I know this isn't at the forefront of most peoples minds who purchase a MDX but just in case you are interested let me show you what I have done.

I bought a 2015 Acura MDX Advance at 120K miles about a month and a half ago. I wanted something bigger for the kids but could satisfy my need for some more power. As you see in my signature I have had sedans up until this point. I also like the sleeper look feel so it isn't as obvious to other people on the road. Is my SUV going to blow people away? No of course not and that is not my aim but just to make it funner for me to drive when I am on my own.

-K&N Drop in filter
-Ported and Polished New OEM Throttle Body sent into Halferland performance (high heat reflective silver paint on it too)
-P2R throttle body spacer with heat resistant polymer gaskets to prevent heat soak
-Halferland Performance Coolant Bypass for throttle body
-VCM Muzzler II
-RV6 Jipipe with High flow third Cat
-Roar Peddle Throttle controller

Order of install and subjective feel.

I first added on the K&N drop in filter and that seemed like a noticeable increase. Next I added the Roar peddle throttle controller. It is bluetooth so no wires. I have had sprint booster in the past on previous cars and Roar peddle seems like it could be even more aggressive at the highest settings which is too much for me. But this made the peddle feel much more sensitive and I could shift through the gears easier instead of pressing my foot to the floor. It doesn't make the car faster but it makes it funner to drive. Next I added on the VCM muzzler II to prevent most of the time if not all of VCM activation so as to be in V6 mode all the time while preventing any further problems with oil consumption or damage caused by the system itself which has caused problems on earlier models of Honda/Acura. Still could potentially be a problem on these so I am trying to prevent it. I did not feel the VCM activate previous to it. But even still I wanted to eliminate it. Next I added on the RV6 jpipe which this model has a high flow cat so I won't have to worry about emissions. In the State of Utah they don't care that it is after marker as long as there is a third cat. This mod caused me concern. I felt like I lost low and midrange torque. It was very noticeable. It is definitely louder so if you like the quiet nature of the factory one you will not like this. No drone or rasp at all just louder. Sounds like the vehicle has an after market exhaust from the inside. Not overwhelming at all just throatier. The outside only a little louder. I was trying to let it adapt to the ECU but it never got any better so I considered if it never did I would go back to stock. After doing some research I think what it did was shift the power curve upwards to the higher RPMs but I didn't want to feel like I had to red line it all the time. The next mod fixed the problem. I added on a P2R Throttle body spacer and did a throttle body coolant bypass so the air charges would be cooler and the space has the effective of a longer runner. A throttle body spacer does work and is not snake oil but you have to understand how it works. What it does is shift the power curve to favor more low end. I wanted to regain the low to mid range I lost and it did just that. It felt strong and peppy again. Before the spacer it felt off but with the combo of the two together it felt perfect. Lastly I added on the Venturi effect Throttle body by Halferland performance. I have had 2 bored out TB in the past by the late Maxbore and they felt good but this one felt even better. This process widens opens up the opening of the throttle body and the exit a little more. Also it has a smoother transition. It creates a bigger velocity stack and then once it gets to the throttle blade it opens back up again right afterwards. This process increases the speed at which the air can enter the engine. More velocity, which increases power. This mod gave me even more low end torque, mid range and top end power. The whole rev range was increased. I even had my VSA light come on for split second earlier because I lost traction lower in the rev range and I have not had that happen yet with this car.

So over all the MDX feels strong through the whole rev range. It doesn't feel like it drops off right up till redline. It feel very strong in midrange for great freeway passing power and it feesl strong down low for around town zippiness (low end torque)













If I do anymore I want to do some PNP intake runners and maybe Ktuner with a custom tune. I had Ktuner on my last car and the stock tunes I felt were garbage. The custom tune is where it is at. Specific for you vehicle, gas quality and altitude

 

Anybody updates on build? I am working on a 2014. As far as K Tuner default tunes, they don’t have base maps available for 2014-2015. It has to be custom tuned.

Any dyno numbers?

