Did ECM Tuning Save Your Relationship? (Attn: 6MT)

Using more pedal also helps the rev hang issue. So thanks Toyota for actively encouraging me to drive in a more environmentally damaging way.

Now if only I could figure out how to heel toe with this stupid pedal box.

 

I got the kdmax tune to help with first to second gear surging. It kinda helped but ultimately I should have spent the money on something else. I wouldn’t waste my time or money to do it again. For what it’s worth I drove it 100k stock and have 50k on it tuned.

 

Worth taking a look at
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...ld-spacer-install.798957/page-8#post-29150346

I know somebody with a manual, this made the biggest difference. Moved torque lower in the rpm curve.

 

I have read through a couple of spacer threads. I’d be more comfortable with claims if there was something to the design beyond “more volume more better, make spacer as tall as hood clears!” I do acknowledge it will affect something, somewhere, to some extent.

I apologize for these threads. Easy to answer beyond a doubt by just finding someone who’ll share their modified rigs, but Tacos are a bit of an odd duck in my locale.

I did test drive. I am sure for every reply here there are 10 people silently calling me an idiot under their breath. After a months long search and driving across 4 states in a sub-zero winter storm with 40+ MPH winds, fresh snow, and salt/brine galore. Not really the best environment, but after the first 2-3 points there, everyone involved knew I was not leaving without that truck..

 

Im biased because now I sell them but,

A tune 100% benefits a mt as much as an at truck. Biggest benefits I notice is low end power. Stock it felt like taking a corner in 2nd was gonna stall out the truck. Now it pulls out with no concern. 5th used to be useless outside of cruising on the highway, now a hill I used to have to downshift into 3rd/4th to maintain 110kph I can now down shift into 5th or 4th to maintain and accelerate up the same hill. There are multiple throttle options from stock to very aggressive along with custom made options. Also a odd one I didn't expect but it basically gets rid of your rev hang too between shifts in all but 1-2.

I'd contact your local tuner and give it a try for yourself. Most tuners will fully refund you if you don't like it.

 

The physics of it makes sense, longer intake runners is a thing that race teams and muscle car guys have done forever.

But I always take claims of the old tricks working on modern cars with a grain of salt. Computers have targets to hit, and their programming almost absorbs the gains from parts like this without tuning. Even claims of marginal gains from things like filters or axlebacks. You're not feeling 5 or 10 hp in your seat, you just aren't on a vehicle making north of 200. It's psychology, you spent money to feel a difference, so you're going to perceive a difference.

Show me the numbers. If you don't have them, I'm not buying what you're selling.

 

I'll own up, I run the spacer on my truck. Supposedly moves some torque from higher up to down low in the rpm band. Id say it does help, but tbh not for the price they offer it at. 300 bones for a plastic spacer is absurd and I'm usually very hesitant to purchase stuff that says it adds power that isn't Forced induction but the science behind it is established and makes sense. In the 1800-2200 rpm range the truck does pull a little bit better. I live in a hilly area and before the spacer the truck was a dog going up hills, with the spacer it does feel a little bit better. BUT I have not dynod my truck to confirm any of this myself. Also Anderson mfg does provide Dynos on their website and social media pages FWIW.

 

Yes but at least they are tuned for volume, velocity, resonance, et al. I doubt that really went in to the design beyond More’s Law. It’s cheap enough that if I break the seal with a tune (and the results are extremely favorable) I may just give it a shot, with my only expectation being a lighter wallet and heavier front end.

 

And to be clear for posterity sake, it doesn't add HP. Just moves the power band around so that you have more power down low at the cost of some power higher in the RPMs.

 

I don’t see a chart anywhere. They do claim torque peak shifts down 1000 RPM.

 

I would trade 100 horsepower at 4500 RPM for 50 ft/lb of torque off idle. Maybe even less than that.

 

I apologize, not on their website. On their Instagram.

