OK, the 3.5 should be a good engine

Transmission shift points are fine. Don't know what all the complaining is about.

 

While I know everyone's experience is different, MY 3.5 likes to drink the top shelf gas, no matter how much debate there has been on the forum. Makes it more expensive to drive than it perhaps ought to be, but I never ever wish for more power. This is not placebo - for me the engine runs far smoother/quieter, accelerates more predictably, etc., When I had my truck in for the timing cover leak, the tech commented how, when pulling my engine, it looked practically brand new (at 85,000) with virtually no carbon build-up. Then he asked if I ran regular or premium or some fuel treatment. When I told him it only drinks 93 VPower (Shell) he just nodded with an "aha, that'll do it. in reality most of our vehicles perform better on premium its just whether the owner knows the difference and thinks its worth the price"

Sure, there are times I want to lock it in 3rd or 4th to prevent "lugging" in certain scenarios but that's just a shift point preference. I've got a rap sheet a mile long on repairs my truck has needed in the last 5 years (including leaking timing cover and failed CKP sensor and all the issues with the early ECU calibrations) but despite all that, the engine itself has never performed poorly. Sure it's weak as they come when it's puttering along at 45 in 6th using a fraction of the displacement but that's what skinny pedals, gear limiters (S-mode), and ECT are for! Plus if it's "lugging" along, mine will get 23 mpg <50 mph.

 

Head gaskets. You may not like the way the 2GR makes its power, but there’s just no comparing its reliability or power to the dog turd that is the 3.slow.

 

Sir I too run premium keep her clean inside

 

When i ran a couple tanks of shell v power premium, it sure didn't keep my tail pipe clean...was black sooty looking. Truck ran noticeably worse to.

 

Idk if penistar was a typo but I’m stealing that one

 

Well being on a premium tune for my truck now I don't get very much soot . I maintain 20mpg on 33" tires truck weighs #5250

 

I think we all were the victim of a cost cutting measure by Toyota. Sweers made the argument that North American drivers care more about gas mileage than torque and Toyota dropped the Camry motor in there. Toyota saved some bucks and, unfortunately, they were right on the money with their assumptions.

Don’t get me wrong, the 2GR is a great motor - it’s reliable and can develop good power when tuned properly, but I do wonder why we don’t see Toyota dropping this motor into the Hilux or Land Cruisers around the world.

 

Link for ass freezing gun please.

 

They put a motor that could handle ‘minivan duty’. That’s more than we could ever ask for.

Minivans:

-Perpetually overloaded with hockey gear and potting soil.
-Perpetually under-maintained because of “busy lifestyle”.
-Perpetually driven from the office to the kid’s soccer match in a panic of stop and go rush hour traffic, and blitzing down the freeway at 2X the limit.
-Perpetually driven around with the low oil light on.
-Perpetually subjected to windshield washer fluid in the coolant and brake fluid in the oil.
-If engine ever fails, everyone within said continent will have a Facebook tirade in their feed and a gofundme about how little Suzy is gonna miss dance recital because of goddam Toyota.
-Eventually sold off for cab duty after Karen gets a new one.
-After 500,000 miles in Cab duty sold off to budget-minded van-lifers “building their following” on Instagram.

There is no more durable engine than a minivan duty engine. Makes truck motors look like a total joke.

Thanks Toyota for treating us right for once.

 

Now this is an interesting way at looking at it.

 

There’s some truth to this. I traded in a 2004 Odyssey with 240,000+ miles that had three different drivers on it for my Tacoma. That Honda V6 never burned oil or skipped a beat. Hopefully this Tacoma runs the same!

 

Every 2GR V6 that rolls off the assembly line breathes a sigh of relief as it is installed in a Tacoma. Other 2GR V6’s are not so lucky, doomed to hard toil in the cramped quarters of endless Siennas.

 

Both of my kids have Toyota Highlanders with what I assume is the same 3.5 V6 as Tacomas. One is a 2013 5speed and other is a 2021 8speed. Both have ample power and no issues with short shifting or other problems that seem to plague the Tacoma. What is going on with the Taco? Is it because of the Atkinson cycle setup or is the transmission?

 

I think the main problem is the automatic transmission. I have a 2020 6MT and my uncle has a 2021 6AT and I cringe at the way the AT drives.

 

I think it’s a combination of things, not so much the motor. Apart from each other the motor and transmission are solid.

Tuning to accommodate EPA requirements and auto switching between Atkinson and Otto cycle have my money tho.

 

Slow down there sugar tits - do you work for Toyota?

Ha that was a good read. Definitely the North American version of “Dicing with Death” lol

 

Primarily choked throttle.. tranny&power are fine.

 

I do work for Toyota. I’m presently heading up the team designing the next Tacoma. We are using this as the starting point for the all new design:



Gonna be the most reliable Tacoma yet. Stay tuned!