Gutless due to gear ratios?

I sold my ‘07 DCLB Sport for an ‘18 DCSB off road. I like the truck except for the power. It feels gutless compared to my ‘07, yet apparently the new 3.5L engine is supposed to have more power.

I’ve heard this is due to the gearing, but was surprised to find out my ‘07 had 3.73 gears while my ‘18 has 3.91, so the differential gearing isn’t the problem. Is this due to the gearing in the new auto tranny?

I’m looking to regear and run 32 or 33s, and I keep seeing they don’t offer 4.56 but can run 4.88. Is there anyone here who has experience with these 4.88s who can weigh in on them?

 

There is lots of good info here:

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/the-4-88-mega-thread.511967/page-32#post-18484440

 

Yup the gearing in the auto is really tall. Goto 4.88s. If you go bigger than 33s goto 5.29s.

 

You don’t need to regear to run 33s. I mean, you can if you want to, obviously. This engine just likes to rev. Don’t be afraid to get on it.

 

No need to regear for 33s unless you really want to. I still get 17-18mpg average with 285/70/17s, lift, sliders and front bumper.

 

Simulated Atkinson cycle

 

I would try the OVtune 1.05 first before re-gearing!

 

The 3.5 makes 1 Ft Lb of torque less than before and its at a higher RPM plus the truck weighs more than the old one. You should have notice this on your test drive, but once you rev this truck up then you will notice the extra HP.

 

The power band is 3500rpm and above!Rev your truck out a few times and you will feel it!

 

The truck is a little rev happy, but I think most of the problem is really in how the drive by wire is programmed. There is not throttle cable to pull open the throttle plate like in older vehicles.... it's computer controlled.

The truck will scoot, but you have to demand it.

 

Drive by wire has been in Tacomas since around 2003 so he should already be accustomed to that

 

It's not really the engine or the gears to be honest. The 3rd gen final drive ratio is lower across the board to the 2nd gen except the OD gears.

The issue is how the the computer and transmission apply power

 

Throttle mapping.

 

Atkinson kills torque. They make up the torque loss with the gear ratios. Mike sweers himself said it

 

Torque per liter yes but 265 lb/ft is still 265 lb/ft.

It's not like our 265 is reduced to 220 because Atkinson. More like we have 265 because Atkinson

 

Good to know, but I know the Orange virus Guy talked about it being a big issue on the 2016+ something to do with the torque management targeting.

 

That’s because it’s torque and power are mostly coming from when the engine kicks into Otto cycle.

 

I think the Atkinson bit is overblown.

 

Except it's not a true Atkinson cycle engine and it's process doesn't work under engine load.

 

I came from a second gen as well. You have to quit trying to drive your new one like it's the old one. I'm convinced the first bit of throttle input is just poorly mapped and you need a little more input then you've been conditioned to. What worked to drive like a grandma in the second gen definitely makes the third gen feel underpowered . Once I adapted to that my third gen definitely moves better than my second.