POLL: OVTune Reviews (3rd gen)

LOL your right

 

Order number: 2468
Date installed: 3/19/18
Version: 1.03, Automatic transmission, 87 octane
Truck: DCLB TRD Sport 4x4, stock wheels/tires, Leer mid-rise topper

This is a first impression review. I'll update after getting more miles on the tune.

For people looking to this thread to see if the tune is worth buying, yes it is. 5 stars for sure - with very minor exceptions, the tune makes my truck drive the way it should have from the factory. Throttle response is 99% better than stock - no more dead zone for 1/3 of the pedal travel, and acceleration is linear and predictable. Shifting and gear choice also is much improved. The truck does a much better job of holding an appropriate gear for the speed/load. With the 87 tune, power really isn't any different, but the improved throttle response and smarter shifting make it seem like it has more power. It'll require more miles to confirm, but it appears that the tune has improved my gas mileage by a couple mpg.

Specific feedback to help Matt refine the tune:

Off-the-line throttle response

A number of folks have noted that the throttle is sensitive. Here's my description of why I think people are saying that. Starting from a dead stop under light throttle, the truck seems to have a two-stage engagement. Upon first pressing the throttle (very little - like 1/8 to 1/4 inch foot movement), the truck has little power and moves forward just a tiny bit, then maybe 1/4 or 1/3 second later, things "engage" almost with a thump*, and the truck moves out smartly. This is like a compressed version of the stock throttle, except with the stock throttle, the dead space is more like an inch plus and the delay more like a second. Personally, I wouldn't change how sensitive the throttle is - either get rid of that 1/3 second delay, so that the truck responds instantly when I touch the pedal, or spread the power engagement out over that 1/3 second to get rid of the thump feeling. As it is, it's definitely weird. Not dangerous - just weird.

*"Thump" is probably too strong - I don't actually hear a thump, but the engagement is abrupt enough that this is the closest word I could come up with.

Shift pattern

When accelerating gently from a stop, the truck hangs onto what I think is 3rd gear longer than I'm expecting. Until the truck hits its shift point somewhere around 33 mph, it won't leave 3rd, so I end up turning 2000 rpm at 28-30 mph unless I run it up to 35ish and then slow back down. This seems to only happen on the way up - once I take the truck up above 33 mph, it will grab 4th or 5th and, if I coast back down to 28-30, it'll keep the taller gear, so that I'm cruising at 1200-1500 rpm. Gentle acceleration at this point holds the taller gear, only grabbing 3rd if I give it more gas, which is what I would expect. So I'm not sure why it keeps third on the way up the way it does. Granted, this makes the truck feel very responsive, but again to my tastes, it's weird. Certainly not as weird as the awful stock shift pattern, though.

 

Order #2497
Tune = 103 91 octane (Unsure of version 103.something)
Flashed = 3/17/18 (for the first time)
AT
3" X 2" lift
32" BFG KO2's

I love the mod. I really cannot believe the power and shifting improvements. In the past the truck always felt like it was tired, but now she's awake! The only trouble I had flashing and downloading programs was due to Defender and Webroot AV programs. Once I figured that out it was easy. I've checked mileage and so far I'm the same at 16.2 GPM. This is calculating by hand and using the truck estimator. I've compared hand calculating and the truck estimator and surprisingly it's within .1 GPM on my truck.
Mat helped me out several times by answering emails quickly.
I could probably nit pick little things in the shifting that I would have never noticed if it hadn't been so crappy to begin with. Once we have an issue with something I think we become hyper sensitive to it and put a lot more effort into finding things that could be tweaked. Just my 2 cents.

I recommend the mod; sure it's expensive, but you're getting value for your money.

 

Order # 2490
Purchased- Feb26
Install- March 14
AT-1.03 87 Octane
Sport 4x4 DCSB
Mods-3" Icon- 285/70/17 Grappler G2's- Full steal skid plates- Aluminum fuel tank skid-Slimline front winch bumper-Bedrack (RTT not on during this run)
4.5 Stars only because it was 87 tune
So i took my wife to Sedona for her birthday and little off roading! That was really for me! So we headed out early Friday morning and i cannot believe the Highway driving improvement! I was doing 75-80MPH and i used 6th gear for 95% of the time. The only time i hit 4th gear was going up Chiraco summit, i do think it could have held 5th but i pushed the skinny pedal a little to hard and it hit 4th and we were moving! I got 16.2 MPG's at 75-80 if i dropped down to 70 it was close to 18MPG's. I haven't re calibrated my speedo yet. Around town the throttle response is perfect! Nice and CRISP! Considering all my Mods i am Extremely Happy with the trucks new performance! Off roading i still have to get some more time on it i am not sure if its the gear change or the tune or a combo of both but its greatly improved especially with the added rear ARB locker! I look forward to running my tank dry and jumping into the 91 octane tune! My only regret might be i didn't get the tune before the gears, i would have loved to see the difference before gears were done. THANKS MAT WELL DONE SIR !!!!

 

For all that have reviewed, could you comment on engine braking? I've seen a couple of comments that make believe that will either tune there really isn't any. Do I have that wrong? Thanks in advance.

