OK, the 3.5 should be a good engine

Hi all,

I'm new to this forum and to Tacos but have owned two 80s toy pickups, a 93 4 runner, and two minivans. All have been awesome! I'm currently debating a 15 or 16 Taco dcsb so I've been checking this forum out frequently. I attached a lengthy read about the d-4s system. This does not employ the Atkinson cycle but it does explain alot about direct and port injection strengths, weaknesses, etc and how using both benefits the engine.

Enjoy,

John

 

http://wardsauto.com/news-amp-analysis/toyotas-twofold-strategy

I've heard from a few people that at low RPM port injection is almost always more efficient at producing power. I couldn't tell you why but from what I've read that is why Tacoma went with the dual system instead of a direction injection system only.

 

Most likely not, it will still be made for the stock tire size. If the answer were yes, that would mean it's over geared from the factory.

That being said I plan to put 4.10s in my new elocker rear end on 31.6" tires because I want the extra pep, and the 10% higher revs won't hurt me. Especially since I drive below the speed limit.

Thanks for the info!!!

 

Ok, it might be a stupid question but still.
So I drove my brother's 2014 Sienna Le
3.5L V6 6 speed auto
I believe it has 266hp @ 6200rpm
It doesn't feel powerful but it has a fair response taking in consideration the size of the van...
Am I being stupid in comparing the new 3.5 tacoma engine to the sienna, do you guys think the new Tacoma would offer more than 266hp with the new engine?

 

The Sienna engine is the 2GR-FE. The engine going in the Tacoma is the 7GR. So there will be a few differences. I doubt the 7GR will rev past 5800 RPM. It will likely be tuned for the Tacoma and feature more torque lower in the powerband instead of power up high like on a van.

At the end of the day if Toyota was able to get good torque throughout the torque curve and if Toyota gears the Tacoma well it should drive much like our current Tacoma's. Maybe even better. We shall see.

 

I'm a noob here so take it with a grain of salt but I think my 14 sienna Se has some guts. I think it's a little heavier that the taco as well so hopefully the new truck with 7gr end will impress.

 

If the new Taco feels like the power of the 3.5 v6 sienna I would be very happy. I sold my 07 and regret it, but waiting to test drive a 16 to see how it feels.

 

My thoughts/intentions exactly.

 

Thanks for the info Sterdog, I was just curious since it's also a toyota vehicle with similar engine.

 

My wife's Highlander Limited has the 2GR 3.5L and it will haul ass IMO. When you stab the throttle from a stop it does a little FWD burnout and then it's a game managing the torque steer. lol

I'm with Sterdog on the 7GR likely having more torque and a lower red line.

 

What he said!

 

The new six speed will have lower 1st gear and higher 6th. This "should" also help with power and fuel economy.

 

Honestly, I don't think the 3.5V6 in the new Tacoma will have a super low redline. In fact, I'd be surprised to see it under 6,000RPM.

The 4.0 has such a low redline because it's a MUCH longer stroke engine. Think about it, when an engine does a full rotation, the pistons have to travel a certain distance. As the RPM of the engine gets higher, the piston must travel the same distance in less time. Thus, the piston speed increases. So the piston speeds on the 4.0L 1GR-FE engine we have now reach VERY high speeds due to the stroke increasing the distance each piston moves by a dramatic amount. Getting too high over 5,000RPM and things start to get to a point where the piston speeds are no longer safe for that design.

So the fact that the 3.5L will be a smaller engine based on other common blocks in the Toyota family, it's safe to assume the stroke will be shorter, yielding a higher redline.

What would be VERY interesting is if the bore is what they make smaller and they still keep the stroke faily long. That would yield better low end torque but you'd still have similar problems in the higher RPM range unless you used forged internals. But I highly doubt that will happen. Some one made the comment earlier in the thread about Toyota sticking with a common platform so I'm guessing the decrease in displacement was almost exclusively as a result of shortening the stroke.

 

Agreed Italy,

I think what Toyota is doing "which makes sense logistically" is to make a common 3.5 short block setup off the proven 3.5 then change head specs, ecu programming, gearing, etc to facilitate power requirements for the appropriate application.
Think about it...Camry, sienna, Lexus, Taco, 4 runner, etc get same short block but change intake manifold, cam profiles, ecu programming, etc to tune the engine for the appropriate application. Saves money, parts supply/inventory...the list goes on. Great plan for a business model.

John

 

Ford is a master of this. That NA 3.5 L Ford has out seems to be in all their vehicles. Same with the Ecoboost 3.5 L.