Automatic gear ratio trash in the tacoma.

I live on the east coast and it is very flat here. Yes I have oversize tires. I am sure it does not matter that much though. As everyone complains of the gears in this truck.

The gear ratio is just to high mostly. It needs lower gears for 1-2 and 5-6.. If I am saying that right. It probably needs a different engine and transmission too since it gets such poor gas mileage as well. Maybe one of the V'8's that do so well in other trucks getting 18 mpg.

I have started just putting my truck in S so it stays in 4th gear. I have noticed maybe .5 mpg less maybe. The truck stays in 2500 rpm range I believe. However I don't to play with the gas pedal and watch it shift down to 5 or even 4 for slight inclines or a headwind. It kinda drives like a normal car or truck does without all the shifting having to take place when you are just maintaining highway speeds.

I love my truck besides the gear ratio, no torque down low, and gas mileage. I may put some different gears in it and see how that goes when I can afford top do so. I guess it doesn't run to much. I may read up on some threads talking about them again.

 

You may want to consider the OV tune. Fixes a lot of the weird shifting behaviors, and increases torque down low. Much, much, much improved over stock.
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/2016-toyota-tacoma-v6-ecu-tuning-alpha-release.495735/

 

how many miles on the trucK? After about 2k or so it get better.


*side note, running 35's, did you get regeared? If you didn't thats not good.

 

Kind of sad really. Back in the day 4.56 gears came with the SR5 with the 31" tire package where all the other manuals got 4.10's. I would have happily paid extra to not have highway gearing in my OR.

 

Sell it and get a ford?

 

I have no issues with mine.

 

It is geared tall, but even a tiny increase in tire size will emphasize that a lot. I can just about live with stock, no way I’d be happy with even a 1” larger tire without regearing. Some people can live with oversize tires and stock grearing, and that’s fine. But having oversize tires and then complaining about gearing is just stupid, or complaining about gearing and then adding larger tires is really really dumb. Yes even a small increase in overall tire diameter will emphasize the tall gearing by a large amount.

Regear your diffs if it’s a problem to you and you want to keep oversize tires, or go back to stock tires if you can live with that, but no tune or any other mod is going to actually the fix the tall gearing issues.

 

Sorry my response was harsh. Look around here between lighter tires , regearing , tuning ect maybe something will help it feel the way you want it to.

Or get a standard. Cuz mine rips no problem haha.

 

6 speed manual would solve all your problems and its bigger tire friendly as well

 

I have just a hair under 33s on my 6MT and it doesn't really feel underpowered (except when i'm towing the boat) - gas mileage is a different story but i just choose not to look at that and just fill her up when the needle hits E.

 

Thanks for the input guys. I found a good thread with some great information on 4.88 gearing. Kinda funny lotta haters out there. lol I am just stating the facts. I am not alone out there with the performance not on par with this gearing issue. I would have love to get a standard. I am always in a hurry to buy at time sit seems. Just felt like saying I won't be using the 5th and 6th gears in this truck till i get it geared properly. Truck runs ok for normal use. I am just tired of the transmission having to shift or lose power when going up any sort of incline that is barely over level. Even when the road is level if there is a headwind. Uh oh Mr. Transmission needs to shift down to keep highway speeds due to improper gearing.


https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/the-4-88-mega-thread.511967/

 

im running 285/75r17s just about 34" tire, i hardley ever see 6th gear still get over 20+ mpg in 5th on the highway when im doing 65ish with bigger tires speedos off a lil so its actually just under 70 mph

 

If only I knew what i know now huh lol. Its a great looks truck however and I think with a little more money at least it will run better.

 

Yeah I test drove for about 2 months before I bought mine . Even came across one of those standards that get stuck in gear

 

How? I have a smaller tire (granted they are 10 ply), live at sea level on flat ground, and have shorter gearing (MT) and dont get over 20 ever - i need the secrets

 

People complain about the driveability of these trucks whether or not they have oversize tires, armor, etc. Driving this truck stock got a little annoying once the novelty wore off of having a new truck and convincing yourself how much you love it. Don't get me wrong, I loved the truck, but the driveability had left me wanting much more. I will say after getting the latest rendition of OV tune, this thing drives like a completely different truck, in the best way possible. No longer have to think so much when I drive and just let it do its thing. Going up any Hill at decent speed before would result in the tranny dance of 4th, 5th, 6th, back to 4th, 5th, well you guys get the picture. Anyway, love how this thing drives now.

 

That's because you have a manual. The other guy has an automatic. I love my manual, but I also knew it wouldn't get as good MPG's as the auto.

 

With a larger tire and a shorter gearing, wouldn't that generally get a better gas mileage that stock AT gearing with larger tires?

 

No. Shorter gearing hurts mileage, but it RIPS better.

Longer/Taller gears means you will be lower in the RPM's vs. Shorter gears where you will be higher in the RPM's. Low RPM's = Good MPG