Gears on Tacoma too low?

Driving at 70 mph in 4th? WTF are you doing? Leaving the shifter in 4th so the truck can't shift to 5th or keeping your foot in it so it doesn't? There's no reason the truck shouldn't shift to 5th at 70mph unless you're interfering with it. If you bought the auto so you "didn't have to think" then you should put the stick in "D" and leave it there unless parking or backing up.

Personally, I put my 6spd in 6th at 30mph since it has enough torque (even with larger tires) to accelerate to 60mph on country roads, and I don't have to shift again until I stop, hit a steep hill, or want to pass someone.

As for hypermiling... Sure I try to save a little gas, but why not? It's over $4.00/gallon and it's not like I can piss 91 octane so why waste the money? Making an engine run at higher rpms than needed is just pissing away money on gas. Probably increasing engine/tranny wear too.

 

I always assumed TJ meant tijuana, mexico.

 

ok, in that case, I am very far from tj. I live about 6 hrs south of alaska.

 

haha sorry i read u were from fort st john B.C (baja? thats what i thought) and plus u were talking about km/hr

 

lol, I'm definitely not in Baja, we use km in Canada as well.

 

AH gotcha...the B.C in ur location threw me off

 

<---------- No confusion now

 

haha maybe baja canada jk u didnt have to change it

 

So, what are the differential ratios for the 4.0L TRD 4X4 Taco w/manual trans please and what transmission gear gives 1:1? I would prefer a taller 6th gear. I got the 4X4 because of the WI snow (& utility) and don't fancy myself doing rock crawling or whatever (a locking rear to 5mph is useless to me. I also don't care for the other trendy looking AWD offerings. And, Yoda's 4cyl doesn't have enough snot to pass on a 2 lane highway going downhill). I am considering changing ratios. As I do so much highway driving, it would pay for itself. Either that, or TRD (or SOMEBODY) should make a tranny kit to make 6th a true OD! They sure make enough crap for the kiddie pocket rockets. I called Advanced Adapters and Gear Vendors trying to find an add-on OD. (yes, I realize it would have to have some kind of lock out for rear dr only). They told me that Toyotas electronics were too complicated and the V6 couldn't pull a taller gear. BS! (I could probably handle the tranny rebuild; not the diff rebuild). I mostly like the rest of the truck; trading for something else, I'd loose the money that way. The second part of the question would be: what to change the ratio to as I don't want to loose a lot of acceleration?

I have done everything else I know to increase mileage: intake, higher tire pressures, Fitch fuel cat, synthetic fluids everywhere, intermittant A/C use, coasting to stops, tonneau cover, cruising at or below 70mph (fresh wax - just kidding). I think the biggest influence on mpg is actually the fuel grade. Recently got 19.2, without altering my driving, from mid Wi to Chicago with some minor city use using 93 octane - book suggests 91. (Can't seem to get 91 directly). Normal OA summer is best around 18 with 87 to 89, winter 16. BTW, I don't think the Fitch deal did anything but relieve me of some coin.

Any thoughts would be appreciated. Oh what a feeling indeed. Thanks.

 

Biggest thing would probably get a scangauge to watch mpg/gph usage numbers in real time to tweak your driving some more. I got better mpg when I ran 89 for a month instead of 87, but the cost/mile worked out to be about the same. So at best I had one more commute to work or back home before filling up. And the fillup cost more due to the higher cost of gas. So I don't bother. It DOES give a little more power so I'm going to be towing I try to run higher octane for that trip just to make things easier.

What kind of intake do you have? Seems like most people get the intake, like the sound it makes when they get on it, and end up losing mpg. I just swapped an AFE Pro Dry filter in for the stock one, and I went from 17-18mpg up to 20-21 without changing anything else. (I also have a 3" lift and bigger tires that should probably combine to lower my mpg below the EPA ratings.)

 

My 07 6spd cruises at 2000-2100 in 6 at 100 kph. I find 5 and 6 very close, probably get to 2500 rpm @ 100kph in 5th, the best gear for acceraltion in my opinion is 2nd, 3rd, or 4th. 1st gear is a waste of time.

 

1st gear is for dead stops to get going. Especially on hills and/or towing.

But other than that, you're right. I do rolling stops whenever I can and leave it in 2nd or 3rd.

 

I have the Airaid "kit" with a sheet metal box and tube. I originally got the "Krap and Nogood" replacement element, which was half as thk as the stock paper. Airaid told me it's so they can claim better flow rates. Hold a K&N to the light; you can see holes in the media. K&N dude argued it was the oil reflecting the light - yeah, right. The Airaid has an extra fine synthetic mesh that's in addition to the cotton layers. It was around 200 w/free shipping from Performance Products. There's another emmission related piece under the stock air filter that supposed to be retained (to be compliant), even though TaRD sells an enclosed box that shoots right thru to the TB.

 

I have that secondary filter removed in my stock setup. Notice a bit more response when I took it out 2-3 weeks after getting the truck.

 

I do wish 6th was a little deeper, to keep the rpms down.

 

I thought that would be nice too, but then I bet we'd be downshifting a lot more often. With my 285's it's not so bad. So there's your answer: lift it and put bigger tires on it.

 

found out why gears are so low. I finally towed a trailer with my truck,

 

Hell they come in handy mall crawling in NY where they can't pave a level parking lot! I climb a hill coming out of Ithaca on the way home that I swear is greater than 45 degrees.