Anyone NOT Impressed with OVTune?

I’ve been getting computer tunes starting with a 1994 Impala SS. What your arguing simply isn’t the case. Could the manufacteturs have better tunes? Sure, they could and history has shown over and over that the the stock tunes can be improved upon.

 

This! I can’t tell you how dangerous it feels driving in Atlanta traffic with a lag. This makes wanna slap Toyota for releasing this vehicle this way. I have done all the ECU updates. Has helped, but man this drivetrain feels funky.

I mean people down here don’t give a shit, and it appears they are out to hit you to get out aggression or some weirdness.
I will be getting the Tune, for this reason almost by itself.

 

I'm not sure I understand that logic. A fix is a fix. We are talking mechanical devices and they are all the same. If it fixes one it should fix them all. Now there is the perceived fix that I am guessing it covers in the same way that some think that their car is smoother because they use Amsoil. In the world of marketing a product that doesn't hurt, but costs a lot of money is often successful.

Now I admit that I don't have the ove tune and it could very well be a legit product, but being the resident skeptic I just can't bring myself to laying out $700 and ending up not seeing any improvement. I hate the way my transmission shifts. It isn't isolated to my truck. I drove a 4cyl that was exactly the same. I want a magic bullet as much as the next guy.

 

While this sounds perfectly logical, an aftermarket tuner is not encumbered by the same very strict restrictions as the OEMs are. In their minds and in the boardroom, I'm sure Toyota thought they did release the truck with the best compromise they could have. They had to think about CAFE standards, and getting that all important number on those "totally realistic" mpg tests.
I'm also sure there are many hundreds of thousands of happy stock Taco customers too.

Lol, you can think what you want but I have no illusions about running high octane gas on a calibration that's optimised for 87. Although, I did try it a coupla times to try and mitigate the stuttering on the stock tune (it kinda worked, but didn't completely get rid of it).

I prefer to go by published dyno sheets for results - which are available in the main OVT thread and on his website.

Meh, probably not going to convince you and that's ok too.

Edit: If you read Mat's development blog posts, there is nothing simple about tuning this platform.

 

My personal opinion.. I believe the new Toyota TSB tune was somehow influenced by OVtune. I am sure they have already purchased a OVtune unit.


Also, the 3.5 2GR-FKS has a wide arrange power outputs, and there isn't that much of a difference between each variant. The biggest difference is the tune.

The Cammry has the same power as the Lexus GS, but from my own experience. The GS350 has a better engine feel.

 

It's not the 3.90 that's the problem. The problem is the stupid double overdrive, 5th and 6th gear. Drive it in S4 (1:1) or even S5 (1st overdrive) and you'll see the 3:90 isn't bad for a final gear.

 

Unfortunately this isn't true with the 3G V6 Tacoma. I've been tuned since pretty much the beginning, and sometimes SOME trucks will be an outlier. Weird behaviour that can't really be accounted for, since, as you said they should all react the same. They don't though. I don't call my truck the ginger stepchild for nothing lol.

 

I don't know if I'd go this far, but 04B13 did actually address a few things that OVtune sorted out previously. Throttle response was noticeably improved over early OEM calibrations for one. Also, that dyno chart comparing pre-TSB to 04B04 (A/T) OEM tunes looked a lot like OVT's early dyno results lol - increased bottom end to midrange torque.

 

I guess I'm an outlier on this forum. I noticed the odd shifting behavior of stock, but it wasn't that big of a deal in my daily driving. I got used to it rather fast and adjusted my driving habits accordingly. I recently got the latest TSB for shifting and I absolutely noticed a positive difference. For me, OVTune is not necessary and would be a waste of money.

Others absolutely hate the shifting of stock and want change, but don't want to ditch the Tacoma outright for another vehicle--like a Tundra or etc.. OVTune is an option for those people.

OP, do what your finances allow and gut tells you.

 

Given that the various tune levels provide better throttle response, better shift quality, increased power, increased gas mileage all while meeting Toyota's federal emission standards...but the OVTuned website still says it's for offroad use only, I'm am guessing that it might not conform to California emission standards.

Again, that's just a guess. I haven't gone digging for information, nor do I have the tune.

 

Don't know about the California thing, but can you imagine what would happen if the "offroad use only" disclaimer wasn't there and the EPA decided to have a go at it? The next thing you know OVT would be hit by an "emissions defeat" lawsuit or some crap. I know that's probably more likely with diesel tuners, but why risk it? CYA

 

/thread.

 

I never really had an issue with the truck gear hunting, or having to drop to 4th to go up a hill. My main gripe was that in 6th on the interstate, you approach a hill and start going up it. Press gas more, MPH drops, keep pressing gas, MPH drops more, press gas, finally double downshift. I've dropped from 80 MPH down to 70 MPH before the truck finally cares. Super annoying. Prior vehicles I've owned would downshift as needed instead of ignoring my inputs.

If I recall, OVTune stated that the ECU ignores throttle input past 25% in 6th gear until engine load increases and requests the downshift or something similar to this. And you can surely feel it.

I don't think the tune is perfect either yet, but after reading all of Mat's development posts, I understand the difficulties of making it work how we are used to.

Also, my driving experience is limited to a 2000 S-10 with a v6 and 4L60E, a 2003 Trailblazer with an I6 and 4L60E, and an MT M3. So this auto works nothing like those 2.

 

Does this happen if you have it in cruise?

 

It did stock. I haven't used cruise in so long I have no idea how it acts with OVTune. I've got an 8 hour trip coming up tomorrow so maybe I'll try it out. I've driven this same trip twice without using cruise because of how it sucked.

 

I agree about cruise, too much searching and down loading gears to keep up, I be curious how it works for you now. I am driving a 4 popper so it is not as noticeable. Seems most guys with 6cyl. Having the same issue. I just started to watch my rpms,most most of the time what I seen they are below 3500

 

I have a 2018 and I'm running 32 inch tires and a 3 inch lift. I had one of those trucks that got 16.5 mpg avg no matter how I drove it. Since I got the the newest update. I've been running 1.05 87 base on 89 octane and I consistently get 20.6- 21.0 now. 50/50 highway and city. The truck is much more responsive. It doesn't lug around as much and I don't have to floor it to get moving like before. Trans temps seem to be about 20 degrees cooler on avg. And it the torque converter doesn't go into lockup as early. I'm pretty damn satisfied. It will pay for itself in gas cost saved this year.

 

I’m on 91 performance and the only downside for me is That still feels like it shifts all over the place when I’m driving on any type of hills or incline.

 

I have used both but not daily. Mainly just when there is a perceived need. I did drive to work today with ECT on, which is something I never do. I suppose it was a bit more responsive and MPG seemed the same. I probably won't use it every day though as I just don't see the need. My truck generally drives fine and the occasional misfire or whatever it's doing, while annoying, isn't that common of an issue for me.

If the tune ends up being like always one ECT (not the performance tune) or similar I can see how maybe that's an improvement in driveability but not one that seems worth $700 to me.

 

I met a guy the other day that had a stock off road and he was checking out my truck. He said how do u like it. I said I love it. He said its probably a dog with the lift and bigger tires. I said if u want I'll let u take it for a drive. He started down the road and said what do u have done to this because my truck don't have this much power or shift this nice. So I explained everything to him. He now is looking to buy ovtune.