POLL: OVTune Reviews (3rd gen)

New member with '18 AT looking very closely at the OV tune and have read all post related to it. Being from Ont Canada with the exchange and shipping, Im looking very close to $1,000.00 to purchase the tune, and with 91 or 93 at .10 to .15 cents a liter more. Today 87 is $1.23 a liter. I have no interest in running those tunes and would only use the 87 tune. It seems the good reviews are from the "performance" tunes. Could I hear from the 87 octane guys and if they would justify the thousand for the tune ?. Some have said running ECT all the time is the same as the OV 87 tune ? With the OV 87 tune do you still run ECT all the time or not, if so is it better ?

 

Excluding gear lock, and the different octane levels, there are 2 basic tunes (base and performance). Both tunes shift differently than stock. I can't speak for others but the idea of ect never really crosses my mind anymore. I didn't like the performance tune but everyone has different preferences. The first couple % of the pedal really opens the throttle body. It doesn't take much to feel like you're flooring it everywhere. So base tune for me. Whatever tune you go with your ect problems will be gone

 

Dang man, that's a pretty loaded question. First off, you haven't listed why you're not happy with the truck in it's current form. I had a brand spanking new 2019 Tacoma and it felt like something was wrong with the truck. I couldn't tell if it was the 20-50mph shimmy everyone complains about and what that issue was. Is it software? Brakes? Drive line? Or just hesitation and shift points for the automatic transmission? To complicate my situation, I put 265/75/16 all terrain tires on the truck as soon as I got it home. Going round and round with the dealership is not something I wanted to deal with. The ovtune fixed my issues and concerns. If I'm being OCD and looking for it I feel slight vibrations when coming to a stop but it was nothing like before. However, this is a different truck then what I brought home. The 87 tune, as minor as the tune may be, has made this truck. I am very happy with it.

 

I went with the 87 gearlock tune. It’s a performance tune so has all the better shifting, throttle response, and because of our %#* carbon tax, the least expensive of the 3. I wanted gearlock specifically for the advantage of selecting and locking (definitely no gear hunting) the correct gear when towing. (Works extremely well).

Was it worth the $1000 + $35 cad duty? Definitely! After the tune had settled in the quick tip in mellowed out, the cold idle surging disappeared and bottom line it’s way better than the factory tune with the latest TSB.

Without the tune I used ECT once in a while. With the tune, ECT while in D is not necessary. ECT is used in S mode but only to invoke gearlock.

If you are able to get the tune, go for it. You won’t regret it, especially after version 1.06 comes out near the end of the year. All the greatness of 1.05 tweaked to perfection!

 

I didn't list my reasons of why I am not happy with the truck because they are exactly what everyone else has listed, transmission gear searching all the time, even worse when towing , lack of pedal response. I have been back to the dealership twice and just receive excuses , its gotten to the point were i am debating selling it, which I REALLY don't want to do. My last Tacoma (2003) was the BEST thing I've ever owned, It Never went back to the dealership once, I performed all the oil and brakes changes. The only reason I sold it was I have two kids that out grew the extended cab.

 

Your post is greatly appreciated

 

Sounds like you should go for it. I haven't towed anything yet, but it's much better now with the tune. If you pull the trigger, let us know your experience. I'd like to hear about the towing since I plan to tow in the future.

 

I thought the 1.05 Base tune (87) would also help with shifting. Mine has been on for about a week or so worth of driving and now it feels like it was before the tune. It drove better for about 2 days. How do we resolve this?

 

How many miles are in a week or so?

 

Hello all- first post here on TacoWorld.. I've read countless posts about OVT until I'm blue in the face and I sold on the OV tune. I purchased the OV tune this afternoon and am anxiously awaiting its arrival. I am picking up my 2019 TRD Sport 4dr SWB 4x2 next week. The truck will have essentially zero miles on it as its coming straight off the boat to the dealership. I've test driven other 2019 Tacos and have felt the lag/sluggishness/hesitation/lack of performance everyone is speaking about, and I do NOT want that to be how my truck drives/handles/performs. My question is this.. should I have any reservation about flashing the ECU right from the get-go, without putting any (real) miles on the truck? Thanks in advance!!

 

My truck may have had 100 miles on it when I loaded my 87 base tune. No issues at all.

 

Close to 60 miles

 

That's not nearly enough miles. Some vehicles take up to the 2nd tank of gas before everything gets settled in correctly. The computer has to relearn and adjust it's values. Running a tune is basically forcing the computer to run on parameters that are not normal. Get out there and drive it.

 

Thanks for the response nwflsr4x4!

 

Does anyone have any insight into how 85 octane would affect the 87 tune? I live at 6,200 feet in Colorado, and most of my adventures take me to higher elevations. The lowest elevation I may dip down to is 4,000 feet once or twice a year when visiting Moab, UT. At high elevations, would 85 be ok to use with the 87 tune?

I've tried to find good info on this throughout the rest of TW, but haven't found any quality answers yet.

 

I wouldn't think it would make much difference. The truck will have knock sensors that take care of timing. Id see the possibility for issues if you were running a 93 tune and using 85 octane. I had a vehicle in the past rated for 93 and ran 89 with no issues.

 

Thanks for the insight. I like the idea of saving 20 to 40 cents per gallon by being able to use 85, but if it's going to do any damage to the ovtuned engine, it's not worth the little bit of savings.

 

Just making sure that OVTUNE is out of the country until may 15th correct? Was going to buy the Tune today but am holding off until they are back

 

Old review from a year ago - I’ll update. Ovtune is in and ready to take your order!

 

Is this tune identifiable by the dealership? Im worried it will void my warranty. Or should I reflash it before every visit? Any insight on this subject would be great.