 

Those are some nice and interesting mods, one mod that I want to do to my 2019 is to add electronic exhaust cutouts so that I can hear that V6 roar LoL. I had those on my V8 sedan and the sound with those 'on' was glorious LoL.

Can you share an audio clip with RV6 Pipes?

 

Everything has been on hold for a while. Had to change my timing belt and water pump since no record of that every being done. Also ran into some money issues so I am not sure when I will do anymore. The way it drives right now I really like it. Feels quicker than stock for sure. Passing power on the freeway is the best. I hate mashing the pedal and taking forever to get where you need to go or pass. Now I can pass car with ease and quickly. Have to be careful not to go to quickly. 100 comes up pretty fast. I still kind of want to do a lightweight crank pulley to help with that even more. No dyno numbers either. I did on my 2018 TLX and my 2012 TL. The TL was wonky on the dyno and they said the SH-AWD can throw off the numbers. I was disappointed with my TL numbers even though I had the 3.7. It was coming up at just over 200 to the wheels on two different dynos. The 18 TLX when I had that was 250 to the wheels. Right now I am more focused on driving feel. Off the line power zippiness and passing power on the freeway. If you want a great tuner for Ktuner do Derek at imwtuned.com. It is pricey at $500. It was like $450 two years ago when I did it for my TL. But it was worth it. He has you do 4 modes for every calibration. 1st from cold to idle about 5-10 minutes. Then driving around town normally for 15-20 minutes or so. Then driving on the freeway at a constant speed for 20 minutes. Lasly a 3rd gear run to redline. Then he sent me back the adjustments and I would do it all over again. He did 10 revisions. But he will do as many or much as needed till he feels it is the best he can do. My car felt super smooth and powerful. He is one of the best if not the best in the Honda/Acura scene for E-tunes.

 

Hey i have a 2013 rdx and i really want a throttle controller would u know where i could get one.

 

Just curious, in terms of 'fitment', which RV6 J-pipe with high flow cat did they recommend / you specifically install?
Reason being, when I input vehicle information on the RV6 website for the MDX is does not return a result for an MDX J-pipe at all.

 

I just checked right now. If you click on acura, 3rd gen MDX 2014-2020 then exhaust it will show the long tube jpipe. Maybe they were out when you checked. But this is the exact same pipe without any modifications as the honda pilot 3rd gen 16-22 and honda ridgeline 2nd gen 2017+ $669 as of today. The Jpipe already comes with the highflow cat as well so you dont have to try and add that

 

If you google roar peddle or spring booster you should be able to find throttle controller options

 

If I get a chance one day I can upload a sound clip

 

So I will be posting some more power adders soon. I bought a light weight crank pulley that I will get installed next week



Then I am going to purchase from halferland performance a Stage 2 PNP intake manifold and intake runners and have them both coated with heat resistant paint. I will also have installed with it some polymer gaskets to prevent heat soak. I ordered some used parts off of eBay to send in so I wont have any downtime. But it may take a month or so before I get those back and installed. But I will keep things updated here for anyone interested.

Oh and last side note. When I first added on the Jpipe I said it sounded throatier. I can't tell at all now so I think it quieted down to basically stock levels. I dont want to do high flow precats again. I have had them all go bad after a year or more plus they never seem to be worth it for me. But Maybe I could do an after market muffler? They dont make any exhaust options for this model so It would have to be custom. That I may not do at all. Lastly at some point I will buy a Ktuner and get a custom tune for all my parts

 

I had my acura dealership install this along with a new serpentine belt. Impressions so far are very good. It feels like it can go through the rpm range quicker and easier. The difference is very noticeable. I am pleased with the results for sure.

Next up I bought an used intake manifold (upper and lower which are the runners) to send out to have a stage 2 PNP service done on them. I probably wont get those back and installed till June since the guy doing it is backlogged. Also I bought an AFE intake box to install so that it can take advantage of the increase of air flow so as not to become a restriction or limiting factor. I will take pictures and upload those when I get them