Third gen's worst nightmare...

Im reading that I should have ECT on and overdrive off. How do I turn overdrive off on a 2023 Tacoma SR DC 4wd?

 

Mine is manual but I know people talk about needing to tune the transmission a lot. I tow a small boat and utility trailer occasionally. It does fine. Obviously not made for it like larger trucks. But larger trucks have cons so you have to decide for yourself what is important.

 

It's fine, the engine was designed to operate in the higher ranges,,,, as you mentioned, the engine makes torque in the higher RPM range. Just the way it is, don't overthink it.

 

So your saying a Taco would struggle to pull a freaking jon boat up that hill? Hogwash!

 

not really struggling just seems like much higher revving than Im used to. I usually just stay away from cruise control slowly back off throttle on the way up hills to get it calm down. jumping in a taco from an HD truck you have to tell yourself nothings wrong its made that way while towing all the time lol Just trying to get used to it I guess.

 

Yep, I wasn't seeing any problem there either.



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Pffff time to upgrade your game come and talk once your pulling somthing bigger and on bigger tires plus stock gearing. It really isn't that bad.

 

Try pulling a camper with full tanks, on the same grade, on a loose gravel road, and second gear.

The truck does it just fine.

 

I think people still haven't realized that you need high RPM to get max power and it's ok to rev up.

 

My Maggie supercharged 3rd gen loves to eat up hills like this for breakfast, can do that at 70mph and 2000 rpm 6th gear easy

 

I've never had a turbo charger but that is kind of what I'm used to

 

Probably meant it weighs over 900 lbs turning the Taco into a giant turd when towing.

 

Maggie sounds hot

 

Or just throw it into s3 so it holds gear in the correct rev range.

 

3.5 or 2.7. Assuming you have the 3.5, torque is nonexistent in the v6 below 3k rpm. Just the way it is unless you want to regear the diffs. For some reason Toyota gave us two overdrive gears essentially. 6 is useless unless going 80 mph downhill.

It will pull all day long from 3k to 6k rpm. Just gotta get comfortable living there. These automatics in these trucks also love to upshift at the worst time. Throw it into s2, s3 or s4 if you want it to lock into the correct gear, rev range. Same when you need engine breaking, especially useful in 4 hi on icy roads.

 

My truck is a manual so no ECT button.

I actually made the same trip twice in 2 months, pull the empty trailer (1500 pounds) 1200 miles out and bring a car back. Seeing as this was an interesting opportunity to do some research I sent the oil off for analysis after the trip both times.

Both tests came back with no problems noted.

 

As mentioned. S4, S3 & S2 are your friend. Get used to manually moving the auto gear selector in "S" mode as required. Watch your RPMs. Same applies going up a steep hill and going down a steep hill. If that don't cut it get a bigger or more powerful truck.

 

It is a big change going from older domestic trucks with the abundant low end torque of in line 6 or V8 engines, the Tacoma has the off idle torque of a riding lawn mower...

Once you get your head around the idea that running the engine at 3500 won't hurt it you learn to work with it and just let it eat.

After all, I paid for the whole tachometer when I bought the truck, by golly I'm going to use it.

 

Yep, she rips to 6.5K RPM (OTT Tune) when needed. Also, stock, unloaded and with the right conditions, the trucks really hauls. Surprises me the odd time.