S mode shifting

Won’t hurt a thing.

G.

 

I use the "S" mode with ECT on around town also.......works well to make the engines powerband more useful. Once I get to my short highway trips I usually run in "D" and turn off ECT.

 

S mode every time my truck moves and let SSP do my shifting.

 

The difference is that D will shift according to the "learned" behavior based on you personally driving the truck. In my experience, it results in a lot of gear hunting (it wants to be in as high of a gear as it can be, all the time, except when going downhill).

S6 will drive without implementing the "learned" shift points. It'll drive more like a "normal" vehicle and not like the wonky "D" shifting. Seems to hold lower gears longer.

 

It makes all the difference in the world in my 2.7L.
I laugh when people say it does not have any guts.

"S" mode exclusively.

 

This has been one of the best things I've learned on here. Huge difference in drive and feel. Thanks!

 

Agreed. Using S4 in town makes it feel like a different vehicle. And if under 65 on the hiway, S5 is great, too.

 

I drove a 2005 base model 2.7L 5Spd for three quarters of a million miles. I have a feel for this.
My signature truck is heavier and has variable timing on the exhaust valves, maybe some other small tweaks.
This 6Spd AT produces results quite similar to my old truck.

 

I'm coming out of a 3.5 V6 Santa Fe which was only bought for family needs at the time, but drive-wise was pretty fun and responsive. Now that my kids are grown up, and driving, I could get back into a pickup. The shift point learning was really the only gripe I've had so far, but I figured I'd eventually get over it. Now I'm golden. Well, except for forgetting to slide back to the right to shift to reverse.

 

23 months and 19,000 miles into my truck and I have been seriously considering test driving a MT at my final ToyotaCare service appointment. Purchased the AT for the typical "wife can't/won't drive a stick" reason. Just not satisfied with the lugging & lack of power I've put up with when not in ECT mode.

Reading this thread has hopefully just saved me much haggling with the dealer and several thousand dollars. Looking forward to putting this new information to use on the drive home from work tonight.

Thanks to all that have posted!

 

If under 35mph try S4. Over 35 try S5. Interstate speeds, S6.

 

After the commute home and back in this morning (all through my little town, never getting above 50 MPH), it almost feels like I'm driving a different vehicle! The power from the engine is where it has supposed to have been all along. The 3.5 six cylinder feels like a six cylinder instead of what felt for the longest time like a four banger. It's refreshing to be able to drive this truck like I had expected to all along and without a clutch and without giving up all the 4WD options that were paid for in the OR.

Thanks again to all who posted the excellent advice on the proper use of S-Mode.

 

The "S" mode is great, but damn, you should be able drive the Taco like a "normal" vehicle with an automatic transmission. I had the recent TSB done and the shifting is better it still is rather erratic in "D".

 

This is in s5 all the time

 

Couldn't agree with you more. I haven't had the TSB applied, mostly because I have been leery of making things "worse." That said, from what I can gather, the entire reason that this is even a discussion is a result of emissions requirements with which manufacturers are being forced to comply. Crazy the things that we have to find work-arounds for anymore!

 

That's better mileage than I have averaged for two years in "D" all the time, with occasional use of ECT Mode!!

 

I never see anything even close to that.

 

A lot of good info here.

Question: Do the 2019s have a 6 or 8 speed transmission? The dealership says it is 8. Everything I find online says 6.

Is S6 the highest mode?

 

Six speed not 8.

 

I drive in S mode a lot and switch back and forth quite a bit. Is there any mod to change the default s mode gear from 4th to 5th?