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2016 Toyota Tacoma Air Intake Designed to Boost Horsepower and Throttle Response

22 nov 2016

The K&N 71-9039 permits the engine to grab more air than the factory intake permitted.

The K&N 71-9039 air intake is designed to replace the restrictive factory air filter and intake.

First unveiled in 1995, the Toyota Tacoma is a compact pickup truck that is fundamentally a Toyota Hilux that has been modified and renamed for the North American market.

Three engines were available to power the vehicle. A 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine that delivers 142-horsepower and 160 lb-ft (217 N-m) of torque, a 2.7-liter four-cylinder engine that produces 150-horsepower and 177 lb-ft (240 N-m) of torque, and a 3.4-liter six-cylinder engine that generates 190-horsepower and 220-lb-ft of torque

Available as a four-wheel or two-wheel drive vehicle, it is designed to take on a 4-speed automatic and 5-speed manual transmission and comes in two cab configurations: Regular Cab and Xtracab.

The Tacoma is now in its third generation. The 2016 model comes with a choice of either a crew cab or extended cab as well as a choice of four-wheel or two-wheel drive. Off-road enthusiasts would be glad to see that the TRD off-road model with automatic transmission is being offered this year. Engine choices include a 2.7-liter four-cylinder and a 3.5-liter V-6. A new 6-speed transmission is available to go with either engine. Four-wheel drive models can come with a manual gearbox as well.

K&N offers the K&N 71-9039 Blackhawk Induction air intake system for the 2016 Toyota Tacoma. The intake system is designed to improve horsepower, throttle response, and engine sound. Estimated horsepower gain is 15.57 at 5446 rpm.

The K&N 71-9039 air intake system for the 2016 Toyota Tacoma.

The K&N 71-9039 air intake system includes a K&N RU-3102HBK washable and reusable air filter

Power is improved due to a free-flowing mandrel-bent aluminum tube that accommodates the factory mass air sensor and crankcase vent hose and round tapered universal rubber air filter with a Dryflow oil-free synthetic media. The filter can be washed after up to 100,000 miles of driving, depending on driving conditions. K&N offers an air filter cleaning kit that is specially formulated to cleanse the filter when needed.

The cold air intake system is designed to replace the restrictive factory air filter and air intake housing on the 2016 Toyota Tacoma. The low restrictive air intake permits the engine to grab a larger amount of air than the stock air intake permitted.

The tube is black powder-coated and includes a welded, engraved K&N plate for a clean, high performance appearance. It also features a heat shield that blocks hot engine air from entering the intake assuring that cool air gets into the engine.

The air intake system can be installed in about 90 minutes using common household hand tools. It is designed and engineered to allow you to use the existing factory mounting points.

The K&N 71-9039 air intake system is designed to fit the following vehicle applications:

2017 TOYOTA TACOMA 3.5L V6 Fuel Injection - All Models
2016 TOYOTA TACOMA 3.5L V6 Fuel Injection - All Models

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Colton Haaker Earns the 2016 EnduroCross Crown While Cody Webb Wins in the Finale

21 nov 2016

Colton Haaker celebrates his championship with the number 1 plate (Photo: Adam Booth)

As the dust settled in Ontario, California, Cody Webb had won the battle, but Colton Haaker won the season-long war. The sport’s two top stars made 2016 a campaign to remember with a back-and-forth battle, but Haaker’s cushion was enough that he sealed the deal with his second place finish in the final round.

In reality, Haaker only needed to finish seventh or better to capture the #1 plate. But clearly, he is not the kind of guy to play it safe. “Really, nobody would expect me to come out here and charge with so much on the line, but I’m always trying to push myself and I did that tonight,” Haaker said. “It’s what pushes me and it worked out for the championship even though going hard had me crash a few more times than I wanted.” 2016 will sit as a benchmark for the new series champion. This is the first AMA title for Haaker, who had an impressive season with five wins and three second place finishes.

Cody Webb racing in California EnduroCross

Cody Webb takes the win in the final EnduroCross race (Photo: Adam Booth)

Webb had another stellar round in Ontario with a heat win, a win in the Hot Lap competition, and the main event win. However, the season lead that Haaker had amassed proved too great in the end. Webb’s disappointment was evident after the race, but he showed class and respect for his series rival. “A few little things went wrong this year and I let the championship slip away,” Webb said. “Colton was so solid and I couldn’t chip away at his points lead this year. I’m really happy I got a convincing win tonight and look forward to carrying the momentum into next season.”

The battle for third added some drama to the final race weekend. In the end, Cory Graffunder edged out a pair of 'Tys for the final podium spot. Ty Cullins finished in fourth and Ty Tremaine in fifth in the season finale. “The race was pretty exciting tonight because somehow I got a good start from the back row and came out fifth by turn two,” Graffunder said. “And after that I had a good battle with Tremaine back-and-forth a few times.” Graffunder’s podium is especially impressive considering he had just arrived back in the US after competing in the grueling Baja 1000.

