TRD OR 4x4 Auto - MPG & Auto Continuously Shifting - My Finding from a 1500 mile Trip

WOW AWESOME, thanks for sharing this! Now I won't have to try it, and I can leave it LOCKED up and not worried about some yahoo stealing it at a gas station with it opened up and laying down.

Also, I should NOT complain about my MEH tires as they plowed down that bayou crawfish road that ONLY the quads had made it too. I was able to load up a TON of crawfish sacks as opposed to the ONE sack on the quad that they could carry. I didn't even use 4 Low, I made a mess of the truck with mud, but the tires had no real problems clearing the mud and grabbing on!

 

WOW WHAT??? I didn't know that ........ argh. OH wait I probably did at the time I worked as a Auto Tech for 20 years before they stuck CORN in our gas ......... give me back the LEADED .... LOL.

I don't even know where to BUY non-ethanol around the DFW area ....... argh.

 

Good reading. This seals it for me on the engine/tranny combo in the new Tacomas. I have gone from might not buy one to most likely won't buy. I am thinking about full size for next purchase so the Tacoma would not be in paly anyway. I cant drive 70 in a 75. Most of the time I am closer to 80. 70-75 in left lane of I30 and the bmers will be riding your bumper.

 

Take one out for a drive to be sure, see if you can go down the i30 towards Greenville, that is where I had the constant shifting. I was originally going to get an F150, but I wanted something with a smaller profile, and I wanted the CLEARANCE, and the ability to control the traction. I will head up to the far North of Canada this summer and probably next winter. A good chunk of my travels will be OFF ROAD bush trails, and I got the TACO for being in the REMOTE areas like that. I also looked at a RAPTOR, then I saw the mileage was around 12mpg, and the price was 30K more .... OUCH.

Also maybe find a manual tranny and see how it performs? The gearing is also different in the manual version; so it may be quite a bit better.

 

I am not going back to a manual. I had 3 my early days. Manuals are fun and I cut my teeth driving one in the hills of WV. Autos are so much better in mud, snow, and sand than manuals especially in a 4x4. Right after I got rid of my last manual I dislocated my left ankle while at the lake. I would not have driven home if I had still had the manual. 4 years ago I broke my heel while deer hunting. I was miles off the nearest public road. Again I would not have driven out with a manual. I barely made it over the bumpy ranch road. A broken heal is very painful.

 

I am at my 10,000 service, and I will DROP off my TACO, and let the stealership see if they can duplicate my findings of the auto tranny consistently shifting at 75mph and staying stuck in 4th gear. I have OTHER daily vehicles if I need, I have the TACO for the reason of jump in and go and warranty ANYWHERE will come fix it, if it breaks. I will see if they come to the same conclusions. Maybe there will be an update, but for NOW I will drive slower as opposed to being upset all the time with the giddyup horse driving.

I just NEVER thought that going slower would STOP all that shifting nonsense; now that I know it is easier to go slower than for me to get upset.

So now I am back to being a HAPPY CAMPER!

 

that would not be acceptable to me. I drive 281 frequently between Hico and Lampasas. It is very hilly and I like to drive the speed limit +5.

 

I dunno, living out west, it would suck to have to limit your speed to 65 so your Tacoma can drive like it should. Some areas where I live in Wyoming have 80 mph speed limits. These areas on the interstate are wide open with little highway traffic. A truck should be able to drive at 75 mph without erratic shifting.

 

I think you should drive that route again in sport mode with 5th gear or leave it in drive with the ect button on.

I just don't think this truck works properly with the super overdrive of 6th gear. You might loose a little at the top mileage that you never get because the world isn't perfectly flat.

I drive local streets and 20% LA freeway which rarely lets you hold even speed. I get 18mpg combined on ECT and about 16 mpg in drive with ECT off. I now drive everyday driving with ECT. Start the truck, push the ECT, then put it in gear and stop worrying about that whole bump and slip crap in overdrive.

Like you stock 4x4 trd offroad. The only difference is Access cab. I stopped being upset with the goofball programming of this transmission and started just enjoying my truck. I wonder how may ECT buttons Toyota will be replacing in my truck before I am done with it? Cheaper than new trannys.

I don't use cruise control I don't like it and I never drive far enough to push the button.

Thank You for your driving experience.

 

I have my Tacoma in Germany and the stretch of autobahn from my house has no speed limits. I usually drive it between 80 and 90mph without any issues. The tranny does quite well holding the 6th at this speed. It is mostly flat though. I think I have the unicorn edition. U joints were greased, U bolts torqued exact, tranny had the correct amount of fluid (with tow package.)

 

Are you using cruise control when driving 80 to 90 mph?

 

No, not in that stretch. Cruise control is almost impossible in Germany. Fast, slow, faster, slower.. construction zone, no passing on the right.. But I had a 300 mile drive last week and set it on 75mph for a good stretch mid day. Nothing I was reading about was evident. Mostly flat.

 

i had the same kind of thoughts about my TRD OR 4x4 AT lots of shifting mpg not very consistent om my trip from Lafayette to Houston did 22 and the way back had 16 no traffic cruise control! didn't give it much thoughts i still love it. on my 10 mile service i asked for my transmission fluid to be checked my u joints greased and it drives much better now, less shifting smother feel and more consistent mpg's.

 

I will drop off my TACO next week at the stealership, and I will get all of these items done as well. Hard to believe, but having the fluid low may cause some issues as I have read that the computer actually monitors the transmission oil temperature. The more oil the better the dispersion of heat and/or maybe better performance. I will feel MUCH better to know that they have been checked.

As a note: the last part of my journey was from Lafayette to Rayne, then south to Kaplan; so I drove the i10 as well. You probably seen me, I was the idiot waving to you in the 2016 TACO .... LOL ... JK

 

You know I drive that route frequently as my "Outlaws" (In-Laws) are getting up in age, and we get to visit them and the wife's family. I think I will DO JUST that. Drive in Sport Mode in 5th gear and/or leave the ECT button on. As mentioned I drove at 70mph NOT 75mph. I never thought to just drive in 5th gear. With the RPMs higher as in 5th gear; when approaching a hill it may NOT need to downshift to 4th. I will also try this next week when I am back at work downtown and let you know if the ECT button makes a difference driving at posted speed.

I may head back again to Louisiana for Memorial Day weekend. If so I will document and have wife take pics again.

Thanks for the great idea!

 

I think i remember someone posting something about that...that would be pretty cool.

Although i would be more interested in sacrificing top end power for more low end torque.. if that's even possible with a software update.

Would definitely come in handy for the guys who mod their truck...and since it's more useable power.

Thanks for the writeup.

 

I just hit 1000 miles. To date my Trdor, auto, has averaged 20.3 mpg consistently in a combination of highway and local driving. Very satisfied to say the least. Truck is great!

 

If I saw you I would be flashing my high beams I do that everytime I see a pretty 3ed gen cruising buy but they just ignore me!
Definitely make them check it and don't let them charge u for that crap they should of checked to begin with. Mine is a US built with tow package if that helps! I got it done in Baton Rouge at team toyota they were very nice and knowledgeable not like hampton in lafayette

 

Just a talking point but aren't EPA ratings based on 55MPH?

 

What NON-Ethanel AND 55 MPH ....... where the heck have I been?
Certainly makes sense though, EPA dishing out info that has NO relevance to everyday driving standards or fuel consumption.