2023 OR 500miles feels like it’s trying too hard

I had a 2018 SR5 so I’m used to the transmission and the aerodynamics of this truck. My 2018 had the same tires so I’m used to that too. It drove like a truck. Slow. Would downshift to do simple acceleration like an idiot. Etc.

But this new one feels like I’m always driving uphill into the wind. It’s kind of like the parking brake is on, but it’s not like the wheels are dragging. It’s like the drive shaft is dragging.

It’s brand new. About 500 miles. I got it with 12. It has new tires. New brakes. So all the online help for things like this don’t really apply. They think the brakes calipers are stuck or the tires are flat or the wheel bearings are bad or something like that. But that’s not the case here.

No codes. Shifting to neutral doesn’t really change it.

It might be in my ears. Is the OR louder? I don’t think I got the pro exhaust but maybe the OR comes with a louder exhaust. Does the airdam make that big of a difference?


What should I be looking for? I think my next step is to take it in and get the transmission fluid checked and flushed.

all stock everything. No lift. No tune. Stock wheels. Etc.

 

It's a Atkinson style engine that makes its power up higher in the rpm range. Push the gas pedal more. If it wasn't running right you'd have a CEL and trouble codes

 

Remember it's new. Everything is tight. All the, bearings, all the U-joints, all the seals. After 20,000 she will just be starting to realy loosen up. The exhaust is going to be louder until it gets some carbon in it. The buildup helps absorb sound.

 

Thanks. I figured I was being paranoid, but didn’t quite have a good explanation as to why. Clean muffler, slightly heavier, sunroof noise, no air dam and tight joints is enough to explain the subtle difference I feel.

 

How is it doing for gas mileage?

 

yikes , its all in your head

 

She’s new and tight!
Also curious about gas mileage?
Being new your under warranty so more skinny pedal!
Enjoy don’t lose sleep over it

I was gonna add welcome seeing only 2 posts but you joined in 2019!

 

My new 21 OR was the same as what you describe. Was thinking about taking the hit and selling about the time kdmax released their first tune. I tuned it for the 1st time at 1,800 miles and several times since then as new tunes were released.

Currently on a custom version of their 10.0 tune, which I highly recommend. This custom version increases the throttle tip-in setting throughout the gears. It’s especially noticeable in the overdrive gears when compared to their lite throttle tip-in tune. Now the truck actually accelerates, to a point, in the 5-6 gears.

Prior to tuning the truck really struggled into a headwind at freeway speeds and would gear hunt like mad.

 

Ummm yeah no. Just deleted a whole comment. Just going to post this instead.

Take brick to wind tunnel. Get shitty flow report.

Return home. Hold brick out in front of you and compare to Tacoma. Nod in understanding. Walk away smarter and not worried anymore.

 

Another case of TW induced paranoia. Don't let this place live rent free in your head!

 

The truth is, when new, some of these trucks run like shit and others run fine.

A guy working on my house has an older 3rd gen. His only complaint is that it shifts like crap towing. He got it tuned with kdmax’s lite throttle setting and said there wasn’t a big change from stock but hasn’t towed since the tune. If I was still running the factory tune and flashed the same kdmax tune it would be transformational. On the factory tune my truck was absolutely miserable.

Bottom line… live with it, tune it or sell it. I know what I’d do.

Kdmax and OTT seem to be the big players. I’ve not run the OTT, but it gets great reviews as well. In your situation I don’t think you can go wrong with either one.

 

I couldn’t make a judgment on this until I heard the “louder”? Maybe a video is in order. Easiest way to find if there a something bound up is find a steep hill you know of.. Paved road, put it in neutral and let her roll. Then do it again in Drive using zero throttle. It might give you an idea if something isn’t freely turning. The exhaust isn’t loud in my opinion….

 

This'll fix it.

https://d3performance.net/index.php/product/harrop-supercharger-kit-3rd-gen-tacoma/

 

I had my TRD OR for 3 weeks when it had to go in for a module that was missing on delivery. They needed it overnight so they gave me a loaner TRD OR. It ran like a raped ape probably because everyone beat the balls off it being a loaner. Same year rode hard ran like a completely different truck.