Cory Graffunder racing in California EnduroCross

Cory Graffunder races his way to the podium (Photo: Adam Booth)

On the season, Tremaine edged out Mike Brown to finish third in the 2016 standings. Proving that every point counts, Tremaine's heat race win gave him the single point that was the separation he needed to step up on the season podium.

The competitive rivalry between Haaker and Webb, as well as the sport’s hungry up-and-comers bodes well for an exciting 2017 season. K&N is proud of all the racers in the series and we look forward to a continued partnership with the series.

2016 Ontario EnduroCross Main Event Results

1. Cody Webb, KTM

2. Colton Haaker, Husqvarna

3. Cory Graffunder, KTM

4. Ty Cullins, Beta

5. Ty Tremaine, KTM

6. Noah Kepple, KTM

7. Geoff Aaron, GasGas

8. Kyle Redmond, Beta

9. Nick Thompson, KTM

10. Mike Brown, Husqvarna

11. Max Gerston, Beta

12. Trystan Hart, Husqvarna

13. Eric Rhoten, Yamaha

2016 EnduroCross Final Point Standings

201 - Colton Haaker, Husqvarna

192 - Cody Webb, KTM

127 - Ty Tremaine, KTM

126 - Mike Brown, Husqvarna

116 - Kyle Redmond, Beta

111 - Cory Graffunder, KTM

104 - Max Gerston, Beta

100 - Noah Kepple, KTM

97 - Trystan Hart, Husqvarna

90 - Geoff Aaron, GasGas

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K&N-Sponsored Rider and Driver Sara Price Presented Prestigious Rising Star Award

17 nov 2016

K&N-sponsored Sara has been a trailblazer and top competitor in motocross

The 2016 Off-Road Motorsports Hall of Fame Ceremony was a big night for K&N-sponsored racer Sara Price. The ceremony, which was held at the South Point Resort in Las Vegas, is primarily a source of recognition for individuals who have amassed a lifetime of accomplishments and contributions in the sport of off-road motorsports and racing.

However, the event also takes time to identify and award the sport’s up-and-comers. Sara Price was awarded the Rising Star award in the category of Motorcycle/ATV/UTV. Price was truly surprised by the award as the winners are not announced until the ceremony. The recognition is a huge honor since it is voted by members the Off-Road Motorsports Hall of Fame.

Price is making waves in the Super Truck world

Price's career is on an incredible ascent in the off-road racing world. She got her start racing motocross and became the first ever factory supported female racer under Monster Energy Kawasaki. Price became a multiple-time national champion in motocross and a repeat X-game medalist. She has been a trailblazer for women in off-road racing.

The talented racer doesn’t want to be defined just by gender, despite the fact that she has the looks and poise to have been a finalist in beauty contests. “Growing up I always raced against the boys in motocross,” says Price, “I get a lot of respect; the guys know I’m there to compete. That’s what I want to be known for, my talent, skill and the hard work I put in — not because I’m the only girl.”

As a true cross-discipline racer, Price has a boatload of talent

2016 has been a banner year for Price. She has expanded her competitive horizons into the Super Truck racing world. Here is another venue in which she has proven to be a trailblazer. The 24-year-old was selected to race in Australia’s Gold Coast 600 and was the only female on the starting grid. Price again showed her toughness after being involved in a violent crash in qualifying then hitting the wall hard in the first race. She was ready to race in the next event, but officials determined after the post race inspection that her truck's fuel cell had enough damage to it where it was not safe to compete in the race. Despite the frustration of being sidelined in the GC 600, Price’s future is bright in Super Truck racing. Look for big things from her in 2017.

Sara Price is truly a Renaissance woman. She’s a motocross and Supercross racing standout, a UTV Champion, an X-Games medalist, a Super Truck driver, a beauty contestant, and stunt woman. K&N is proud of Sarah and excited to continue to support and sponsor her in her pursuit of motorsports world domination!

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Testing the K&N BM-1113 Air Filter for the BMW R1200GS in the Death Valley Dirt

17 nov 2016

Death Valley is a prime testing environment for an air filter

The 12,000-mile service on the new liquid cooled BMW R1200GS is a big one. It’s the maintenance milestone that requires a valve check/adjustment, spark plug replacement, engine and drive oil change, various system checks, and an air filter replacement. That final one is the focus of this piece.

I have used K&N oil filters for years because I trust the quality, and I appreciate the 17mm nut on the filter body for easy replacement. I have also used a full range of K&N air filters on my street-only performance motorcycles. However, the GS is an adventure (ADV) bike that I ride in a full spectrum of conditions over a variety of surfaces including dirt. I have been wary of using anything but the stock paper filters in the air-boxes of any of my adventure mounts (I have owned nearly a dozen ADV motorcycles of various brands).

