3.5L V6 vs 4.0L V6

My 2014 was a 4.0 with 5 speed auto.

 

Does anybody have any footage of a drag race between the 4.0 5th gen 4runner and the new 3.5 Tacoma 3rd gen I looked on YouTube and did not find anything. The quarter mile times are pretty close

 

Curious what kind of work you do with your Tacoma. Towing? Heavy payloads? My guess is most people that own mid size trucks don't use them much for "work". Even all the yard crews around here use full size trucks. If I needed to tow a lot I would go full size. What kind of work can the 4.0 do that the 3.5 can't?

 

Good question.
I do use mine for work. I guess my work truck with the 3.5 isn't really a work truck. It even tows a trailer.

 

You ain't the only one. Pulls 4,000 lbs pretty good.

 

Found out a '17 taco cuts out at 114 while my '06 is 104....
Closed Course....Of course.

 

I don't think I will ever own a vehicle I like overall more than my 2004 Tacoma.

 

My 4.0 does better on takeoff and lower in the RPM's. I've towed the trailer with both trucks and honestly, you have to run both in 4th. The 3.5's power is upper RPM range so you'll wind out the 3.5 more compared to the 4.0
I just want someone to get rid of the surging under hard acceleration. It's like they're deregulated electronically somehow, cause the 3.5 will pull hard, then like it hits a governor for a second, then picks back up again till you hit 3800-4000 and it comes to life like a bat outta hell.

 

Thanks for asking. First off, I had an extensive test drive of the third gen truck and found it lacking any low end torque. Torque in the low rpm range is what gets a load moving. In my business, I tow pretty much the maximum every other week or so. Also, when initially resurching this truck, I came across a statement Mike Swears made. " the new transmission is smaller and lighter". Which is fine for a truck which makes much less torque at low rpm. Although the 2 engines produce similar peak torque numbers, it is irrelevant. We know that the 1GR-FE with the matching 5 speed was also used as a base motor in the tundra so from this we can assume it was a tough, hard working combination. Although the new engine is very well built and with more power at high rpm, it is not suitable for working hard on a regular basis. It will work too hard and not last.(my opinion). My Tacoma is also my daily driver the rest of the time and gets way better fuel mileage than a tundra. Another very important consideration is combined weight. Here in Ontario, the maximum CW is 4500 kg or 9900 lbs. going over that requires a commercial license. A light truck and trailer means I can put more product on my trailer and avoid the daily logs and inspections.
I know that many will disagree with me and that's ok

 

So you are saying they can both do the same work, but you are concerned the 3rd Gen will fail prematurely? Fair enough.

 

Me thinks 4000 lbs is too much for that single axle trailer.

 

Really? No. The gen 2 will pull harder and the gen 3 will go faster. So if you pull hard regular with a gen 3 it will be hard on it. Likewise if you go fast with a gen 2 regularly it will be hard on it. My opinion. Based on 30 years of machine design.

 

That's trailer, contents, and what's being carried in the truck.I should have been more clear.

 

I respect your experience, just trying to learn. Why do the towing tests I have seen posted here show the 3.5 outperforming the 4.0 on towing?

 

Also, kind of struggling. By the "really" remark I am guessing I came to a faulty conclusion, yet you seemed to confirm my conclusion in your response. I am really not trying to be argumentative. Seriously.

 

That's simple. The 3.5 has more power at 65 mph than the 4.0. Consider the fellow on here that failed to move his boat or trailer up a steep incline and had to unhook and have another do it for him. He didn't have the torque to get the load moving. He couldn't even spin the damned tires! The 4.0 would have done it easily.

 

OK

 

You were only party correct. Don't get me wrong, I think both engines are great but the 4.0 suits my needs better.

 

"Partly" or "partially" correct is better than my average.

 

Here's a challenge. Tie the two gens together opposing each other. Put the transfer case in 4hi (not testing traction here) and put transmission in low...
if I had a buddy who had a gen 3 and he thought he was all big and bad... I'd tell him to hook it up!