Does altitude affect engine and transmission? VIDEO

Took my OR DC 4x4 up into the mountains this weekend, around 8-9000 feet. Trying to go up the mountains roads was horrendous! The truck seemed to lose all power and i pretty much had to floor it to even get and stay moving. Did this on inclines from maybe 10-15 degrees. The transmission would shift so hard as well. Going up a hill or slight incline at a constant speed was impossible. I would get to say 65mph and try to keep it there, it was pretty much impossible. I would start up the hill at 65, then pretty quickly lose speed and the truck would downshift hard and stay in that gear for maybe 20 seconds before it upshifted again. The truck would repeat that same thing over and over again all the way up there hill. It was like riding a bucking bronco! So my question is, does driving hills at 8-9000 feet altitude do this? i never had this happen with my second gen.

 

I noticed a loss of power in my Tacoma and a new Altima while traveling from California to the Rocky Mountains in Colorado. Didn't notice hard shifting though, I have a manual tranny, and the Altima had a CVT Tranny.

 

Considering you have less o2 to burn at altitude, yes you start to see diminished engine performance hence why they started supercharging engines in WW2 as cruising altitudes increased.

Hard shifting transmission might simply be the power train trying to stay in step with an increased work load and less power. The 2nd gen manual states to shift to 4 (in A/T) when ascending to prevent excess shifting but I don't know about 3rd gens. Give that a shot next time so you're not beating the hell out of your clutches and solenoids.

Also keep in mind you're comparing apples to oranges with the 1GR and 2GR since you're turning higher RPMs in the 2GR.

 

Higher elevations = less dense air = less 02 = less power.

Did you try using ECT or using the gear selector to pick a gear and hold it?

 

yes, ECT made no difference at all

 

You heard the man. Supercharge that beast.

 

V8 swap

 

Yeah, I lived in Tuolumne with a carbureted 22R. Had to change the jets depending on where I was. Power loss is completely normal in a carbureted truck, but wasn't aware it was in FI? What type of road were you on in the video? How much weight in the truck?

 

Yep ECT doesn't do shit for this! I live in Colorado and this is my biggest complaint with the truck.. The endless shift loop on climbs.
Best solution is just to drive in S mode in the mountains. S2-S4 depending on incline and speed.

I found that shortly after having the tranny TSB done this problem was resolved, however, my truck has since reverted back to its old ways occasionally. It is better though and will usually hold gear. Another thing you can try: cruise control. CC would hold the gear much better for some reason.

 

Interesting. 2nd gen CC loves to ramp up and down even on the slightest incline. Not sure if that's a "design feature" for fuel economy or just shitty programming. Regardless I rarely use it, or turn it off before an incline.

 

gears changing is likely due to speed and struggling to make power.
Engine struggling is normal for a normally aspirated engine in the mountains.

 

So are 3rd gen 4cyl drivers screwed in high altitude? lol

 

I wouldn't think so. I had my 22R in the mountains no problems up to 10,000 feet. Just drove uphill in 3rd and 4th gears.

 

I love your signature hahaha.
Reminds me of one I saw on the 4wd group FB page from here in Ontario.
was a jeep winching itself out of a hole and just said "winch, because a fancy light bar won't get you home"

 

According to that at an elevation of 7500ft I would lose just under 36hp leaving me with 123hp or so with the 4cyl engine.

Well thats good to hear. We are planning a trip to CO next summer and I was worried my truck with the 4cyl wouldn't do well.

 

if you're worried just install a nitrous system lol.

 

Holy balls that's worse than when I found out about hydrodynamic coefficients of marine growth on propellers.

Haha thanks. Me thinks most of them are "all show, no glow". A candela-dick swinging contest.

 

forced induction still needs air to force.
NITROUS DUDE, come on you can be like vin diesel in the pathetic franchise that still keeps going. lol

I stopped watching them after the 5th one and that was too much.
Walk into a shop like paul walker did in the first one,
I need nos, one of the big ones. actually make it two. and I need it by tonight.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ri7xl8cZ6AQ