K&N BM-1113 and stock filter side-by-side

A side-by-side comparison of the filters emphasizes the K&N's build quality

As is my modus operandi, I did careful research on the K&N air filters that are intended for dual-sport duty. I studied K&N’s filtration testing protocols and the resulting test data. I considered the ways K&N’s engineers added extra layers of tightly-woven cotton gauze filter media for the more demanding duty of adventure riding. I noted the filter body’s sealing bead and overall construction. In the end, I felt fully confident that K&N had developed a filter element that would add a higher level of airflow to the GS’s big cylinders, while still providing excellent filtration to protect the engine.

Comparing the K&N BM-1113 alongside the stock paper filter, the K&N’s build quality and well-designed sealing surface are notable. It has a more rigid body than the stock filter element, but the sealing surface is pliable making for a reassuring fit into the GS air box. The K&N filter fits perfectly into the air box’s support frame and seals up well when the lid’s four bolts are torqued into place. Of course, the final step in the easy and quick installation is the application of the K&N “do not discard” sticker on the air box cover.

The K&N is a perfect fit in the GS air box and the seal is secure

So with the 12,000 mile service complete, including the installation of the K&N BM-1113, it was time for an adventure. The filter’s first ride would be a 1000-mile journey that would include an exploration of Death Valley, including miles of the region's dirt roads. Since Death Valley boasts the lowest point in the United States, the filter’s performance in low elevations would be tested. The ride would also include an extended high-speed freeway leg, and finally a twisty climb into 9000 foot elevation of Arizona’s San Francisco Peaks. That is clearly a viable real-world test of a filter’s performance.

So how did the filter perform? On the road, my seat-of-the-pants conclusion was that the filter’s airflow smoothed out the bike’s annoying hesitation when accelerating from about 4000 RPM. The roll-on performance was smoother and stronger. Yes, I know it is only seat-of-the-pants testing, but I will tell you that my seat spends countless hours and miles in the saddle, so I get to know my bike very well. I will vouch for the noticeable improvement in mid-range performance on the GS.

ADV bikes have multi-surface capability which requires effective filtration

As far as my overall performance impressions, they too are very favorable. The ride included an elevation change of over 9000 feet. The bike performed flawlessly at the negative 282 foot elevation of Death Valley and the heights of the northern Arizona mountains. An especially notable performance boost was the crispness of the bike’s throttle response at the highest elevations. Clearly the added airflow helped in the thin mountain air.

Upon returning home, I removed the K&N from the air box for a post ride inspection. The filter’s seal was secure and the element looked perfect. Of course the air box was spotless. I have no reservations about running the K&N BM-1113 for the next 100,000 miles that I expect to keep the big GS. I am also more than pleased that I can wash and re-oil the filter after a particularly dirty ride, rather that trash a paper filter. This adventure rider is now a convert.

For all K&N air filters for BMW R1200GS models, visit the BMW R1200GS Air Filters page.

The re-usability of the K&N filter is a big bonus for adventure riders

The author at Death Valley's lowest elevation

The filter performed well through extreme elevation changes

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K&N Racing Assembly Combines Durable Construction With Superior Performance

17 nov 2016

The K&N 100-8593 custom racing assembly offers maximum airflow for greater horsepower.

Racers are always looking for something that gives them the edge over their competition and the K&N 100-8593 custom racing assembly is one component that assists.

It includes an air box constructed of ultralight and durable K&N generation 2 carbon fiber that is durable enough to take the extreme vibrations and engine heat that always results from achieving maximum speed. Yet, as it withstands the upheaval it delivers superior airflow and is designed to increase horsepower. The rectangular air filter features multiple layers of cotton gauze media, which has been treated with a special grade of filter oil that make the strands of the cotton extremely sticky.

The air box has air horn seals for better insulation and easy installation. It is ideal for racers who drive racecars that use traditional multi-Siamese stacks.

It’s no accident that K&N uses carbon fiber in the construction of the assembly. The composite has been treated to deal with extreme heat from less than 0° up to 2500° Fahrenheit and is engineered with specific resin systems for application specific needs. To work properly there has to be a balance of fire retardant resins and ceramic blends so the component can withstand the intense heat and yet be flexible enough to avoid damage.

Matt Coffman drift car with K&N sprint car air box installed

Many racers choose K&N sprint car air boxes because of their lightweight design and added airflow

K&N offers a wide assortment of universal air box assemblies including:

• Small Sprint

• Medium Sprint

• Solid Medium Base

• Medium 4-inch Height

• Large Sprint

• Large Side Filter

• Large Base Plate

• Large Carbon Fiber

Installation is easy. Simply place the base and air horn seals, then slip the main filter assembly over the stacks and secure with the supplied spring clip clamps. K&N also offers an air filter cleaning kit that is specially formulated to cleanse the filter when necessary and recharge it so it can be reused.

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