2.4l power curve; should these engines rev?

Just installed a tach instrument cluster on my 1999 Reg cab, 2.4l, manual trans, 3.42 open axle Tacoma with 213k miles and was surprised to see how much I had been short-shifting! Like rarely exceeding 3k, and I’m a guy who likes to rev around town.

The 2.4 is rated at 147bhp@5000, 160lb/ft@4000, and is oversquare with DOHC, 4 valves/cylinder, cross flow head; not numbers and features associated with low-end stump puller motor.

I tried driving and shifting approaching the power peak and found it thrashy, noisy and unpleasant…I wasn’t expecting a Miata or MR2, but definitely an engine not eager to wind up.

I’ve owned this truck for a few months…did the basic change the oil/filters/spark plugs and clean the throttle body routine when I got it. Passed smog fine, and after a brief struggle with error codes, fixed with a new TPS, it starts, idles and runs fine otherwise.

Curious to learn if anyone else has had this experience. Am I expecting too much, or should I keep looking for problems?

 

my 2.7 is quite happy at the top of the tach, if a bit noisy as you describe.

do you know if your valve clearances have ever been checked? if not, definitely time to do it.

i suspect that 3.42 rear end is not helping either though.

 

Excellent suggestion about checking the valve clearances! Just reviewed a forum posting on the procedure…looks like finding a local survey for shims is in order as well.

Been a while…Norton Commando’s and small block Chevy’s don’t use shims

 

I used to rag the shit out of my 2.7 with the supercharger but previously when it was NA I would stop around 3500 since not much else happened over that. It's a long runner engine, not exactly suited to high revs.

 

That throttle curve on the 2.4's suck.....starts flat / slow.....and then shoots up real quick on 2nd half...

Some have reported that throttle body spacer smooths that out a little.....lower end resolution..

Be happy you dont have an auto.....they are really slow out of the gate.

In reverse backing up a hill/driveway....its far too easy to squill those tires..

 

Thanks to all for the input!

speedytech: your observation about NA (I assume that means normally aspirated) not worth revving beyond 3500 is what I’m talking about…it’ll rev to redline, but not much reward in doing that. I’m surprised that Toyota rated the max HP at 5000 when it’s so far out of line with the engine's perceived power band.

The supercharger comment really interests me. I also have a 2004 Mini Cooper S (supercharged 1.6L) and the driving experience is completely reverse of the Tacoma…sluggish off the line, and just loves to fly once the tach hits 4000. I like that!

I see LCE offers a “low boost” CA smog legal supercharger kit for around $3k. This seems really appealing…especially if it delivers that kind of power curve. Anyone here have experience with their 2.4/2.7 kit? I surfed through the extensive 3.4 supercharger thread on this forum, and that’s a bit extreme for me.

Any comments appreciated!

 

Update:

I loaned my Tacoma to a neighbor (a bit older and more experienced mechanic) and he suggested replacing the muffler…felt it was “clogged”.
I’d planned on eventually springing for a nice aftermarket exhaust, but not in the immediate budget.

So I spliced in a 23” glasspack, and it completely changed the engine response.
First time through the gears, chirped rubber and nearly redlined it in first and second! Engine felt so smooth and free-revving.

it’s pretty loud and “rorty”, so this will be short-term, but that sport exhaust system just moved up the project list.
Any recommendations for something crisp and not boomy?

 

2.4l sc, amazing and it loves to get going at 2.5-3k rpms and really pulls hard for a 4cyl

 

Thanks, Angel!

have you had your truck on a dyno, either before or after the supercharger installation? Whose SC kit did you use?

I see claims of a 40hp power increase with a low-boost kit, but for $3k, some supporting documentation would be nice.

Sure looks cool!