 

Order number 2024
purchase date 2/13/18
install date 3/8/18
miles driven so far ~600

my initial impression was great, the stuck shifts much more smoothly while in the city, with the 87 tune I didn't feel any extra power or throttle response craziness like people are seeing. however once I got on the highway is where the high difference showed up. im able to accelerate from 45-70 in 5th gear at a normal speed and after reaching 70, the truck shifts into 6th and stays! Im able to accelerate in 6th to whatever speed I want to get to. with small hills it will maintain 6th, and shift to 5th as necessary. Larger hills it still goes into 4th but it is very buttery smooth. this tune defiantly changed my opinion on the truck all together.

with that being said im on 33's and still feel as though the truck needs gears to really push it over the drivability edge. the only thing I dont like is highway driving it kinda holds onto 6th a little too long sometimes and when I press the accelerator down for what I feel should be a 5th change, it shoots to 4th. besides that Im involve.

ive also seen no change infield mileage but IDGAF. thats not why I bought it.

 

I have not towed with the truck post tune, but when I downshift in S mode, it doesn't feel a whole lot different than stock did when engine breaking. just downshifts a little quicker.

 

Thanks, anybody else? Towing or not.....

 

when I get out today ill put it in ECT also and see if that helps out any for you!

 

Thank you, it will be interesting to see if it 'holds' the gear to brake. I'm towing sometimes at upper limit on rolling hills. Running trailer brakes of course but keeping the drums as cool as possible is good!

 

I live in Oklahoma where it is known for being flat as crap, but when going from 70 and slowing down for an offramp I can go into 3rd and slow until the trans lets me shift into 2nd and it will hold 2nd as long as I want it to. it has never tried to re upshift on me yet, but again thats without a load on a not very aggressive hill. I wish I lived somewhere with hills.....

 

Ha! Must be western OK? The Ozarks are close to the eastern OK.

 

Just a heads up to anyone buying with an earlier 3rd gen. Make sure your ECU is updated to the latest version because the older ECUs (04B00 and 04B01). Are NOT supported

 

So, a new 2018 will have no issues, meaning the ECU is updated to the latest version? I just ordered this tune and can't wait to install. Fingers crossed

 

Makes no difference engine breaking in ect V.S. normal sport mode. The downshifts are gloriously smooth though, I didn’t notice that the first time.

 

A 2018 should be fine, it's more of a problem with 2016 owners who got them before ecu 04B02

 

Order #2533
3/7/18 Purchased
3/17/18 Installed
103.C
91 octane map
3.5L
Manual transmission
4 star rating
Mods: 35×12.5×18 KM2'S, 4.88 Gears, K&N intake, throttle body spacer, Flowmaster 40 series with stock tailpipe
Throttle & Power: The only major difference that I noticed was freeway speeds 65-75 mph. Compared to stock tune, now with the 103.C tune I can pull ahead and pick up speed in 5th gear, and 6th gear can hold a steady speed. No more downshifting. This was my biggest complaint with Toyota and their new transmission. I gave a 4 star rating because I haven't noticed a huge difference in throttle response. I'm thinking because I have a manual I can't flash the transmission like the guys with an automatic who notice downshifting and other perks.
My only 2 complaints is now with the tune at 2,500 rpms "any gear" my intake sound like a mouse squeeking rapidly instead of a constant whistle. Matt explained this is when the motor is in Atkinson mode it's more pronounced.
The 2nd complaint "this has happened only once". When I shifted into 2nd gear the rpms just dropped like I hit a brick wall. Like I said this only happened once.
All in all, I'm very pleased with the performance of the truck at freeway speeds. The truck is now more enjoyable to drive with more power and no more downshifting. I have never used a tuning program before and I was able to figure it out with help from Matt. If you're thinking whether or not to purchase the flash. It helped my truck out, I have noticable power now while driving on the freeway, and Matt is quick to responding to emails with questions.

 

How do you determine ECU version? Is this a software update to get to newer version?

 

Truck built before April 2017? Go to dealer, complain about busy shifting and show them the TSB that's posted on the forums to be sure you have the latest.

To all - PLEASE, when asking questions about install, versions, etc., direct them to the development thread. Tons of activity over there and you'll get speedy responses. Trying (as hard as possible) to keep this thread clean for reviews - else it becomes super hard for anyone to get to the heart of "does the tune work? how does it work? etc.,"

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...g-alpha-release.495735/page-742#post-17486083

 

Order number: 2421
Date installed: 3/9/18
Version: 1.03, Automatic transmission, 87 octane
Truck: DCSB Bed Cover, Skid Plate, Sliders

Highly Recommend, on 87 the truck drives the way it should have from the factory. Before the tune I got 22 mpg avg on a tank. Now I get about 23 to 23.5. Its smooth off the line and i barely here it shift as it smoothly goes up to gear. Works great on cruise control. No surging on my way, I have not done any large hills yet.

I can smoothly get up to 75 or 80 without any effort. Prior to the tune the truck would die out and then explode to hit the desired speed. Now its one smooth pull all the way up. Passing other cars is effortless, no planning required. When you want to go the power is available.

I watched this product since it was first posted, my only regret is not buy it sooner. 5 stars.