2018 TACOMA TRD OFF ROAD AUTOMATIC TRANSMISION

There's a TSB for the rust. You can find it yourself.

 

Thanks to threads like this, I bought a manual last week, lucky enough to find one on a lot, otherwise I would have had to order.

 

Ill get right on it!

 

Isn't school in session, grow up a little and don't bash every comment or try to bash everyone that doesn't agree with you! I have seen you reply to a ton of threads with negativity, is your life that bad! Enough is enough.

 

The irony!

You are way off target.

Tighten your shot group, son!

 

So last night we drove 40 miles on a flat stretch of I 40 into about a 20 mph headwind. No cruise control and I was easy on the throttle. The transmission held in fifth gear about 80% of the trip. We were going about 72 mph and turning around 2,000 rpm in fifth. The truck wouldn’t maintain that speed in sixth without gearing down. The facts are in Oklahoma we have hills with long grades and wind. This design by Toyota has failed if the truck is to operate in sixth at highway speeds to maximize fuel economy. Is this a gear ratio issue or programming issue? I have my opinion.

I have a nephew who works for Toyota in Dallas who helped with the recall for the leaking rear axles. He assisted in writing the recall letter as well as communicating with Toyota service departments. He has driven my 2017. He also told me several co-workers follow the forums.

I have only three issues with this truck. There is a new 2018 TRD identical to mine at a nearby dealership. One of these issues was addressed with the 2018. Leather seats. Oh, they felt good when I test drove the truck. Maybe power seats will be next. If so, I am trading. But not for anything else other than a Tacoma.

 

20 mph headwind at 72mph is a massive amount of wind resistance. Wind effect increases exponentially above about 60 mph.

 

This is a gear ratio issue. At 70 you said you're turning 2000rpm in 5th. That is arguably the very low end of the powerband... it's actually optimal around 2500RPM. 6th gear is a 0.58:1 ratio... you'll never touch the powerband in 6th until you're running 80. Throw a 20mph headwind in the mix... You're screwed!

Out here in the Great Plains, we have 75mph speed limits and strong winds. Thats a bad combination for a vehicle with a motor that makes no torque down low coupled with a transmission thats super high geared. I know if I start heading east, once I get to Missouri the speed limit drops to 60 and stays there until Virginia. This truck was designed for the majority of the country's driving conditions... but not ours.

My truck is a manual. My 6th is 0.73:1 and my rear end is 4.30. At 60mph in 6th, I'm already at 2000rpm. If its super windy, hilly, or I'm pulling a trailer I'll drop it into 5th but I hardly ever need to.

This motor runs incredibly well in front of the manual transmission because of gearing, NOT programming.

 

I disagree that the shifting program does well for fuel efficiency, and many others agree. When Toyota announced its fuel estimates back in 2015, a V6 4x4 was rated up to 24 hwy. Then in 2016 2017 it was lowered to 23. Now the 2018 says 22mpg on the window sticker. Even Toyota realizes that the transmission is underperforming on fuel economy and instead of doing anything about it, just lowers the rating.

I will say that not everyone is getting below the rated mpg, but too many are that I have read. Toyota owners website has many more complaints about fuel economy. I’m personally averaging 16 and maybe that’s fine for a 4x4 truck but it’s still less than expected and advertised. Toyota doesn’t care and chief engineer mike sweers told me:

“Richard I’m glad the power button helped. Concerning FE, I not sure what model you have but the 23 is hwy and it is based on EPA cycle. Nobody in the real world drives only hwy or EPA cycle. I don’t want to sound rude so please don’t misunderstand. I just want you to enjoy your truck and have fun. It should improve as you get more miles but I don’t think you get to 23. Sorry brother.”

The problem with his statement is that even if I reset the computer and drive 100% highway at speeds of 60-65, I still get nowhere near 23 like the sticker says. I tried it for 100 miles, also another 100 at 70-75 just as a comparison. The mileage was better at 70 than 60 by the way. It’s just another excuse by the people at Toyota for being lazy on the gen 3. Again- these are my opinions and I’m not trying to start anything. I’m just a disappointed Tacoma fan that wants Toyota to step up its game!

 

I never said it does well... I said it's meant to maximize fuel economy. Obviously Toyota's initial estimates were way off but that doesn't mean that's not the intention of the super high 6th gear.

No worries. I think you just misunderstood my point.

 

“The 3rd gen automatic transmission is made to maximize fuel economy and it does it well.”

I understand, but you did say it and the above is what I commented on. I still hope that mine gets better with age like I was told by Sweers. What kind of mileage are you getting vs the rating?

 

I stand corrected. I drive a stick. Mine is as stated

 

If the onboard computer was to be believed, I was getting a combined 23 MPG in my Tacoma during warm months. I say was, because after 2 years I couldn't deal with the awful transmission anymore and bought a Tundra. The Tundra is basically perfect. The gas mileage is bad, but it's worth it. Best decision I could have made.