Engine difference in 2nd and 3rd gen tacos

You should have gotten the OTT tune. I just bought a 2022 Tacoma. The tune got rid of the " Gear Hunting and the sluggish engine"
I love my Tacoma. I will never change it for a 2nd generation.

 

My 2022 pulls as hard as any 2nd generation after the tune that uploaded.

 

And without a tune my 2nd gen does it. Spend less for a 2nd gen and be happy, or spend more for a 3rd gen and then spend even more for a tune. There are many reasons I never even considered a 3rd gen.

 

I agree with you that Toyota didn't do a good job with the Tacoma 3rd generation. I bought this generation because it has more new safety features than your 2nd gen Tacoma, but I don't like the "Gear Hunting" and the "sluggish engine"

I wouldn't blame Toyota and the 3rd generation settings. I think the government made them to set up Tacoma 3rd generation the way it is now. OTT tune took 5 minutes to resolve all the issues that Toyota left in the Tacoma 3rd generation.

Besides, The truck is newer (2022) with low miles on it. I don't know how people have treated their 2nd Tacoma generation.

Also, I like all the new features that the 3rd generation has to offer. I think I will keep it for a long time. I love it so much.

What are the reasons that you will never consider a 3rd gen Tacoma?

 

I will keep my 2015 limited. I've personally never driven a 3.5 in the 3rd gen, but basically, they took that 2gr-fks from a camery and dropped it in a truck. Heck No, id rather have my 4.0. Makes its torque as soon as you hit the gas pedal. Especially on shell 93

 

I agree with you that the 3rd generation Tacoma has the engine of the highlander, but it has a different set up with a different transmission and a different axle than the Highlander or the others (Camry, Sienna)

Like I said, I have driven a 2nd genTacoma and I liked it, but the 3rd generation has more safety and modern features than the 2nd gen; consequently, I decided to buy a 3rd generation.

My Tacoma's engine is very strong and fast. I love it.

I don't have anything bad to say about the 2nd gen Tacoma. It is a great truck and loved it so much as well.

The third generation tried to keep up with the competition. Nowadays, the 2024 Tacoma is trying harder to keep the their costumers and the EPA happy again.

 

That's definitely true what you said. It does have a different Trans and gear set. I'm just diehard on the 4.0.

 

Very upset there is only one mention about oil in this entire thread, and it wasn't even to glorify the 2nd gen engineers for using 5w30 aka the G.O.A.T. of all oil weights. 3rd gen can take it's wimpy 0w20 CAFE thin-as-water drool juice and kick rocks. YZZD3 is a Sherman tank of oil filters compared to that excuse of a paper accordion on the minivan motor. 10k OCIs are for mall crawlers, give me that 5k severe duty interval all day because I live for dirt. 5w30 is +5 better than 0w20 because that's how math and science works so mark that down too, boom roasted. Yes I know today is Monday but it's Friday somewhere. I recently had a concussion.

 

For real though. I cannot praise enough the oil changes on this truck. The filter placement is perfect, and a simple tube delivers any drips directly to the oil pan.

 

That is why I am thinking of picking up one of the last generation 4 Runners (2024) with the V6, 4.0

 

I get that, but buying a truck that you can make sure you take care of is a good feeling on its own. Knowing the price of what lower mileage 2nd gens go for, and a lack of any warranty was worth the difference in cost to me.

Of course I wont know if it was a good decision until years down the line.

 

That's a great decision. The 2025 4RUNNER will have 4 cylinders turbo engine. I don't like it.

 

I've owned all 3 generations.......there is a reason I went back to a 2nd gen after owning a 3rd gen.
All generations are good, you just have to find the one that works best for YOU!

 

Thanks for the confirmation. I'm not a turbo fan. Old school all the way baby!

 

I really wish the tacoma got the 2nd generation 1GR-FE. in my opinion, its one of toyotas best V6 engines. Is much better than the 1st iteration in the 2nd gen tacoma

 

I didn't know they were different. Would a gen 2 be an easy swap?

 

It's same displacement and such. Just has variable valve timing on both cams. Instead of the first iteration having it on intake only. So, it makes more power then the first. Plus, does not have the head issues like the first iteration does. They have very little to no issues at all. It's basically a updated version of the first iteration. So, would it be possible to swap? I'd say so. Someone like @Bishop84 or @TnShooter could answer that better than I could