High RPM on highway

All engine builders will tell you rpm is rpm, and hardest on valve train components. There is no such thing as a sweet spot when it comes to higher rpm, and engine life.
Btw, my tires are well under 40 lbs, not the 55 lbs you mention.

 

I guess I think of sweet spot in terms of relative performance (like specific fuel consumption).

And sorry, the tire comments were meant for the OP.

 

If you're ever down there you'll feel the difference

 

What tune do you have?

 

2

Where? Seattle or Montana?

 

This is the worst part about the truck. I got mine tuned to help, and it does, marginally.

I live in central Ohio, we are pretty flat here with more rolling hills than anything but if I use cruise control at all, I'm hovering at 3-3300 the whole time. Adaptive cruise control is worse but both settings suck. Even when it's working "well" I have to help it along to get up slight inclines without it down shifting and shooting up to 4500+.

It's utterly inexcusable a $45,000 mid size truck, with supposedly 250hp and tq requires shifting on a constant basis to hold any type of highway speed.

 

It almost sounds like you have a tune on it . With slightly bigger tires and leveling kit I wouldn’t see that much jump in rpm . Did you ask the owner if they had a tune done ?

 

I have KDMax. I highly recommend it, I’ve had it for about 2 years now and I get the newer versions installed every once in a while because I like it so much.

 

I’m not trying to be a jerk but a tune would fix the OP’s issue, not cause it. I just don’t want want the OP to have bad info. Tunes are designed to prevent things like running at high RPMs due to the horrible factory shift points. If the truck was tuned, he probably would not have had this issue (at least not as high in the RPM band).

Again, not trying to be an asshole! Just want accurate info out there.

 

I don't get the part about having to run the truck at 3k, or higher where you are, unless something is really wrong with the truck, or you like going over 80 mph all the time. It's sort of hilly here in New England. My truck rarely sees over 2500 rpm 90% of the time. Less than 2k much of the time, as my gen1 tundra did. It's got plenty enough bottom end for cruising along. It sounds to me more you're driving one of those 4 bangers.
Believe me, if you drove my truck, you don't need a tune.

 

I think all you tune and V6 complaint guys missed the fact that OP has the 2.7, i.e. 160 hp at ~4000* rpm (or wherever).

Your experiences are going to be a little different.

* Actually at 5000 rpm

 

Yeah, got a bit side tracked. Those 2.7's in these gen3 chassis should have never been offered.

 

This normal behavior of AT tranny when upshift in S . V6 does the same, even on tuned one.
You need a lighter tires , tune and perhaps regear to stay in normal rpm range.

 

I have no problem keeping up with aggressive California traffic and I haul moderate loads of 300-400 pounds while we remodel our house.

 

Anywhere at sea level

 

Sure, if you beat the piss out of it.

 

I don’t consider revving the engine up to 4500 RPM as “beating the piss out of it.”

My V6 4Runner was also pretty sluggish until it went above 4000 RPM.

 

I have a 2020 TRD Off-road. I don’t “run my truck at 3k”, the computer does. I don’t choose to have it there. I generally keep it around 73-75.

 

Meh. What about the manual 4 cylinder Nissans and Honda sedans that run 4200 rpm at 80 mph and live to see 300K+? There’s a redline for a reason, anything below redline is safe for a very long time….

A few more examples just because. I had a 3.0 ‘05 Ranger which had no balls. I bought it at 155K and took it to just under 210K. I can’t think of one day I drove that thing where I didn’t take it to redline. Still ran perfect when I sold it and didn’t burn a drop of oil.

The Jeep model I own had an optional factory 3-speed automatic that when paired with 225/75R15 tires and 3.73 gears, would turn 3200 rpm at 70. Tons and tons of those made it beyond 250-300K.

In short, if the motor is built right and oil and such is kept up with, the rpm isn’t gonna hurt a thing. That’s the whole reason you have oil, to provide a barrier that practically prevents almost all wear. On the contrary, too low of rpm all the time could definitely have bad results.

Overall, my truck will be one example to prove me either right or wrong. The way it’s geared I am over 3000 rpm at highway speeds and I am on the largest tire size I want to run. I drive 25K miles a year. If there’s a problem from doing this, it won’t take all that long to show itself.