2.7L performance on highway grades in 2005+ 4x4s

I'd expect the newer 2.7L to be quite decent in a 4x2 with less weight, smaller tires, less air-resistance, etc. I respect the older 2.7L, but with a good sense of its limitations.

The newer VVT version just doesn't strike me as having a magic power curve that belies the modest gains in its specs.

 

If so, does what Steve_P wrote (in this thread) not ring true to you? Maybe some people don't mind revving it as much? I'm still not sure what to make of it.

My driving style is geared (no pun intended) toward getting the highest MPG while not impeding traffic. I usually stay to the right unless passing.

 

Unless you are constantly commuting up hill every day don't let shifting issues keep you from buying a new truck with the 2.7l. It is an awesome engine. When the 2011 regular cab autos come out I will try out the auto and see if I like.

 

Sounds to me that the only way you're going to be able to make the proper decision is to test drive one. Are there any hilly roads near where you live?

I really have two separate opinions about the performance of my truck. I think it's too slow off the line, but it surprisingly holds speed on grades quite well. A lot better than the 85 22r 4 speed base model I used to drive for work back in the eighties. That truck was bullet proof, but damn was it slow going up hills.

 

How so, exactly? Same general displacement with more optimal breathing, but does it radically alter the power curve? To me, the specs just don't look much different: 150/177 vs. 159/180 (HP/ft. lbs.)

The torque spec is what should matter most on hills and it only increased by 2% while the weight jumped by roughly 10%, plus bigger tires and wider profile. I wouldn't hesitate to update if the body had remained the same.

It's like they squander a better engine just to move more mass around, never knowing when enough is enough.

 

Well, that's the whole reason for my asking here. I could go to Auburn or Placerville CA Toyota and convince them to let me take it dozens of miles uphill, but that's not realistic, plus it wouldn't be loosened up by the break-in.

I know of what you speak with the 2.4 22R! I've found the 2.7L to be more solid, though I've used synthetic oil in it vs. normal in the 22R. My 22R blew a rear oil seal at only 75k miles and I had to worry about the carb, etc. The 2.7 has 220k miles on it, passes smog tests easily and seems to have not lost noticeable compression. But the 22R was also going strong at 250k miles when sold, with no rebuilds.

 

Yea, I put 186,000 very abusive hard miles on that 22r and the only thing that went bad was a lower radiator hose. We did a piss poor job of maintaining those trucks, but they were dependable as hell.

I honestly think you won't be disappointed with the highway grade climbing of these trucks, but you may want to test drive one anyway to see if you're satisfied with the power. I test drove mine at South Lake Tahoe (6200 ft) and once it got rolling, I was happy with the performance. Obviously, if money was not an option, I would have bought the more powerful V6.

On my way back from Idaho last December, I had a full load in the bed and had to climb the 6 percent grade coming out of the Nampa area on hwy 95. I had no trouble climbing that grade in 4th gear. My old 85 work truck would have struggled empty.

 

Yes, the knowing is in the actual trying. Overall comments seem to say it should be manageable. I rarely trust sales folk at a dealership.

Still, maybe I'll find a way to put a VVT top-end in my current truck, or wait for a diesel in the U.S. Seems nuts to only allow those in the full-sized tanks.

 

I could probably eat the cost for a base V-6, but global Peak Oil seems right around the corner (Kuwait now predicts 2014) and I have long-term reasons for wanting the best MPG without "downgrading" to a car. Basically, I'm never going to get something with more than 4 cylinders and I still trust Toyotas.

 

Sounds smart. I think gas is going to get real expensive in the next few years. I hope I'm wrong.

 

That's the whole enchilada right there... I drove an 89' 2.4L 4x4 for 130k , then a 98' 2.7L for 125K, now I'm onto an 08' V6 4x4 bought used and i've driven it 9K. I really liked the 2.7L for all of the above reasons... adequate, dependable, and practical.. Az has some nice grades as well and the one thing I don't miss is the physical part of doing more shifting. Sure it's a thoughless process, but now it's not the mental idea of , "here comes a big hill" time to perhaps "get a run" or quick to get over with someone on my tail. When in fact I've stopped that whole process and relaxed more driving mountain roads.

It's just a bit more enjoyable driving on highway grades. The 2.7 is the real workhorse and is a tough one to walk away from because of everything mentioned.

I don't think the oil apocolypse is here yet, but may not be far off.

Azbackcountry

 

Not to get too far off topic, but a number of economists think this whole "mortgage/derivatives" recession was triggered by an oil peak in 2008, meaning those $4/gal. summer prices may have been more than trader speculation or foreign politics.

They say the high cost of oil rippled through the system and broke schemes that were already fragile. The recession killed demand right afterward, but watch when it tries to really pick up again! I don't want to be stuck with a gas-hog that could be hard to sell off.

 

I have no problem keeping up speed uphill even in fifth. If it slows down, just put the pedal to the floor. Really rare are the cases where I have to downshift to 4th at highway speed to keep up, and never my 4th gear was not strong enough.

 

Well-put about the anticipation of grades with that engine, but it becomes second nature. I don't really like automatics, either. The engine doesn't lie to you about what's on tap - no mushy or vague feel.

This may seem like laziness, but I still have all the original engine belts on my 2.7L and with occasional belt-dressing they show no signs of failing. Had to tighten the alternator belt just once. I also have never done a valve adjustment (shim type) and there's no cold clattering. With my 22R I had the hood open a lot more.

These things inspire a lot of trust vs. reading about random V-6 head gasket leaks and other things (mainly in the older 3.4s). Granted, having that much power would be nice w/o trade-offs. That's why a diesel would be ideal. I don't need extreme speed, just good torque.

 

Well, flooring an engine that's run out of torque usually doesn't create new torque.

What specific roads and grades are you speaking of? Is this a regular cab or access cab with the 2.7? I'm still seeing widely mixed opinions.

 

No Difference, sure, if your rolling at 1300 rpm. But with the gearing of this truck, in fifth, at 60 mph, I hit about 2350 rpm, which when you floor it, you easily see a difference from let's say, 3/4 throttle. The 4 cyl. Is very capable, and does 0-60 in 10 seconds which is not bad.

 

You would be better off shifting into 4th with moderate gas than to floor it in 5th.

 

WRONG! High RPM's do not directly correlate to instantaneous gas mileage. ENGINE LOAD correlates directly to instantaneous gas mileage. You could be in 4th at 70 with and engine load 100% getting 12 mpg or 3rd at 65 with engine load at 65% getting 15 mpg.

 

Haven't been over Donner yet but there's a decent grade on 101N coming back north from San Luis Obispo. I just put it in third and drove 50 nice and easy. It could easily have gone faster revving it out but I didn't even bother trying to hold fourth. You'll love the mileage in a standard cab if you keep the stock tire size. Trade the steelies in on alloys and it should get even better. The price of fuel has really shot up lately, now more than $1+ over the past year. And another 10 cents since yesterday.

 

Holy thread revival! My post earlier was my method for going up steep high altitude roads, like I-70 west of Denver towards the Eisenhower tunnel. This tops out at 11k feet so your 160 HP truck is more like 120 HP at the top. Who has gone up this in 4th gear in a stock 4cyl second gen? I'm in east TN and have to use 4th gear here.