Why Is My Tacoma So Slow and Gutless?

You have 6" of lift??

Bye bye Aerodynamics..

110k is timing belt time anyways.

Still something is odd..

 

Have you tested the compression and timing?

Maybe a bad injector?

 

The difference in drag coefficient between a stock taco and a 6" lifted taco is miniscule. Its not nearly enough to cause a drop in power and mpg. The only noticeable difference would be in the top end speed well above the tacos limited speed.

 

Or a dented tailpipe.

 

huh, seem like it's time for you to flush and drain your tranny for new oils.

 

I'm still refusing to believe it has anything to do with the exhaust. I did do a visual inspection on the exhaust system when I first got it to make sure there weren't any dent or pinches from the previous owner taking it off road.

I'll let you know if I end up putting my foot in my mouth. My stubborn arrogance often gets the better of me.

 

A clogged cat kinda matches your symptoms, especially since you said it's gradually getting worse. I wouldn't expect that from a dent or pinch unless the pinch was near an angled piece of pipe and was bending and closing more over time.

 

Gotta agree with this. What have you got to loose. Already tried everything else

 

Ugh, ok, fine... I'll go get a back pressure test done

 

What would cause a clogged cat?

 

And the answer to my own question from Howstuffworks.com

Causes of Catalytic Converter Failure

There are two ways a converter can fail:

• It can become clogged.
• It can become poisoned.

There really is no "inspection port" for the consumer or mechanic to see an actual clog in a converter. Often, the only way to tell if a catalytic converter is malfunctioning (plugged) is to remove it and check the change in engine performance. When a clogged converter is suspected, some mechanics temporarily remove the O2 sensor from the exhaust pipe ahead of the catalytic converter and look for a change in performance.
A catalytic converter relies on receiving the proper mix of exhaust gases at the proper temperature. Any additives or malfunctions that cause the mixture or the temperature of the exhaust gases to change reduce the effectiveness and life of the catalytic converter. Leaded gasoline and the over-use of certain fuel additives can shorten the life of a catalytic converter.
A catalytic converter can also fail because of:

• Bad exhaust valves on the engine
• Fouled plugs causing unburned fuel to overheat the converter

*Sometimes you can tell that a converter is clogged because you don't go any faster when you push the gas pedal. Also, there usually is a noticeable drop in gas mileage associated with a clogged catalytic converter. A partially clogged converter often acts like an engine governor, limiting the actual RPMs to a fast idle. A totally clogged converter causes the engine to quit after a few minutes because of all the increased exhaust back pressure.
The catalytic converter, like the rest of the emissions system, typically has a warranty length that exceeds the term of the warranty for the rest of a typical U.S. automobile.
Here is a safety reminder: Do not park your car over tall grass or piles of dry leaves. Your car's perfectly running catalytic converter gets very hot -- enough to start fires! You can keep it running well by keeping the ignition system in top shape, to prevent any unburnt fuel from entering the catalytic converter.

 

For a cheap check:
If you are able to, disconnect the pipe before the cat, wiring it up to allow full flow, and run it till it gets warm. Then take it out to see if your power is 'back'. I had a bad cat on a VW yeas ago that would allow me to run for 20 minutes before it would shut down the motor completely.