Enough Already! Your Truck's T, HP and RPM Explained

I don't know how many threads are here that start with "My truck is slow" or "My truck has no power" or, my favorite, "My truck shifts too much!"

Let me explain.

Your truck has plenty of horsepower. 278 to be exact.
Your truck has plenty of torque too. 265 lb. ft of it.

So why do so many think the above figures are not enough? I mean, it takes around 7.5 seconds to go 0-60 and that's in line with other vehicles with close to the same weight. What's wrong?
I'm pretty sure it's the last variable, the elusive RPM. Can't see it, can't smell it, but you sure can hear it!
Let's talk relationships. No, not that kind, mathematical relationships! You see, a lot of things in life can be shown through math. Let's go:

Horsepower Formula
HP= (T*RPM)/5252 yes, it is that simple. 5252 is a constant derived from a... never mind but time is involved.
So, if that is the Horsepower formula, the Torque formula is, with a little Algebra:
T= (HP*5252)/RPM

So now that we have those out of the way, let's see how they apply to our trucks and why our trucks have no power, shift all the time and are just generally big piles of dogsh... Anyway, we need both Torque (gets you going, pulls things up hills, etc) and Horsepower (keeps you going, since it is a function of Torque and RPM)

Here's a fun 3.5L fact:
Maximum Torque is attained at 4600 RPM
Maximum HP is attained at 6000 RPM (!)

Fun 2.7L Fact:
Maximum Torque is attained at 3800 RPM
Maximum HP is attained at 5200 RPM

Do any of you see any RPM above that is less than 3800? No? That means that YOU ARE GONNA HAVE TO REV THAT ENGINE UP TO AT LEAST 3800 RPM TO EVER SEE ANY MAXIMUM OUTPUT. Seriously. And for the V6 you need 4600 RPM to feel the good stuff!

(Another Fun Fact: Torque and Horsepower will always be the same numerical value at 5252 RPM. Cool right?)

Bottom line, TLDR, etc,
You have to push the pedal down with this engine. Newsflash: You had to push the pedal down on the 2nd Gen Tacoma too. Seriously.
This engine is designed to run at higher RPM's. It will run fine, It will last. Yes, with the automatics it will shift... a lot. It will shift because you are expecting more torque yet you are keeping the engine at the same power output (cruise control is a fine example) so your truck takes matters into its own hands and shifts for you. It will shift when going up hills because you are trying to maintain a speed (Horsepower) but it needs more torque to keep that same speed so it again, shifts for you.

People will argue that its just programmed wrong. Programmed for efficiency they say. Well, of course it is. That's what most people want out of a vehicle and it comes at the expense of a bit of what some call "drivability." Yes it shifts a lot but it does so to improve mpgs. Want to improve the shifting a bit? OV Tune has a thing that will change the shift points and changes the power around a bit. Some people are just fine with their truck the way it is. Some people just bought the wrong vehicle to start with... should have bought a race car or something.
Personally, I think that most (not all but most, especially with the new models) people who are dissatisfied have came from a vehicle that was a lot different than this truck. I came from a 4Runner with the 4.0. You had to push that pedal down too. This truck is similar to the 4Runner. But this truck is not a BMW. Or an Audi. Or a 7.11L Power Stroke Diesel. Or a Miata, or a Surburban, or a Civic. It's a Tacoma.

 

ya but mah ford ecobewst didnt hunt 4 gears

 

Truth.
Best post ever. Prepare to be slaughtered.

 

Nice!!!

 

Very well put!

 

I step on the gas, and my truck goes....


Thanks Toyota.

 

Your math is wrong. I don't see a variable for +5hp stickers in your equation

 

Nice catch, also he forgot to factor in the hp for the models with hood scoops.

 

Pretty sure I can hold my own...

 

Doesn’t blow up either, win win.

 

Not going to lie, I was expecting to troll the crap out of this and post triggered memes until locked, but everything you said is on point. Kudos.

 

Thanks. The only truth stretched was the 7.11L Powerstroke...

 

Diesel gang...

 

I can't bring myself to buy a 3.5L Tacoma after owning a 4.0L Tacoma and now a 4.0L 6spd Frontier.

 

K

 

I came from a 600+ RWHP car. There is absolutely NO issues with the way this truck drives. Works just as intended.

People that complain about it, do not understand vehicles very well.

 

I pretty have said something similar.

Im also sure most people just bitch, to bitch.

Not a fan of the shift cal(i live in the hills) Running it in ECT, im content.
Wanna go have fun, and boil some tires, I take the charger or the bike.

Trying to explain to some people, than an engine will be happier spinning in the meaty point of its curve, is BETTER than lugging it.... you might think i grew another head.
Yep, makes some noise climbing a hill at 5k with a load behind it. But, it wont blow...

 

Wicked!

I love to hold the tach needle over 5000rpms steady ascending passes out here! Make them cams move!

 

Agreed, get the RPMs up

For some reason there’s a consensus here that thinks high RPMs are bad for the engine.

Low RPMs and lugging the engine is worse