Tacoma - OVTUNE - VFTUNER - Update Info and Original Development

I'd say that if you're happy right now, the biggest improvements you're likely to feel are in throttle response and power (if you do the 91 map) and likely an improvement in MPGs. The shifting is way better than my truck shifted stock but perhaps you're ok w/ the stock shifting or you have learned each other so that could be hit or miss for you perhaps.

 

Throttle response and more torque ~2000 on up is what I notice most on my M/T. Highway cruising in 6th is much improved too, especially once you hit about 2500 rpm (70ish mph).

 

Matt, love the tune. I'm trying out 1.04 right now but actually got really comfortable with 1.03 so I may go back.

Question for the rest of y'all... how many times do you have to try the writing process before it finally is successful?

I always have to dedicate around 2 hours since it takes me 15+ times to write the tunes. I've killed all electrical loads, turned screen off, cycle the power on the truck, and even restart computer a few times. Its not that big of a deal but I'm wondering if I am missing something.

 

I'm not happy or unhappy I guess. I tend to drive with ect and in sport mode 100% (living in 4th mostly) of the time because I feel in regular drive it isn't as responsive so I guess in some degree I have the same issues as other, but have never put much thought into it since i'm always in sport mode.

Since reading more on the tune, it has peaked my interest as I want something to make the truck more responsive and makes it even more fun to drive is my goal so I feel that this would do that, but hesitant to spend a lot of money on something that I may or may not see a big difference. I have noticed that if I am in the lower rpm's, even in sport mode, it isn't as responsive when I gas it compared to if I live in the higher rpm's it performs good hence why i'm always in 4th, even on freeway most of the time lol

 

I was just like you... and now I don't touch anything. I just start the truck, put it in drive and leave it 90% of the time even in city driving where I would drive in S-4 previously. I'll still use ECT if carrying a load or driving in the mountains and same w/ S-mode as a limiter in mountain driving but the incessant ECT+S-mode on startup is no longer necessary w/ the tune. Plus you'll get better mileage when the truck can start to use 5/6 more without bogging down.

 

That's good to know and helps the decision making easier.

 

^^ Pretty much ditto for me

 

same here.

 

Perhaps this is relevant to the discussion of 4-6? By quoting this here I do NOT mean that Matt has not changed/improved performance in those gears already. Matt himself describes the 4-6 experience as obnoxious (currently). And he intends to "solve that little problem".
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From Matt's blog post where he discusses future under the heading "What we aim to achieve in 2018 and 2019":

Improvements to 5th and 6th gear Throttle demand

The main reason the high gears suck. The throttle! We can't understand why the higher gears would have throttle limiters.. but they exist. Not only do they exist but you can feel it. When you are driving in 6th and slowly push and increase the gas pedal you can feel the truck do..nothing. There is a dead zone where the truck will do nothing until you reach a certain "demand" on the throttle and it downshifts. This big "limbo zone" of no extra throttle and no additional acceleration is why the truck dances from 4th to 6th gear. You can't maintain or accelerate in 6th, but you also can't stay in 4th on the highway (that's just obnoxious).

 

@commbubba19 with all your posts, I cannot remember if you got the tune or not. If you did and are not happy, I know from my experience with @OVTune he works at doing everything he can. As far as not enough info on the emissions test, I know if Mat is bringing it up, it's the full test, why piss around at this point. So until "you" know the facts, sit back and relax, maybe bug another forum, far detached from this one please.

 

I used to have this happen when I was using my MacBook with VirtualBox but since I've picked up the cheap Lenovo that I only use for tune/logging I haven't had it fail once... FWIW

 

My exact setup... Guess it is a Mac thing.

 

100% agree. However the situation is exasperated by the poor choice of the AT 4 and 5 gear ratios (I can't speak for my MT breathren). IMHO, it's too big a jump from 4th to 5th (really, Toyota, TWO overdrive gears?). Add to that this engine's low torque at low RPM and it's no wonder the AT is so schizophrenic in 4th, 5th, 6th shifts. Mat has worked miracles to address this problem and I eagerly await his upcoming tweaks.

 

have, not running.

going back and re-reading the blog posts, something that sticks out to me is this:

During a 200 mile highway drive, mostly flat, 75mph we shifting from 4th to 5th to 6th to 4th to 5th to 6th at least 30-40 times in that cycle.. and we are not exaggerating. We get into 6th gear and the truck can't maintain speed, apply the accelerator and instantly goes to 4th gear

I do not have that issue with the stock tune on my oct 17 build date truck. I can cruise at 75 in 6th and it stays there. when i hit an incline and give it a bit of throttle, it downshifts to 5th and will hold unless i give it more throttle, then it will go to 4th. this is where my experience is differing from most. is this due to my truck possibly already having toyota's later updates?

with 1.04, my truck actually did this shift dance more and would more aggressively be willing to shift to 4th to hold speed. but note it was in 6th and held 6th to 5th as well but i was heavier into the throttle vs oem. it's confusing and doesn't make sense. but the shifting was more noticeable with 1.04 to hold 75 vs oem.

Everything in the blog post makes sense, but for my truck actual driving experience seems to differ. hence my frustration.

 

Interesting word. I thought you just misspelled "exacerbated" but apparently "exasperated" is in fact a word. They are similar but not the same.

 

Well, now I really am exasperated.

 

My 2017 did exactly what Mat said. After the 1.04 it didn't and that is my driving experience.

 

I’m using a mid 2010 MacBook Pro with Bootcamp and Windows 8.1. No issues installing the tune. This is with the dongle version...not sure if there are any different considerations with the dongle-less kit.

 

That is definitely interesting to hear how your OEM tune seems to be different than most of us (at least in this thread). On the stock tune, mine was defintely doing the 4th to 6th dance at those speeds...a lot! And what made it worse is that it seemed to skip 5th as much as possible. It was incredibly frusterating.

 

I know a few of us have been here since the beginning and read every post. I seriously think that person was the first one who said you’re giving the tune to toyota. Absolutly crazy gossiping gals.