 

Unfortunately it's not that drastic. More like +20ftlbs of torque. If it was closer to 50 I would say the price is worth it.

 

It's isn't a big number, but I was surprised how much better my friends truck felt pulling in 1st and 2nd gear in the 1200 to 2500 range.

 

That's been my experience, it isn't crazy but definitely noticable.

 

I like my tune but it's not a deal breaker. Honestly I was more thrilled about the tuner turning off the seatbelt chime.

I got pedal spacers from a member that brings the gas pedal closer to the brake. If you search my posts you should be able to find it.

 

You know one thing I forget is that you don't drive modern cars...you ask computers if they can accommodate your requests. You're experiencing only what the software engineers think you should experience. This might be true for pretty much everything but maybe the power steering system - the last fully mechanical system left on the truck perhaps? Tailgate latch and glovebox too maybe?

I thought I read somewhere that the throttle in 1st gear is restricted to 50%? Stands to reason they probably hold back in other scenarios, and since IIRC dyno pulls are done in direct drive, if there is lower gear throttle manipulation that the tune is 'unlocking' so to speak, it's not going to show up on a dyno chart, but you'd certainly feel it if the ol' restrictor plate was yanked off.

 

Asking the computers if it can accommodate your request is true. That's what the tunes are for. The tunes change the way the question is asked, and they change the way the computer responds to it,,, for the better.

 

If I recall correctly, I got the OV tune and remember it making a bit of a difference with my MT. I would have to agree, if you are willing to sacrifice the MPGs, just let it ride and it'll feel peppy (at best) above 3k. Adding a bunch of weight does not help. I did mine like 3 years ago and have been happy and feel like it made a difference that was worth it.

 

When I first bought my Inferno 2017 TRD OR 6MT last February, I drove it from Knoxville to Denver. On the way home I wondered where was the power? Getting on the highway it was a hit sluggish and didn't have hardly any giddyup to get to highway speed and merge safely. It was a sad drive home.

For the next three months, I considered selling it and getting a Tundra. The only thing that held me back with that was the Tundra didn't offer a manual transmission which I desperately wanted. By mid April I had heard about the OTT tune.

I was reluctant to part with $475 but decided it was worth a shot. Adam Sangiolo of Colorado Toyota Tuning Denver tuned mine. When he was done, I took it for a test drive and I was elated. The truck had more zip, better throttle response and better acceleration. It had the zip I needed to get on the highway and get to highway speed quickly.

In July I drove from Bennett, Colorado to Montrose, CO. I-70W to C-470S to 285W to 50W up over Monarch Pass and several other grades. She had no problem pulling the grades. I maintained 65-70 mph with the cruise control on for much of the duration of the trip except in reduced speed areas.

I achieved nearly 23 mpg on the trip. The computer was 0.5 mpg lower than the actual mpg of miles divided by gallons.

I easily probably had another 100-125 miles to this tank but running the fuel pump that low is hard on it, so topping off in Montrose was a given.





What makes this impressive?

- numerous mountain grades
- extra 75 lbs for the Westcott Designs rock sliders that were installed the previous weekend prior to the trip.
- 350 lbs of cargo.

The truck was gliding up and down grades with relative ease, I had to drop gears a few times going up Monarch due to its sheer steepness but the throttle response made any struggle minimal.

After numerous off roading adventures with the truck since the tune, I'm satisfied with the throttle sensitivity (Spicy setting), increased acceleration and zip, and it's pretty aggressive when climbing in 4WD. More than ample throttle and the fuel mileage is amazing. I was getting 18-20 mpg before the tune on the highway and now it's getting 22-23 mpg. But if I do 75-80 mph, the fuel mileage gains are all lost. The 22-23 mpg is achieved at 65-70 mph.

I've driven it cross country to Oshkosh, WI for the airshow in late July. I averaged about 21.5 mpg on the trip but I did 70-80 mph most of the way.

The tuned saved me from selling the truck. Very happy with it now. Hope this helps.