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Enough Already! Your Truck's T, HP and RPM Explained

Discussion in '3rd Gen. Tacomas (2016-2023)' started by hiPSI, Oct 24, 2018.

  1. Apr 4, 2020 at 4:21 PM
    #461
    specter208

    specter208 Well-Known Member

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    That is an older model engine (2GR-FE) with a different tune. Taco uses 2GR-FKS with a factory truck tune.
     
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  2. Apr 4, 2020 at 5:23 PM
    #462
    BobbyRalph

    BobbyRalph Member

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    I understand that. My point was that Toyota CAN get it right. They choose to not do that. That older model engine and tune crush the Taco engine in every way.
     
  3. Apr 4, 2020 at 6:28 PM
    #463
    specter208

    specter208 Well-Known Member

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    For whatever reason Toyota picked the current setup for what we can assume is the best QDR for Tacoma. This engine needs to make enough power reliably for towing/hauling and increased power creates more heat which will reduce engine life.
     
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  4. Apr 4, 2020 at 9:22 PM
    #464
    BobbyRalph

    BobbyRalph Member

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    Here's an idea. 4.5L engine will probably get better gas mileage and operate at a lower RPM and have more torque and horsepower available for doing work. Or, turbocharge this 3.5L turd and bring the truck to life. Plus, the Bonneville Salt Flats gearing is only handicapping the engine.
     
  5. Apr 5, 2020 at 8:43 AM
    #465
    Junkhead

    Junkhead TRDude

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    Never really understood the lack of power complaint with these trucks. My truck is plenty fast.
     
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  6. Apr 5, 2020 at 9:36 AM
    #466
    Junkhead

    Junkhead TRDude

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    My rangers' 4.0L was tuned for less power than the 4.0L in mustangs and explorers. I would agree its for longevity reasons yes.
     
  7. Apr 5, 2020 at 9:48 AM
    #467
    Junkhead

    Junkhead TRDude

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    Did you drive 3rd gen with a 4.3 rear end? With normal driving the RPMs dont go over 3k most of the time. Enough power to get around no problem.

    I did drive my buddies 19 off road with AT though (3.90 rear end) and IMO it drove great. I did not find it lacked power in lower rpms or shifted funny. The transmission shifted very well.
     
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  8. Apr 5, 2020 at 3:10 PM
    #468
    BobbyRalph

    BobbyRalph Member

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    I had a 2016 manual transmission (4.30:1 gears) model and it was almost impossible to drive smoothly. The power from the 3.5 comes on like a 2-stroke at about 3500rpm. Until then, it languishes at lower rpm with a hole from 3000 to 3500. Very strange.

    Yes, the truck will go, you just have to flog it like a 125 to get it to do it. While that can be fun on a motocross bike, it gets tiresome on a passenger vehicle. From the threads I've read about the OV tune and re-gearing, it looks like it costs about $2800 to make it drive "right". I may put that into it, but it's a hard pill to swallow after the initial cost of purchase.
     
  9. Apr 5, 2020 at 5:30 PM
    #469
    hiPSI

    hiPSI [OP] Laminar Flow

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    Let me know when you get your engineering degree and have 30 years experience designing powertrains. In addition, make sure you study all the federal regulations regarding fuel efficiency. Last thing you need to study is marketing... what will 250K people want several years down the road? When you know all that, then we'll listen.
     
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  10. Apr 6, 2020 at 1:12 AM
    #470
    BobbyRalph

    BobbyRalph Member

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    Says the guy with a V8.
     
  11. Apr 6, 2020 at 8:31 AM
    #471
    MountainManGuy

    MountainManGuy Well-Known Member

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    Plus, we have these things called speed limits.
     
  12. Apr 6, 2020 at 9:44 AM
    #472
    hiPSI

    hiPSI [OP] Laminar Flow

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    Lol I had a 2018 Sport Tacoma. I Put 42K on it in one year. It did fine and zero problems with shifting. I didn't get a Tundra for power alone. I got it because I tow 8K. The Tacoma, especially the manual, did not like towing at or near the limit.
    However, I liked being able to go 55mph backwards haha.
     
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  13. Apr 13, 2020 at 9:16 AM
    #473
    SCQTT

    SCQTT Well-Known Member

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    I'll say it again. Lack of torque at lower revs is the weakness that EVERYONE falsely diagnoses as a transmission issue. The transmission is a 4 speed with double overdrives for fuel economy. The 3.5 makes plenty of HP (although lots of people seem to be getting 300HP out of a N/A 3.0 V6 now) Americans like HP numbers, but ignore torque numbers. Torque is what gets the WORK done. The 125 MX bike was a great example. Plenty "fast" but you have to ride it like your hair is on fire. All you have to do is look at a dyno chart and see what the Tacoma 3.5 puts out for torque at 1,800 RPM. this is what your truck is trying to run at 70MPH in 6th. Add bigger, heavier, wider, tires and lift it making it less aerodynamically efficient and the problem becomes worse. A manual transmission does not cure the problem it simply lets you choose the gear whereas the auto is always trying to grab a higher gear for optimum fuel efficiency.

