2.7 Taco at altitude

Mine's a 5-speed of the same generation as yours, so your salt is also my salt, as it were.

 

Nice! Yeah, I haven't had any speed limiter issues, am I just not being brave enough lol, is there even a limiter on these models? The V6 Auto does, but I dont think the manuals do?

 

My stock 430 gears with a 6spd at 80 are not too far away from 3400rpms. I wanna say its about 3100?

Impressive sir.

 

I went a 100 mph in the rockies once, she wanted more.



My 07 4.0 5spd ranger had a limiter at 86.

 

5.29 sounds fun, but I imagine it would make long highway travel less economical.

 

My 2017 2.7 does just okay at high altitude. I live in AZ so 8,000 ft is the highest I go. My truck sits around 3-4K going up hill that’s the only time it seems to be working. I run a roof top tent and aluminum bed bars. 245 tires

 

I’m about 500ft above sea level and the 2.7 has to downshift to move up a hill. Its slow but it’s also a truck. I don’t expect it to be fast. The 2.7 gets around just fine.

 

I enjoy how it always get mentioned that the 2.7 has to downshift going up a hill, which is also exactly what a V6 would need to do. Or any vehicle.

 

You should be able to pass most Prius C's and and Mitsubishi Mirages (assuming you arent carrying any heavy loads).

 

Agree, I loved my 2015 2.7l, but here in Albuquerque, at 5,000' of elevation, the 4 cylinder was not having a good hair day.

Without ANY load, it would do ok, but start throwing stuff in the bed or pull a LIGHT trailer, and you could tell that little motor was working a lot harder to keep up.

Even with just me in the truck, the cruise control would kick out on hills.

You have to de-rate horsepower 3% for every 1,000' feet of elevation. This worked out to nearly 24 horsepower at my location. 24 horsepower from a stock 159... No clue how it would have done in Denver, and my truck was in GREAT shape and well maintained.

I thought about adding the supercharger, even looked at a turbo, finally gave up and bought a new V-6, best decision I ever made...

Garry

 

I’ve owned the V-6. Loved it.

Dad owns the 2.7L. It’s a good truck. But there’s Massive difference in power.

putting anything in that 2.7L bed and it seemed to struggle. Sure it got the job done. But it def felt like I was using my wife’s little FWD Mazda .


Some people will tell you that it’s fine and they get around. And I believe them.
But. If you want more power and the peace of mind...

just get the V-6.

 

You can compensate for lack of torque by re-gearing the truck (or just driving at low gears all the time).

But there is no compensation for lack of horsepower.

 

Agreed, I even looked at re-gearing as well, but I was just moving the problem around. There is an outfit, I think "East Coast Gearing" which sells the pumpkins necessary to re-gear, at reasonable prices, as I recall. I actually believe re-gearing is the BEST option when dealing with this problem, although the supercharger (albeit at $5,000) would work as well, just run with lower boost, and would obviate the issue entirely. I've seen some mods where turbocharging was implemented but have not seen any significant aftermarket "kits" out there for this.

I loved the 2.7l for OTHER reasons than horsepower, simple, bulletproof, easy and inexpensive to maintain, the 2.7l has a LOT going for it! The V6 was the primary reason I bought a new truck, but not the ONLY reason...

But to illustrate the problem with altitude and a naturally aspirated engine:

2015 Tacoma, 2.7l, MT, 4x4, curb weight = ~3,645 lbs

Altitude Horsepower HP/Weight Ratio
Sea level 159 hp 22.9 lbs/hp
5,000' 135.2 (85%) 27.0 lbs/hp (Denver, CO/Albuquerque, NM)
7,000' 125.6 (79%) 29.0 lbs/hp (Sante Fe, NM)
10,000' 111.3 (70%) 32.8 lbs/hp (Alma, CO @ 10,361')

2021 Tacoma, 3.5l, MT 4x4, curb weight = ~4,445 lbs

Altitude Horsepower HP/Weight Ratio
Sea level 278 hp 16.0 lbs/hp
5,000' 236.3 (85%) 18.8 lbs/hp (Denver, CO/Albuquerque, NM)
7,000' 219.62 (79%) 20.2 lbs/hp (Sante Fe, NM)
10,000' 194.6 (70%) 22.8 lbs/hp (Alma, CO @ 10,361')

From the math, the 3.5l at 10,000' elevation has nearly the SAME power to weight ratio as the 2.7l at sea level!

Thus confirming the adage, "There is no replacement for displacement".

For the record, my 2.7l performed VERY WELL off road here in New Mexico, at higher and lower elevations, which is why this was not much of a concern for me. On the freeways/highways is where the 3.5l SHINES. I just got back from California via I-40 (to Albuquerque) and not once did the cruise control ever kick off, and yes, I lugged it a few times (learning how to drive with more power and a different engine). Towing is another area where the V6 is indicated, at least if one does this regularly.

I don't believe anyone is making a mistake buying EITHER truck. They are both DEAD RELIABLE, have a high resale value, and perform VERY WELL. I was certainly happy to have my 2.7l!

At any rate, I hope somebody here gets something out of this!

Garry

 

Nice lookin ride!! here mine aka twins

 

I'm curious how much of a power loss I'll feel when I visit my parents in Santa Fe. Thus far been I've up to 5,000 feet or so and didn't feel any discernible change in power.

 

imo you won't notice a difference... any change less than ~3500' from your "normal" elevation you don't really experience, though it is technically measurable.

the farther beyond that you go, it gradually becomes more noticeable.

 

My normal elevation is sea level, so...

 

hm. santa fe would be a long drive from anywhere sea level, you'll slowly be gaining as you move across the country. might end up being like the 'boiled frog' or however that metaphor is supposed to go... i know when i've been down to sea level (only three times with the taco), i didn't notice heaps of extra power by the time i got there. long drive, etc... might be different going up though, idk.

¯\_(ツ)_/¯

 

In my experience, the biggest change one will note is the necessity to shift quite a bit more... There are hills here in New Mexico, just South of Albuquerque (Socorro County) where I was in 3rd and making 50 - 60 miles an hour. The cruise control was effectively unusable, and I suspect this is where the average driver would note the difference.

The 2.7l did FINE, I just had to use the transmission a bit more... From my driving, the 3.5l likes 2,500 rpm. The 2.7l likes roughly the same rpm, but gets its horsepower from higher rpm's. I modified my driving style accordingly and had little issues. I guess the 3.5l is more of a "Convenience Factor" than anything, but I REALLY enjoyed the extra power!

And for the record, I can only speak for the manual transmission for both engines, nobody ever asks to borrow my truck...

 

Yeah. I think it'll be fine. Manual transmission with the 2.7's eagerness to rev high makes all the difference.