Tacoma - OVTUNE - VFTUNER - Update Info and Original Development

I bought off a forum member, about a day before you announced the new dongle registration method.

 

in that case you will need to send me the dongle serial number AND dump your ECU / TCU and email me those please

 

Amidst all the IT issues here, I figure I would provide an update on my driving experiences.

I'm running the 87 tune, stock DCLB OR.

Numerous trips to and from work, stop/go, 25mph limit, and I'm seeing consistently higher fuel econ numbers (17-18 whereas that trip usually nets me 15 or so). Upshift and downshift much smoother than stock, still get a very very faint clunk upon coasting to a stop when the engine is cold which I'm assuming is the TC unlocking. I don't experience this once the truck is warm.

On the highway with cruise control off, held 70 in 6th gear, accelerated 70-75 holding 6th. When I add gas to pass it smoothly drops to 5th, and returns to 6th as soon as I let back up on the accelerator.

Highway with cruise on it held 70 in 6th no problem, even on slight inclines...no downshifting, no hunting. I used the CC stalk to bump the speed up to 75, did it smoothly in 6th gear. Doing 75 it dropped to 5th going up inclines, but returned to 6th immediately upon cresting the hill. This is in a zero wind condition.

Pedal feel takes a bit of getting used to since it's much more responsive than stock, but it's much more linear.

I started driving before seeing the post where @OVTune said to idle the truck for 10 mins, so I do see a small fluctuation at idle... Not sure if this will rectify itself, or if I should reflash and idle it before setting off.

 

Pre orders?

 

Will do. Instructions suggest this could take as long as 20 minutes.... that's a morning job for me then.

 

I really think the clunk is a driveshaft issue. It comes and goes on my truck, used to do it a lot when new, cold, 1st couple of stops.

 

its tough for us out on the east coast. its 11pm now. Maybe Mat can be santa and drop my key while im asleep.

 

This is a brief overview to give you a broad vision of whats going on... for everything else read the manual on page 1, post 1.

1. Yes it works... beyond my expectations.
2. OP has done tremendous work to remove the back and forth, but it does require a bit of technical know-how. Buying his product gives you hardware and software. First you must receive the hardware, which may vary when it is sent based on OPs work and your timing. He will be going to Hong Kong or Singapore or Tibet or something in March to tune racing cars for hong kong racers, singapore enthusiasts, or tibetan monks (idk doesn't matter). So if you want to get it before he leaves, better order ASAP or wait till he returns from his epic journey. This could possibly be your longest wait if you aren't careful.
3. The hardware consists of two pieces. The first being a USB "dongle" that looks like a Logitech USB wireless mouse transmitter. The second being an OBD2 adapter (think of it as a USB for your truck... look beneath the steering wheel with a flashlight and you'll find its exposed female parts ready for an OBD2 adapter to insert in and change its world). This OBD2 adapter is attached with a supplied USB to microUSB cable provided by OP with the order. I believe at this point the hardware has the license in it upon delivery, meaning no back and forth for that anymore.
4. The software is more complicated. First and foremost, a lot of this software will trip your virus protection software, so disable it, or create a whitelist for the folder that you will download those softwares to... best to just disable it all. You first have to install drivers that let you access the hardware you'll connect through USB ports to your computer. The links to those softwares are in the first post in this thread in the instructions that are provided (read them thoroughly). After the drivers are installed, you can plug in your hardware to your computer and it will be recognized.
5. The second software is composed of two pieces. The first piece: "Flash Manager" that lets you download the correct versions of ECU and TCU software (they will be .bin files with long descriptive names to differentiate them). Once that's downloaded, then the PCFMLASH software is the actual physical software that you will use to read/write ECU or TCU data to your truck. Reading the data will create a .bin file that will tell you which version of ECU data you need (04B02, 04B03 if you are Automatic Transmission - AT). The reason OP required you to send the read file before was because he didn't want you to F it up and flash the wrong version... but I think he's become very confident that you can't 'brick' your truck (bricking it means flashing the wrong software and making it permanently inoperable... don't freak out it can't happen).

This is all somewhat of a nonlinear description, but it's not meant to be a step by step install instruction... it's an overview as you asked for. Page 1 Post 1 for the rest.

 

Never felt any touchy throttle either - after flashing I let the truck run for 20 minutes then shut it off and let it cool then started it again for about 10 minutes before driving off later in the day.

It was a little confused for the first few miles but I could instantly feel the impact of the torque converter work Mats done. I drove pretty easy for 20 miles around town then gave it hell on the highway. Passing and navigating heavy, fast moving traffic is much easier now.

