3.5L V6 vs 4.0L V6

Yeah...just keep it (and get the new one)!

Assuming you have replaced the air filter and cleaned the throttle body. Clean the MAF sensor and you should get that 1mpg back

 

I had an 08 fj and now a 17 dcsbor Taco. The fj was a manual, my taco an auto. I feel like the 4.0 has more immediate power, at least it felt like it. It's hard to directly compare since its stick vs. auto and a stick always feels more direct, but once you are moving, the 3.5 trounces the 4.0 in feel anyways. I regularly tow at about 3k lbs and the 3.5 has 0 issues with that. I only towed once with my fj so I have no real comparison there. The torque is higher in the powerband with the new motor, but it makes 40 more HP so I think it balances out in the end. The taco certainly feels pokey compared to my fj in the same casual driving mode, but once you give the 3.5 some gas pedal, it really goes.

 

One hand gives better mpg & performance, and the other hand takes it back!

The house always wins, just a thought
Cheers!

 

Just know that whatever you test, it will get better with time as it learns your driving pattern. it drives completely different (much better) at 5-10k than at 150 miles. also know that the 4 had near instant torque, the 3.5 gets its torque in the 4000 RPM range, so while the torque is there, you wont feel it until you press the pedal. I am at just under 32k on mine and love it. had a couple of small things that would happen to any vehicle new or old, but nothing to be concerned about. Even my rear diff isn't leaking bad (it does have an extremely minor weep and they have already ordered parts for it). Enjoy.

 

I've had an auto 11, and auto 16, and now a manual 16. Honestly If I could do it all over again, I think I would probably keep the 11 I had. Don't get me wrong, the 16 is a great truck, I just prefer the way the 11 drove after having some serious time with all three of these. The 16 auto got better mpg, around 22 is what I averaged, my 11 stayed at 18 no matter how I drove it, the manual 16 is around 18-19. The 16 has power, it's just higher up which a lot of people up here don't seem to understand for some reason. It's a slug off the line so don't expect any wins in the races, but once it hits it's power band it moves nicely. Also try and find both an auto and manual to drive to see what you like. I believe the auto comes with 3.9 gears while the manual is 4.3 or something along those lines. Also, auto comes with ECT mode which makes a nice difference in throttle sensitivity and holding gears, as the manual does not which is why I'm assuming that was the reason they included 4.3 gears instead. You get a little more torque feel. I tow regularly with the 16 and did with the 11 as well. Towing seemed a little easier with the 11 as it only had 5 gears so it hunted less, and it had more lower end torque. Like I said though, this is a great truck, just depends on what you use it for. If my 11 had some of the features and looks of the interior as my 16, I would have kept it. If you can afford to keep your current and buy a new, I would definitely do that.

 

This is true in my case too. Mine drives better at 24k than it did at 10k and I tough it couldn't get better lol!

Cheers!

 

The reason they are using the 3.5 is to save money, they are using it across the board in many platforms. It is definitely a slug down low in the Rev Band, I average about 1 or 2 MPGs better than I did in my old 4.0s

 

I've got the MT (4.3 rear gears), and the OV tune, and intake/exhaust.

i drive in basically every vehicle about the same: i prefer to shift under 4k. that makes this motor choice a little weird but it drives fine and fun under 4k for me anyway, no big complaints. the weird part is that all the power surges on around 4k so I'm shifting just before it every shift. that's ok because the power under 4k is fine for my needs, it just power delivers more like a car, not like a grunty full size V8 truck or even the 4.0. for a mid size I'm good with it, although I'm in for more power under 4k is they can dig it up.

 

Ok now a question I have no experience in at all. Any computer mods that may change shift points and or other things to help with the low end torque and shift searching?

 

If you have no issues with your current truck, and I'm sure it's also paid off - I would keep it.

I only went to the Tacoma because I had an FJ Cruiser with a motor problem. It's a good vehicle but I miss the 4.0.

 

Sort of. There is a shift controller called shift sense or something like that for when you put the auto shifter in S mode, normally you have to upshift and down shift on your own. The shift sense will actually do that shifting for you and to help control the hunting so much. There is also OVTune that is still in alpha stage, but is making decent progress as well and will only get better. There is a huge thread about that one by itself. This one helps give a little more power, helps stop the 3rd gen studdering, helps with the hunting, helps with the throttle response.

Edit: forgot to say the shift sense doesn't change anything for the standard D mode. Just when you place it in S mode.

 

I feel this as well. The 3rd gen is a great truck for sure, but I do miss the old 4.0.

 

I don't think you can fix the low end torque issue, this motor isn't designed for low end torque. Kind of like a civic vtec or motorcycle engine in a truck. Not the best solution for sure.

 

but there is a SC in the works. it will be very pricey and take your warranty, but it should add some usable low end.

 

Yes that will definitely help. The best solution to provide real power.

 

if you're somewhat of a heavy foot need for speed kind of guy stay away from the new 3.5

 

The 3.5 is not a new motor at all. It may be wearing some new technology but it's still a GR motor which came out only a year or so after the 1GR. The 3.4 VZ was a completely different engine. Just to be clear, they could have done to the 1GR what they did to the 2GR. The torque that the 2GR produces is no where near the 1GR (not talking about peak torque). However the HP of the 2GR is amazing and the improved fuel mileage is certainly a consideration. I would have one now if I didn't pull max weight loads regularly. I also like the new dash look.

 

I like the 3.5 quite a bit, no complaints coming from the 4.0. My gf has a 4.0 in her 4runner and she also prefers my truck because she thinks it feels faster.

 

Whenever I hear "Might as well just get a Tundra, the mileage of a Tacoma isn't that much better", or words to that effect, I laugh.

I drove an '11 Tundra for the past 6 years. It sucked gas like there was no tomorrow. I was averaging 13 mpg all-around. On the highway I might be lucky to get 17, but if there was any sort of wind or hills, it was 14-15. My new Tacoma gets about 19-20 overall, so 6 mpg difference might not seem like that much, but over the life of a truck it's about a 50% improvement, and that's nothing to sneeze at.

And the automatic transmission was always hunting for gears on that one too. Big bloated beast of a truck, but not real sturdy. The bodywork was very light, the smallest ding and you had a big ol' dent. I had to replace the back bumper because I backed into a post, you couldn't see shit out the back (my truck did not have a back-up camera, something that I now consider a must have), and they replaced it and I picked up the damaged one and I kid you not, the metal was not much more robust than a beer can. A friend of mine hit a deer with his Tundra, and the damage didn't look all that bad but the body-shop and insurance company decided to total it. $35K-plus truck totaled from some body damage due to a deer-strike, are you kidding?

I'm not saying that Tundras are bad, but I doubt that I'll ever own one again. I love my Tacoma.

 

My father has the 2011 Tundra 4.3 engine and loves it!! However, everything you said is absolutely true being a weak skinned body and shifting. He does not drive very much in the truck, so he only has ~40000mi, but tows a horse trailer. Again, he loves his Tundra and I love me some Taco!!