3.5L V6 vs 4.0L V6

They are under rated if you ask me. I've been thinking about replacing my 2010 with a loaded 2017 CCSB 5AT Pro-4x. It's that or a 2017 4runner TRD OR but there's an $11k price difference.

 

We missed our chance on a v8-- back when the Tundra was V6, the 4Runner had a V8, and even the lowly rav4 could be had with a V6-- not to mention TRD was slapping a supercharger on just about anything and selling you a $50 radiator cap. Now Im happy Tacoma is keeping a 6 in the face of everyone doing turbos, even pairing it with a 6mt, but damn, it does need a bit more time in the oven IMHO to get the tuning sorted. Its like the engineer in charge said, "heres the new camry engine you asked for-- oops".

 

You've nailed it, and not "but still". It's all about the MT, especially with the 3.5L (I don't know about the 4.0L auto vs. manual). So far, my experience has been that this engine just likes to be in it's happy place which is 3500+RPMs. Keeping it in the sweet torque band with a manual transmission = happiness. I suppose you've heard of the OVTune ECU mod...

 

I’d have loved if Toyota had put the 5th gen 4Runner engine in the 3rd Gen Tacoma. It’s weird how the Tacoma never got that engine. More torque and more horsepower than the old 2nd gen 4.0, and none of the weirdness that the new 3.5 Tacoma has.

 

I'm thinking the T4R will get the 3.5 when it's redesigned. Toyota probably wants to do away with the 4.0 eventually, right or wrong (and that's why the 3rd gen didn't get it).

 

4.slow all day!!!!!!!

 

The 3.5L engine is a good engine. I had a 08 Tundra crewmax with the 5.7L that I just traded in on my new Tacoma. While 3.5L is no 5.7L, it gets the job done and is no slouch. I don't mind the transmission in my new Tacoma. My 08 Tundra's transmission really use to hunt for gears. It also had an issue when it would go into second gear, which I never got used to. My 5.7L had to have the water pump and radiator replaced. Furthermore, the air injection pumps for it went bad and were replaced under warranty. I hope I have better luck with my new Tacoma, although I did own my Tundra for 10 years.

 

IMO - the 4.0L was a truly great engine. I had a supercharged 3.4L engine in my previous truck and when the 4.0 was born - it seemed a nice upgrade. But the 3.5L may be even better, in a few "small" ways. I can't say that having 2 injectors per cylinder is an improvement, (since it is twice the components, etc. for maintainability). Its virtual "Atkinson cycle" combustion is a neat idea too - but my bottom line for satisfaction is "WHAT" an engine does, rather than "HOW" it's done.

So that increase up to 278 HP is what caught my attention, (even though it has about 1 Ft/Lbs LESS torque than the 4.0L predecessor). Mileage is very dependent on your foot. Personally, I usually drive like I want to get there - so mine ranges from 18 to 20 mpg - on my 20 mile "commute" on average. On a longer trip, 23 has happened, but on a short run with my foot down, I have seen 16.5 mpg.

If I had to select/amplify a single fault in the truck, it will be the shift points programmed in the transmission control, (6 speed auto). In the "norm" mode, it yields economy - and keeps you from spinning tires on a wet road when "starting off" after a stop. But when you want to get on it from a 40 mph cruise - like to pass another vehicle - it seems as if the downshift is too long "coming" - or you need to reach down "too far" to get it. But make no mistake - it "goes" - when you make it go - especially when you engaged that ECT switch. I also wish that switch was located up on the dash or steering wheel AND that electrically, it remained latched, when depressed, (so stopping/starting the engine doesn't reset it back to economy mode by default. But again - just IMHO.

Now with that ECT button engaged, (sport mode?) it extends those shift points in RPM. Yet at times, I feel like it should shift into that next gear instead of continuing to wind out - but this is again just my opinion. As I hinted - It runs like a bat when you launch it in this mode.

My general rating of the truck, (strength in pulling, cruising, acceleration, speed, comfort, handling, braking, steering) - and of course the "looks" - are all great. (I now have just under 9K on it as a reference). On wet roads, it often breaks traction in the rear under medium acceleration, so watch your traction light. I sometimes run in 4WD (H) in the rain, (when in a hurry) during the rain - where traffic lights cause repeated stop/go's.

I hope that Toyota may have been able to resolve some of these small mentioned items in the 2018 model, but I haven't seen or heard as yet. Anyway - sorry for the novel. But I like to give info that might help someone if possible.

 

What's the advantage to having mote torque around 4K rpm as opposed to 2k?

 

I agree and think everyone would agree that we would all prefer more low end torque on any engine. Toyota's stock tune leaves 3.5 owners wanting more and OVTune awakens low end torque nicely.

 

Still don't know why you would want a high revving motor in a truck where you need the power in the low RPM range. What's the point if your smashing over 4K rpms just to move. There goes your fuel mileage. Its also rated lower for power than most of the other vehicles using the 3.5L. If I drove off-road only it wouldn't be so bad since the torque is there due to the transfer case. But on-road, this thing is straight dick, even after the TSB. It is awful to drive in city driving as it always hunts for gears and shifts constantly. Rolling stops and then going at like 3mph it will shift 4-5 times from there to 10mph with a good second delay then clunk, clunk into gear. Goes 3rd-2nd-1st-2nd-3rd. in like a 500 rpm range. Also you need a good window to pull out from a dead stop since the truck just sits there thinking WTF it wants to do. I do love the truck but this is the worst engine/trans combo I've run in over 40 vehicles. OVtune seems to fix it, just cant see spending that type of money on a tune for a NA vehicle. The ECT is a joke, its just an OD button like cars years ago had on the shifter. Makes it even clunkier to shift. I haven't driven the 4.0, but I cannot see how any motor/trans could be more annoying than the 3.5L setup.

 

I think Toyota saying to change the plugs on the 4.0 was just a profit deal because they made more V6's then the 4cyl. The 4cyl was specified to change them at 100,000 miles. I did not change mine in the 4.0 and it had 85k miles and at idle in drive I could not even feel the engine running. I was going to change them at 100k but then it got totalled so I will never know.

 

Just bought a 19 taco. I skipped the 2nd gen. I personally never liked the looks or how they drove ( just my opinion). My 19 gets 21-25.7 mpg and seems more agile, nicer interior, better tech etc. The 4.0 liter is too thirsty IMO, but they are reliable. All of my trucks are 4x4. PS, the 3rd gen has 10% lower low range, doesn't that help with torque??

 

If you get a new one get OVtune also otherwise the driving experience will be sub-par...especially in traffic

 

I’d keep it. Too much time with it

 

Holy old post revival Batman! Just drove back to back yesterday from my 3.5 to my wife’s 4.0 in the 4Runner. 4.0 is definitely better, seats are more comfy also.

 

I went from a 2000 T4R 3.4 V6/Auto to my 2017 Tacoma 3.5 V6/Auto.
No doubt about it, I noticed immediately that the go pedal just didn't seem the same. I had to adjust to have a heavier foot.
That said, I am not the fastest off the line or the slowest. But I can make the Taco go the way I want it to.
The other issue is the downshift when you are under way and stomp on it to pass someone (or similar).
The downshift does feel overly pronounced (and awkward), but once again I can make the Taco go the way I want it to.
The best thing is despite being bigger and heavier, the Taco gets better gas mileage than the T4R in every driving condition.
It's good but not perfect.

 

The 3.5 is just fine. It's going to drive different though.