2016 OVTune Tacoma 3.5L Manual Transmission / Engine ECU Reflash

The "problem" is the gearing in the transmission (Aisin AC60F) and the poor software development for engine/trans management (which OVtune is fixing)...or more directly this engine/paired with this transmission. This transmissions gearing is more suited to be mated to larger displacement NA gas motor or a TD (as it is in the Hilux that uses this transmission).

I believe the only other vehicle than the Tacoma with this transmission (AC60F) and a mid-small displacement NA gas engine is the Land Cruiser Prado they sell in China (7GR-FKS). I wonder what the Chinese Prado forums have to say about this transmission. I've searched AU forums for the TD Hilux and can't find any complaints about the shifting or gear hunting, just the high transmission temps and under-filling from the factory....

 

Why are we talking about an AT in the MT thread? The MT gearing is pretty damn good except for reverse (wayy too high) and 6th (could be higher), IMHO.

 

Uh, yea, my mistake...I sometimes forget which OVtune thread I'm in (since there are three and I follow MT cause I was/am considering swapping my AT for MT). Yea, the MT gearing is not bad at all...

 

Haha! I'll buy that.

I've asked (begged?) for the Alpha thread to be closed. With the trickle of tune info from OVT, watching three threads makes zero sense. At the very least, the first post in this thread could use a big update.

 

If you haven’t purchased or on the fence, highly recommend the ov tune. The 2018 MT stock tune isnt that bad but the tune kicks it up a notch. Mat and team did a fantastic job.

Cheers

 

Really? PM me where you think the improvements are. I contacted Matt about the tune and and I'll send you a copy of my findings.

 

Sent you a pm

 

Care to share?

 

This is what I sent Matt and will share. Would I buy it again? Probably not. The 18 stock tune is pretty decent but Matt's tune does provide a slight improvement. I'm in it for the long haul and think things will get better as he developes the tunes.

So I've had a chance to run the 87 octane tune for a week and also did some comparison today of both the 91 and 87 tunes to the stock tune. Today I ran each tune one after another against the stock software on predetermined route. First thing rev hang between the stock software and the tunes is marginal different. The 2018 stock software only had very slight rev hang. Throttle response is better with the tunes between 1k and 2k rpm. Torque was slightly better. I had a measure distance and put the truck in 6th gear at around 1500rpm and would floor it then measured the time and speed at the end of the run. RPM's never went over 3,000 rpm. The 91 tune showed a slight improvement. The most noticeable gain was actually after 3,500 rpm and showed a fairly good gain. One thing that was noticeable on both the 87 and 91 octane is that under full throttle as the rpms reach around 3,200 rpm there is a very slight decrease in power and when the engine reaches 3,500 rpm there is a strong increase in power that continues to redline. The stock software is more linear with nothing noticeable between 3,200 and 3,500 rpm but power did not seem as strong after 3,500 to redline. All testing was done with 91 octane fuel.

 

Right now 2018 flash is only Rev A not including the latest ignition Cal (which everyone is waiting for).

There are a lot of improvements on the way.

 

Thanks for the review, every bit of feedback from people actually running the tune helps us all (in other words, useful input). I'm wondering if Toyota tried to improve their calibration with the introduction of the '18's. I mean, as Mat said there are differences with this new ECU that precluded him from simply running the same tune that was used with 04B11/04B12. Interesting.. Perhaps they did make it better, the OVtune is not done (as stated), or a combo of both.

I can tell you from a red-headed half sister 04B10 point of view, there is quite a large gap between the stock tune and the test version of 1.03 we now run lol. We're the outliers, that's for sure.

 

...and that's why I'm in it for the long run.

 

Tell me about it lol

 

Just went for a drive at lunch. If this is Rev A only and there is more improvement on the way. Can’t wait for the next tune.

In for the long term.

 

Hey Mat can I get the tune you sent forum member JJ18ORDBSBMT? Sounds like he got a different tune than I did.

 

This is great news. Hopefully this tool turns into something that we can edit tables and parameters our selves

 

On my drive home, I took 3rd gear to 65 then shifted to 4th until 70 then shifted to 5th and 6th. I don’t really drive it that hard but it was begging me to hold the gears longer.

No hang so I can shift faster. I love it.

 

So both of you '18 pilots commented on rev hang, with similar remarks.. How high were you guys revving your engines?

If I wind my '16 up past ~4500 the hang is annoying as all hell.



And yes, I know if I deliberately lift the throttle and wait before pressing the clutch and granny the shift, it's much less noticeable. If I'm winding it up though, chances are I'm going for a quick, smooth upshift (well, in any other vehicle lol).

 

just a quick update on my end. I've had the 87 tune now for at least a month.

The only thing that's come back is the diesel like idle. Everything else regarding the tune is all good.

Unrelated to the tune I think there's something funky going on with the clutch. It's really hard to describe, but something isn't right about it.. my input and expected output is not 1:1 with the clutch.

I learned to drive in a Fiat TD 5 speed, then drove a 86 LC 5 speed for years, then my Nissan for almost 10 years, then my Audi all in M/T and yet this one is different.. it's off and I can't put my finger on it, but I know it ain't right. I just can't go to the dealer and say, it feels wrong. I need the right trigger words for them to go and look.

 

When you say diesel like idle, do you mean the loud clicking that cycles on and off? The DI cleaning cycle.. if that's the case, Mat has said he's not messed with that at all.

On the clutch side of things, you're definitely not alone. It feels wonky to me too, inconsistent. Especially if you put it under significant load. The catch point is harder to judge than any other M/T I've owned. Theories abound, but I'm willing to wager the accumulator plays a part in this. Anyway, there are a few threads where that is being discussed..

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/dat-clutch-tho.497974/