    My 02 Tacoma with the 3.4 did the same thing and I hated it so bad I kept it less than two years.

    My 2020 RAV4 has a 2.5 I4 with an 8 speed auto. same hill, same speed comparing the RAV4 to Tacoma. (surprisingly both are running about the same RPM) The Tacoma downshifts into 5th and the RAV4 stays in 8th! (obviously the weight of each vehicle is very different and the towing capacity is much different as well.

    The intake, cams, injection and timing should all be changed on the Tacoma to give it 25-50 more ft. lbs. of torque down low EVEN if it sacrifices 50 HP at the top of the rev range.

    Better yet give me a 175HP 300Ft. Lbs. torque 2.5 I4 turbo diesel.
     
    Last edited: Apr 20, 2020
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  14. Apr 20, 2020 at 9:38 AM
    #474
    johnnyblender

    johnnyblender Active Member

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    What was the TSB # for this. My dealer denies the existence of said ECU Tune.
     
  15. Apr 20, 2020 at 10:33 AM
    #475
    6gearsofv6fury

    6gearsofv6fury Gasoline > Electricity

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    None yet.....
    I'm not here to attempt to disqualify anyone's statements, this is just the opinion of someone who has driven trucks for 20 years.

    Traditionally, trucks have always had their power down low. If you wanted something that revved high, you bought a muscle or sports car. People who drive trucks generally want the torque in the lower RPMs to do what they are meant to do. I had a 2nd Gen M/T with the 4.0 and was fine with lower horsepower for higher torque. Granted, that truck never felt overly fast, but I could keep it from 3k RPM down and it never felt bogged. To have to drive a truck the way you would normally drive a 4-cylinder car just seems counter-intuitive, regardless if the engine is designed to take the abuse or not. I think that's the stumbling block. For people like me who have been around long enough to know how trucks of the past drove, whether it's good or bad, it doesn't make sense.

    I drove a 2019 Colorado for work for a period of time. As much as I dislike automatics, the V6 and 8-speed in that truck really work well. There is never a shortage of power, and the transmission shifts quick. Usually seems to know what gear to be in without having to hunt or scream. That truck gets after it. Just unfortunate the rest of it is a bit of a POS lol.
     
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  16. May 18, 2020 at 9:40 PM
    #476
    JPDS2020

    JPDS2020 Member

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    I will say, I’m almost at 1000 miles on my first Tacoma and I wasn’t sure what to expect. I realized something and most of you will think I’m insane.

    I never test drove it.

    I bought this truck not knowing it’s dynamics. I came from a 5 speed manual Jeep Patriot squeezing out a sad 180HP or so. That Patriot was a Dog. My wife has a GTI and I got tired of driving my Dog of a Jeep. I am a spirited driver after all, so I was looking forward to a V6 and about 100HP more than my Patriot.

    The Tacoma is not fast. But it isn’t supposed to be. In fact, I already joked that ‘coma is a better nickname than Taco!

    It has power, you can feel and hear it. When you have to haul or tow something you’ll know it’s there. I made a trip for gardening items and came home with 24 bags of soil around 60lbs each and the truck didn’t perform much differently than with nothing in the bed.

    I’d love a small V8. Might even get better mileage with cylinder canceling tech, but I bought the truck knowing the 3.5L had been in production for many years and I’d been buying a dependable vehicle I could enjoy and utilize for more than just transportation.
     
  17. Jun 25, 2020 at 7:08 PM
    #477
    Amanelot

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    Sometimes, this thread just needs a little bump
     
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  18. Jul 5, 2020 at 12:20 PM
    #478
    HeyWannaTaco

    HeyWannaTaco Well-Known Member

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    Thanks for the really good explanation. I'm still trying to wrap my head around some of it, for me anyway.
    It seems almost like chicken and egg, which comes first, torque or hp, hp or torque, but it seems like it doesn't matter as long as the relationship is right between engine and gears.
    I dunno, like I said really good, and thank you for posting.
     
    hiPSI[QUOTED][OP] likes this.
  19. Jul 6, 2020 at 12:00 PM
    #479
    Kamille.bidan

    Kamille.bidan Well-Known Member

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    After installing OVtune 2.0 for a premium fuel, I don’t really see any need for improvement.

    The powertrain is significantly improved. best money you can spend on a upgrade for the Tacoma.

    I see a lot of people buy pointless things on this site. If you don’t buy OVtune (At least with a manual), I don’t think you can really say your truck is a “rig” at all. It’s the most significant change to the truck for the least amount of money.
     
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  20. Jul 7, 2020 at 10:00 AM
    #480
    Amanelot

    Amanelot Member

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    Who calls their truck a "rig"? And why does letting some random company that calls themselves a virus, and I've only ever heard of on this forum, play around with my ECU qualify it as a "rig"?
     

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