50mph + 6th gear = herky jerky... common?

There is $700 solution to fix the issue(s)

 

I get the ethanol deal being bad for 2 strokes, but really haven't run into any issues with our fuel here. When i was out in the mid-west years ago, i use to hear all sorts of fuel problems unlike here on the east coast. I haven't heard of any gen3 tacoma fuel issues where i live here either, or for that matter gen1 or 2. All our fuel grades have ethanol, saying it could be up to 10%.

 

It's a characteristic for a transmission with two OD gears and running cruise at a speed at the threshold of two shift points.

 

I have the same issue and dealer said it is normal. Now that I am finally selling my truck its like I have taken the blinders off and actually see that this generation is full of problems that I didn't want to see because I loved my truck. I use rentals for work and none have that issue.

I will say that the Colorado has similar problems with transmission also.

 

I use cruise on anything over the lowest limit of cruise, 25 or something?

Basically every time I stop accelerating, cruise comes on.

 

Interested in why?
I drove almost 6K miles in March. 95% of those miles were interstate. I used cruise maybe 10% of the time, basically to stretch my foot or leg. So my driving style is opposite of yours.
The reason I don't use cruise is I feel I have more control, especially now with radar cruise.

 

Here in Texas, you can buy non ethanol 90 octane fuel. The corrosion problem is well documented, and although a 10% mix does not create as much of a problem, it does exist.

 

I'm lazy and have bad knees. My feet are always moving keeping my knee free. A lot of that is probably just habit though

 

Yeah I'm sure my driving style is habit too. After driving 42 years, some of it is bound to be habit.
I do stay more aware when not on cruise as you constantly have to modulate.
However, when I had my Tacoma with MT and I broke my foot and had to have a cast, I was setting cruise every chance I had. I had like a sixteenth inch of clearance between cast, center console and brake pedal.

 

Haha that's terrible! It's funny you mention modulate, that's another reason why I use cruise. Let the truck do what it needs to do to maintain speed, I'm too impatient so I set the cruise juuuust below what I think cops will pull me over for and just let the truck do what it needs too haha.

 

many engines idle normally in the 600rpm range

many are inclined when cold started to idle in the 1k to 1500 ‘ fast idle ‘ range

Ur vehicle will in drive move across a flat parking lot.............designed to do so

at he rpm U mention if U were to look at a dyne sheet for that engine

Very Little Power is being produced/provided at that rpm & the load on the engine

that is a Double Over Drive Transmission.......... 5th/6th gears used on HiWay at speeds

much elevated than 48mph........ actually better purposed for 4th gear

 

I have a 2016 and for the last 4 years I have been using typical 87 octane gas and yes a lot of it has ethanol. I really didn't think too much about it but the jerking does get annoying. I was settled into the fact that this was normal and nothing could be done to fix it so I usual run in S-mode and keep it into 4th or lower around town, which is also annoying as I shouldn't have to do this on a modern truck. there was another post discussing the effects of burning gas with ethanol and as you can imagine the arguments started. Typical forum.
I decided to do my own testing and am very pleased with the outcome. I started looking for gas with no ethanol, so at first I bit the bullet and used premium as I know it's advertised on the pump, no ethanol. At first no real change but it takes a few times to running near empty to get all the crap out of the fuel system. I have run about 6 or 8 tanks now and I noticed the difference a few tanks ago. The truck runs much smoother and no jerking at all. I plan on looking for suppliers that do not use ethanol in their cheaper blends, regular or mid grade as premium is expensive but at least I am satisfied with the results and how my truck runs.
There will be naysayers and non-believers but isn't that always the way it is?
All I can say is try it for yourself and see. Just remember it takes a few tanks and run it low before filling back up as you are just diluting the good gas with bad if you aren't.
Cheers

 

The premium you are using is E0?

 

Radar cruise control is one of the best things that's happened in a long time. It takes a little time to learn how to use it best to fit your driving style, then it's golden.

 

You guys know that you can still use regular "non-radar" cruise too, right? Have to hold the cruise button in for a few seconds when turning it on.

 

I was just going to add this too. It's a lot easier to push a button and let the truck maintain the speed so I don't find myself not realizing I'm doing 15 over on the freeway (or wherever).

 

Actually we had more corrosion issues many years ago with the fuel when mtbe was added. They outlawed it as it was getting into our water being a cancer causing agent. I've serviced a lot of carbs from chainsaws to snowmobiles that run on e10 fuels here...most are spotless year in and out. I like mixed trufuel myself for small 2 strokes like chainsaws or weed whackers, but it gets expensive over a season.

 

Was it MTBE vs ethanol or gas station tank revisions?

My small engine repair guy 'knew' I used only E0...

 

I do have a lot of experience with both dirt bikes and snowmobiles, both 2 and 4 stroke, as well as small displacement engines. The most frequent cause of varnish buildup in carbs in snowmobiles and chainsaws is not running them for extended periods of time and either not putting fuel stabilizer in the tank and running it through the carb, or running the carb dry. MTBE has not been used in gasoline for a number of years, so is a mute point.

 

I did not, but thanks! Also, mine does the same thing, I have a 2020 SR5.