and not once has the tune been flagged or detected. There’s no need to flash back to stock or hide anything. Our development vehicles have over 1,000 flashes with zero traces showing up in Toyota’s systems, and their warranties remain fully intact.

We’ve tuned tens of thousands of vehicles (across multiple platforms) at this point, and to date, I’m not aware of a single case where one of our calibrations has been cited as the reason for a denied warranty claim.

You’re right to note that manufacturers and dealers often take a conservative approach—they’re protecting themselves, and understandably so. If a failure is clearly caused by a modification, they’re not obligated to cover it. But it's also true that some dealers will point fingers at any non-stock component, even if they can’t definitively prove causation. If your risk tolerance is low or you’re deeply concerned about preserving warranty coverage, keeping the vehicle stock is the safest path.
 

zbennett

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We haven't tested the K&N intake systems in-house, but several customers have run them with our calibration without issue. That said, in full transparency, we’ve seen a number of users running the K&N 63-9043 report a P04F09C code related to the Evaporative Emissions System. Since we didn’t perform the installs ourselves, it’s difficult to determine whether this is due to installation error or something inherent to the reconfiguration of the compressor inlet elbow and EVAP line routing required by that system. I only bring it up so that, if you go this route, you can take extra care during installation, especially in that area.

We do have solid testing data on the SXTH Element intake, and based on that, we can confidently say it won’t cause issues with our calibration.

Generally speaking, most intakes on the market should work fine. But one thing to watch for: manufacturers don’t always disclose whether their system requires MAF rescaling for proper fueling. That can lead to problems if overlooked. Before buying, it’s a good idea to ask the intake manufacturer what level of deviation from OE MAF scaling their system introduces, and whether they’ve validated it on stock ECU data.

Our calibrations are built using OE MAF calibration data unless otherwise specified. For example, we do offer a dedicated tune for the larger TRD Pro/Trail Hunter airbox used on the Non-Pro/Trail Hunter trucks, which will trigger a CEL if not tuned properly. We’re also actively working on building a MAF calibration library for popular aftermarket intakes where the design significantly alters airflow behavior enough to justify a tune adjustment.

Now, regarding your concern about service departments detecting the tune, they won’t. We’ve brought tuned trucks to unaffiliated dealers for routine service and TSB-related repairs (like the Transmission Debris TSB), and not once has the tune been flagged or detected. There’s no need to flash back to stock or hide anything. Our development vehicles have over 1,000 flashes with zero traces showing up in Toyota’s systems, and their warranties remain fully intact.

We’ve tuned tens of thousands of vehicles (across multiple platforms) at this point, and to date, I’m not aware of a single case where one of our calibrations has been cited as the reason for a denied warranty claim.

You’re right to note that manufacturers and dealers often take a conservative approach—they’re protecting themselves, and understandably so. If a failure is clearly caused by a modification, they’re not obligated to cover it. But it's also true that some dealers will point fingers at any non-stock component, even if they can’t definitively prove causation. If your risk tolerance is low or you’re deeply concerned about preserving warranty coverage, keeping the vehicle stock is the safest path.
Thank you for your reply!

One last question. One Toyota service department manager told me that if the ECU software requires an update while at a routine service that this would wipe the tune. Is that true?
 

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JustDSM

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Thank you for your reply!

One last question. One Toyota service department manager told me that if the ECU software requires an update while at a routine service that this would wipe the tune. Is that true?
Yes, if Toyota issues a factory update, it will overwrite the tune.

We can reapply the calibration to the updated Toyota software should that ever happen (at no cost to you). There are no updates available at this time, for what that's worth, however.
 

zbennett

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Yes, if Toyota issues a factory update, it will overwrite the tune.

We can reapply the calibration to the updated Toyota software should that ever happen (at no cost to you). There are no updates available at this time, for what that's worth, however.
Thank you again sir. I appreciate your in-depth responses.
 

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We haven't tested the K&N intake systems in-house, but several customers have run them with our calibration without issue. That said, in full transparency, we’ve seen a number of users running the K&N 63-9043 report a P04F09C code related to the Evaporative Emissions System. Since we didn’t perform the installs ourselves, it’s difficult to determine whether this is due to installation error or something inherent to the reconfiguration of the compressor inlet elbow and EVAP line routing required by that system. I only bring it up so that, if you go this route, you can take extra care during installation, especially in that area.

We do have solid testing data on the SXTH Element intake, and based on that, we can confidently say it won’t cause issues with our calibration.

Generally speaking, most intakes on the market should work fine. But one thing to watch for: manufacturers don’t always disclose whether their system requires MAF rescaling for proper fueling. That can lead to problems if overlooked. Before buying, it’s a good idea to ask the intake manufacturer what level of deviation from OE MAF scaling their system introduces, and whether they’ve validated it on stock ECU data.

Our calibrations are built using OE MAF calibration data unless otherwise specified. For example, we do offer a dedicated tune for the larger TRD Pro/Trail Hunter airbox used on the Non-Pro/Trail Hunter trucks, which will trigger a CEL if not tuned properly. We’re also actively working on building a MAF calibration library for popular aftermarket intakes where the design significantly alters airflow behavior enough to justify a tune adjustment.

Now, regarding your concern about service departments detecting the tune, they won’t. We’ve brought tuned trucks to unaffiliated dealers for routine service and TSB-related repairs (like the Transmission Debris TSB), and not once has the tune been flagged or detected. There’s no need to flash back to stock or hide anything. Our development vehicles have over 1,000 flashes with zero traces showing up in Toyota’s systems, and their warranties remain fully intact.

We’ve tuned tens of thousands of vehicles (across multiple platforms) at this point, and to date, I’m not aware of a single case where one of our calibrations has been cited as the reason for a denied warranty claim.

You’re right to note that manufacturers and dealers often take a conservative approach—they’re protecting themselves, and understandably so. If a failure is clearly caused by a modification, they’re not obligated to cover it. But it's also true that some dealers will point fingers at any non-stock component, even if they can’t definitively prove causation. If your risk tolerance is low or you’re deeply concerned about preserving warranty coverage, keeping the vehicle stock is the safest path.
Having Area51 Tuning tune my truck this Saturday. I do have the SXTH Element intake. Will he have the proper tune for my platform?
 

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I'm looking at one of your retailers, and they list nothing for 2024 and beyond. Should I consider this an oversight?
 
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JustDSM

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Having Area51 Tuning tune my truck this Saturday. I do have the SXTH Element intake. Will he have the proper tune for my platform?
This intake does not require a custom MAF calibration. You’re good to go sir!
 
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JustDSM

JustDSM

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I'm looking at one of your retailers, and they list nothing for 2024 and beyond. Should I consider this an oversight?
Correct, we fully support all 2024+ Tacoma as well as 2025+ 4Runner (all trim levels, transmissions, including gas/hybrid models)
 

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What can we expect with the stage 2? Or are you just in the teasing stage 🤣
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