Tacoma - OVTUNE - VFTUNER - Update Info and Original Development

Not yet... Hoping to avoid having to do that. Some people report it taking a while for 1.02 to fully work properly so Im gonna wait and see if it learns something about how to idle

 

Well, the 2015 rx350 uses the brother 3.5 v6 and curb weight is heavier by few pounds yet drives so smooth and never lugs even when its filled up with people or cargo, and its fwd. so im not quite able to accept that the 3.5 is a car engine. This is a small truck, not a tundra. And lighter than the rx. Yet still drives sooo heavy stock.

Edit: heavier by few hundred pounds*. Sorry

 

FACTS

 

This is why

 

I've said this over and over, it's the gearing that kills this engine.

 

Those are not significant differences by themselves...but it's not the whole story.

Differential for the Tacoma is 3.909 as opposed to the 4.398 for the RX

On top of that the RX is pushing a 29.1 inch tire (and narrower/lighter tire/wheel) and the Tacoma is pushing a 30.6 tire.

All three of those combined do make a significant difference in the gearing between the two vehicles.

So on the Tacoma, you have slightly higher gearing in 5th/6th, 10% higher gearing in the differential, larger/heavier tires/wheels and all that makes for a somewhat different driving experience if the power being delivered is similar. I'm guessing an OVTune and regear (4.30, 4.56, 4.88 with 31, 33 and 35s respectively) will be the sweet spot for these trucks based on quick math.

 

So do we assume the core reason for this was purely to preserve fuel economy? I know Toyota had reasons for doing most of what they did (and likely even some of the wonky stuff found in the ECU had a purpose even if it looks insane to us) - yes, laziness seems to have played a part as well, but I wonder if they were just trying to hit EPA targets with a 3.909 vs. something more in the range of the RX. Esp. given people use trucks to haul shit, tow, need low-end power offroad, etc.,

 

Yes, of course. Are you going to deal with a customer complaining, or a government hitting you with sanctions for making cars that don't meet EPA restrictions?

Ever heard of Volkswagen? Yeah... it didn't work out so well for them either

 

Looks like 4.88s FTFW

 

Same. 33s and 4.88s sounds like the plan

 

All the more reason for me to save for 4.88s

 

I have been running 34s for a while now and 4.88s and front locker is moving up the list.

 

exactly

 

I think it’s absolute fuel economy & tundra sales.

Imagine if this thing was advertised as 300+ crank HP and got 22-24 MPGs.... if someone was in between a tundra and Tacoma, that would be the deal breaker.

 

I don't entirely buy the Tundra argument, obviously. Power is rarely the only buying factor considered. Tundra is a fantastic truck - amongst most of my "tribe" everyone drives a 4Runner, Tacoma, or Tundra so I've spent a lot of time in all of them. The Tundra for size is a beast - the cab in those crewmax's is more comfy than a 4Runner, it rides really smooth given the additional weight, but its a bitch to drive around in narrow city streets, park in tight underground garages, limits trails to wider trails (I've been on a few where the tundras which we absolutely capable mechanically had to turn around b/c they are too wide). Power is only one factor and what you are listing above would generally make the decision for someone looking for the add'l torque and low-end power overall. Something the Taco clearly lacks in stock form and is part of why many of us are here...

I wouldn't mind having a Tundra for long road trips hauling stuff where I'm not planning to be offroad or on curvy mountain roads. But I don't do a lot of those trips - more of a river rat than a beach bum

 

Good news everyone! Just got shipping notification of arrival for my kit today!

Just in time for me to get my dongle serial number requested....

Then go on a 9 day deer hunt.

Yay for the hunt, yay for the kit.... meh for having to wait. No negatives on OVTuned just how it worked out. It's cool I'm going to go kill something.

Also, conveniently, my tank is empty.... giving hard thoughts to going 91 oct for the first round, just because. I intend to run 87 tune long term, but I just got to know man!

 

Don’t post pictures of your deer hunting while your truck is at home dying to be driven

Trust me.

 

+1. I was going to say that comparison didn't really depict the point he attempted to make. In fact you would expect the RX350 to be worse if all else were the same with the exception of 5th and 6th. The differential of course makes all the difference though as you pointed out. Those F Sport ratios though...I bet that thing pops.

Also, the difference between 5th and 6th in the auto and MT is way more drastic than I thought. Not only does the MT have 4.30s as opposed to 3.90s 6th gear has a higher ratio than 5th gear in the autos. 6th is pretty dead in the MTs no doubt but it works. Seems like it'd be almost unusable in the auto which is probably why it's always shifting out of it on people.

 

Truck is running perfect today, 30mpg over 30miles with a bit of traffic. Love 1.02 right now.

 

I actually wish 6th was a little taller, when you are going 70+ you are at 2500+ RPM and milage starts to drop pretty good. It seems to low to me. Then, there's the dumb reverse gear ratio. They did some wierd stuff with the gearing here.