Fuel trims are the most stable my truck has ever seen - staying within 1-2% combined for the most part, rarely exceeding 5% in contrast to stock or other tune versions where it wasn’t uncommon to see wild fluctuations in fuel trim driven by such an aggressive base map the stock tune was always cutting fuel from.

Transmission temps - even when I was getting after it still hovered around the 193 mark per normal. Engine temp normal, MPGs no worse - may be better, especially on road trips.

I hated the stock calibration, loved 1.01b, wasn’t a huge fan of 1.02c, enjoyed the hell out of the early test 1.03, and feel this is a big step forward in refinement personally.

The 3.5 is never going to be the old 4.0, but it’s different and for better or worse it is a more dynamic setup all around. It will never have that simple down low power feeling of the larger displacement, non Atkinson cycle engine, but for my money this tune gives me a lot of control while making the usable power more accessible, smoother, and more predictable. The truck does drive differently though IMHO so it will take some getting used to for some

 

These might be dumb questions, but would it be more beneficial to get 87 or 91 octane tune, do you get both and can try one and then change to the other? Also, I have the 4.88 gears, AFE cold air intake and a MagnaFlow catback exhaust. Will this affect the tune? Also, I am not computer savy, is there a certain type of shop that would help with install process and once it's in, will it stay?

 

also curious as to if CAI and 3" exhaust will have any impact with the tune. probably negligible with stock headers and all

 

91 octane tune will produce more power than 87 octane tune. You can use 91 octane tune with 91+ octane gas.

 

You can run either 87 or 91 when you purchase the tune and get set up. I believe @mesojdm has 4.88s and the tune and seems to really enjoy it, not sure if he has intake/exhaust tho. As far as a shop to do it, I haven’t seen anyone go that route. Best to watch the install videos(hopefully out soon) or see if someone local has done it and can assist?

 

You buy the product... you flash what you want. Try 87 today. 91 tomorrow. Hate the 91 (why would you)? Go back to 87. It's all your decision. As for not being computer savvy, I'd take this as an opportunity to become savvy. Once it is in... it stays.

 

This is a tremendous help and exactly what I was asking for, thank you very much. I actually work in IT so I’m not worried about the technical parts at all.

As far as results go, what have you experience? Also I obviously missed the price somewhere, what’s it selling for?

 

I’ll have to get my driving video uploaded tomorrow.

But as far as the tune goes;

1st through 4th gear are absolutely how this truck should be. The tune has unlocked a ton of hidden power.

If you’re going from stock to this, be careful. The pedal is very touchy and will take some getting used to. Even coming from 1.02c, it’s taking some getting used to.

The downshifts are absolutely fucking beautiful. The engine doesn’t drop out the bottom when you’re off the pedal. It feels more like you’re driving a dual clutch transmission. If you’re not familiar yet with that, that’s basically an automated manual. It’s going to keep the engine where you left it and it’s ready to go when you get back on it. It’s great and what I’ve been waiting for.

Highway driving; I’m still not satisfied and I don’t think I’ll ever be with this engine / trans combo. It’s not the tunes fault It still will downshift when you hit the draft off of an 18 wheeler when you want to pass it. It still will downshift when it feels the ground go from a 0° plane to a 2° plane. Ok maybe I’m exaggerating but it still to me doesn’t like 6th and staying there. Yes it stays there longer than stock and all other versions of the tune I’ve driven, but I’d rather it not hunt and cycle.

I’m 147 miles on the tune. Will upload video first thing in the morning and write a more detailed review.

Running URD exhaust and TRD CAI

 

For pricing:
https://www.ovtuned.com/collections/tacoma/products/toyota-tacoma-2grfks-calibration

My experience is somewhat novice. I'm not a gear head like everyone in this thread. I bought this truck. It was my first truck. I love it, and I was excited to change from a Honda Civic. I started driving it, and started scratching my head. What the heck? Why is this V6 driving sadder than my 4 cylinder Honda or the V6 Nissan Maxima I drove back when I was in college. OVTune changed all of that. Today, I finally felt like I didn't just buy another Honda Civic.

 

Can you imagine this tune when he gets his exhaust done and a tune for that! Going to be epic.

 

Oh yeah. I’m running URD exhaust now, I don’t see his exhaust and that being much different.

I’m more so looking forward to the twin turbos.

He’s probably going to release the damn twin turbos when I’m building my house and I won’t have any time :/

 

Don't worry, I'll tell you how they perform