Cold weather performance?

It does. Though the airflow from driving 70 mph is going to be more significant than the natural wind. The flow strips heat from the differentials, transmission, Etc. In extreme cold this results in more mechanical drag from thicker fluids. I can feel the difference in the clutch at -30, it will warm up like normal driving slow, get up to highway speeds and it gets stiff again.

In more normal temps, I doubt it has a noticeable effect with modern synthetics though.

 

LOL, I had a girlfriend that had a diesel VW Rabbit. First time I drove it, I was getting on Central Expwy in Dallas (notoriously short ramps) and mentioned how impressed I was with the acceleration. She said, "Yeah, but look behind you." Sorry if you were following me.

OP, I find my truck runs best in outdoor temps of 65-75F. Any colder or hotter, and performance seems to start waning a bit. I think it's worse when it's super hot outside. My theory is that they tune these things in a lab at comfortable temps for the techs and don't spend as much time at the extreme ends of the temp spectrum trying to get things optimal. Lots of factors here, like winter gas, temp, wind, trying to keep a giant brick moving faster than 65mph in dense air, tire tread. Even a mild headwind will affect your MPG's. But 15 doesn't surprise me.

 

It was 3 degrees this morning when i started up my truck to run an errand into town. While it started fine these 3.5 trucks seem very cold blooded as far as giving off any heat...at least compared to my gen1 4.7 tundra. I drove into town, and nearly back before the cab started getting sufficient heat....was the same last year when temps got that low. Another quirk, every time you stop for a couple minutes at a red light the engine temp gauge drops to a 1/3 way. When the rpm pick back up the temp gauge goes back to normal/midway.

 

You know that if you select defrost button, you will get the heat within minutes. It uses an element to heat up the air.

Otherwise if you use engine heat, it takes forever for it warm up.

 

I had never heard of that before so I had to look it up. YUP! I'll have to remember that, thanks for the tip!

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/electric-heater-element.523097/

We've been in the single digits here for a few days. Between that and the winter gas blend, my truck definitely felt laggy. Not to mention hearing my first squeaks and creaks since I bought the truck early this summer. So super cold weather, definitely not the Tacoma's favorite.

 

Since the temp drops here in Pittsburgh I have noticed a drop in mpg's. I just accounted it to the fact that I am warming it up 10 to 15 minutes before leaving for work. Also the winter fuel does not help. Out of curiosity would a bed cover help at all with fuel economy? Sorry if its a stupid question this is my first time owning a truck.

 

You don’t need to warm up your truck for 10-15 mins, that’s excessive. You are just wasting gas and diluting your oil with gas because it’s running rich.

About 5 mins is all you need then just drive it gently till it gets to normal operating temperature.

Tonneau cover will not increase your MPGs unfortunately.

 

This behavior is not specific to tacomas. Larger engines produce more heat. This is my first v6 and in my experience it heats up fast and stays very warm. No complaints.

 

Thank you. I will try shortening up the warm up time.

 

5 minutes might even be too much. Unless you are heating it up for your significant other or defrosting the windows, there’s not much reason to warm up a modern engine as far as the research I’ve done on the subject. Caveat: there might be temperature limit to this rule of thumb. At some point the engine oil will phase change to a solid. Might only happen up north.

 

I agree.

I should’ve been more clear, 5 mins engine warm up when the temps are like -20C or less. Otherwise 45 secs or so and I start driving gently.

 

Swap out the Wildpeaks for a more suitable highway tire maybe?
Score a winter crasher 4 cylinder.
Winter gas isn't helping either as you know G/L...

 

If memory serves, the flow point of the Toyota oil is -54 F. Below the oils flow point, the answer is heating elements of some sort. At these temps, you start needing heat on your differentials (flow point of -65ish F) and transmission as well. If you live in the US, your factory antifreeze mix is only good to -45 F, -55 F if in Canada (again, if my memory is correct).

Good to know. I always run defrost, and have been marveling at how this truck gives me heat before the engine is warm. Good to know why, though I do feel a little silly for not guessing.

 

It was -60F a few hours north of me in 1996, but we haven’t gotten much lower than -30ish in the twin cities in my lifetime (same week in 1996 I think). I think I’m safe.

 

wow that's great to know. Good work

 

As I mentioned my Camaro really responds very well in colder weather especially when the DA is much lower close to actual elevation

Friends of mine who are also competitive Drag racers have set numerous personal best ET / MPH in colder weather conditions

 

Yeah, but Tennessee cold isn't Minnesota cold.

Agree though, most performance engines want cooler weather, especially turbo engines. I've had a couple of turbo-4cylinders and they could, under some conditions, heat-soak pretty quickly in the peak of summer, killing boost. Then really come alive in the fall. That was nice.

But there's definitely a point where all the other negatives of extreme cold start to be a hindrance, not a helper. Then, in the Tacoma's case, you get into wind resistance and cross winds and other stuff that affect a tall, slab-sided vehicle.

 

Ah yes, feb of 96 was a cold cold day. Last year (i think it was last year, might of been the year before that) we had like 3 solid weeks of -15 out.

 

1996 had a whole week of -30’s. And ya I think we got close to that just recently. Those Canucks sure know how to send the winter storms south.

 

Bring it! Pond hockey in my backyard