2016 OVTune Tacoma 3.5L Manual Transmission / Engine ECU Reflash

Now THIS sounds interesting...
IIRC the shop manual basically states that this "flapper" is either fully open or fully closed. I'll take the option where I get max torque out of the engine idle to ~ 3500, to hell with high end lol. +1000000 for consistent, smooth power delivery.

 

Time for the flapper mod

 

Maybe a stick??!!

LOL, Mat's gonna figure this bitch out

 

The VVT is continuously variable and, yes, VVT is the method used to achieve simulated Atkinson cycle. Since it is continuously variable there should be no sudden surge of power associated with VVT/Atkinson/Otto (if properly tuned).

There is a lot more going on than just VVT.

There is also the transition from port injection only, to port AND direct injection, to direct injection only. This also seems continuously variable; so, it should not be the source of a power surge, either (if properly tuned).

Lastly, I was going to suggest the ACIS (before I saw OVT's post, honestly). This is not continuously variable. The valve is either off or on. At low rpm longer intake runners give more torque; but, at higher rpm short intake runners give more (the valve effectively changes the intake length). If the valve switches at the right time, when long vs. short produce the same output, then there should be no surge of power. As OVT just said, he hasn't cracked this part of the tune yet. If he does, and the control logic is sophisticated enough (i.e. not just rpm based) this could be eliminated as a source of power surge. It seems like the only remaining possibility; since, OVT seems to have total control over all the other obvious causes.

 

I sure hope you can kill that,I do however enjoy the little bump at 3500,reminds me of the vacuum secondary's on an old Chrysler 4bbl kicking in.

 

I second this

 

Subscribing for updates.

 

@Shepherd12

Updates to 1.05 are available if you have the dongle kit and have had the TSB done.

ETA I see you have a 2018 so the 1.05 update may not apply to your ecu.

 

I flashed tonight to 1.05 FO 91 and had to go run an errand. Trip was only 16 miles of mostly hwy with speed from 45 to 60. The 23.3mpg is off roughly 1mpg because I'm running 265/70R17 so it's actually 24.5mpg.

 

Interesting...doesn’t seem like Otto tune impacts mpg that significantly if at all. Any of you other Otto guys see a difference in Mpg?

 

I haven't noticed anything in the 100 miles I have on it. I will be hard to really tell though as temps are dropping over the next week or so and winter blend fuel.

 

@OVTune
Just want to say job well done on 1.05.
My truck was confused at first by it all but after 700+ miles over the last few days it has turned into a different animal.

 

That’s cool and all but anybody can post about extraordinary MPGs on a short trip.

Enjoy 1.05 and report back after 300+ miles

 

Alright guys, you've had 1.05 since Wednesday. Time to spill the beans.

 

Now running 1.05 91 MA after about 250 miles on 91 FO.

I liked the FO file, noticeably improved bottom end and very good throttle. Daily commute mpgs remained unchanged.

My truck (the Ginger), was having some slight stuttering in the 2750-3000 range, and the acceleration from 2000-3000 while good, was not as good as previous 91 octane files. It felt held back for some reason. Once at 3500 though, it would take off. Please don't start making comments like "well yeah, this engine does that". I know, and I also know what 1.03B 91 felt like in the midrange. IMO this file ON MY TRUCK is not quite there.

I've only got about 100km on 91 MA, so it's really too early to make a judgement on it. I will say that the midrange feels better, especially in 5th/6th on the highway. If I could have the bottom end of the FO file with the midrange of MA...

Anyway, as you are about to see, others will have a different experience. I'm just telling you mine.

Cheers

 

The complete lack of normal brain function is real in the Alpha thread. It absolutely blows my mind that there are those of us that Are among the first group of tunes purchased and are being patient because we understand exactly what @OVTune is doing. Then you have the clowns that have not been here since day one that feel they deserve special treatment.

Anyway, I have been to all 4 of the Toyota dealers in my local area trying to get the TSB update and have been told be each of them that the TSB is only for the AT trucks and the MT is not covered. Again, this goes back to reading comprehension because the TSB clearly lists the MT ecu’s. Frustrating.

 

You up for trying it yourself? I got on the 04B13 train without issues, but there's more risk to it than flashing wit PCMFlash.

 

I found T-SB-0125-18 that appears to have the same calibration ID (8966304B1300) as T-SB-0058-18 for the 6MT, and this one does not specify what transmission is required to apply the TSB. I explained to the service adviser that my truck experienced a weird surge 3 or 4 times during my 9500 miles that I've put on my truck in the year I have owned it when coasting or at idle speeds like when backing up to a trailer, and when the front wheels are turned. Told them it kinda scared me the most recent time when I was camping and getting ready to leave. Had I not had my foot on the clutch and able to disconnect engine input from the drive line, that the engine surge could have caused me to plow into my trailer hitch. He had me leave the truck with him for an hour or so to see what his tech could figure out. He did mention that there might not be much they can do if they can't recreate it. I told him that's fine and to take all the time he needs, as I highly doubt he'll be able to recreate it. I can't even get recreate it . An hour and some change later, he calls and was excited to tell me that they found a TSB (T-SB-0125-18) that is available and that it describes my exact conditions I experienced with my truck. He went on to say that the service tech went ahead and reflashed the ECU for me and the truck is ready for pick up.



Moocho mo' better!

-The hiccup around 2300 rpm is gone, gone, gone!
-I feel a very significant improvement with the throttle response, especially from a dead stop. Dead stop to full throttle launches don't flat face any more.
-Lower end torque has been improved.
-Rev hang has decreased to the point where it is much much less noticeable.
-So far MPG's don't seem to have been affected negatively, if anything it's the same to slightly improved.

So, if you can't get the dealer to do the the T-SB-0058-18, or T-SB-0062-18, then tell him you have experienced the symptoms of what T-SB-0125-18 is prescribed to fix a few times and it kinda makes you nervous around people in a parking lot, or while backing up to a trailer.
Let them find the TSB and apply it for you.

 

From what I understand with Matt's post though is that although it is a little bit sketchy to flash the TSB with TS, IF things go wrong we can recover with PCMflash without worry so should be all good to try the TSB update for OVtune owners. People that don't own OVtune don't have access to PCMflash so they end up needing to send their ECUs in to get unbricked.

 

Yeah I saw a bit of that interaction he had with a guy... told him to keep trying to flash with a file (stock?) via PCMFlash. It worked!