is Tacoma's V6 weak?

Oh, never said it wasn't reliable.

Funny you comment on the x5, I have an x3 now. There is SO much to like about it. And at just 100,000 miles the engine leaks from almost every orifice. There is currently a few hundred dollars of parts sitting in the garage to be installed. Great little vehicle, and was relatively cheap in today's market (couldn't touch any running 3rd gen for what I paid for this), but yes, nowhere near toyota in reliability.

I say that, but then my wife's 19 highlander is starting to have transmission weirdness...still, no issue yet, and it has never had a single repair in its 80,000 miles

 

Have the trans fluid changed on the highlander and it may go back to normal

 

There is a Mike Sweers interview floating around (can’t find it right now) he was discussing the 3.5 vs. 4.0. Most owners complained about the fuel economy (or lack there of) so the 3.5 was made to address that. Why it has such a soggy bottom. Looks like the new Turbo 4 will give us both “ok” fuel consumption plus lowend torque. The funny thing is these little trucks can’t haul or tow very much to begin with. The arguing over what the power is, is kinda funny. 4th Gen made no major improvements on capacities. Payload for most ‘24 models is around 1200 lbs, and towing 6500 lbs. So it will haul/tow not much of anything slightly better than the out going generation. Lol!

Always found the power pissing match funny, if you look at the medium duty truck world, they always get the detuned engine than what is in the 3/4-1 ton market, yet can haul tow nearly or over twice as much as it is all about gearing. The light duty market power race to nowhere is nothing more than suburbanite keeping up with the Jones’s chest thumping bullshit.

The Ford 7.3 gasser in the the F650/750 makes 468 TQ, the new hybrid Tacoma makes 465 and actually looses 500 lbs of capacity and can only tow 6000 lbs. Torque output of both are nearly identical. Yet the F650/750 will absolutely destroy a Tacoma when it comes to towing/haul capacities, weird uh?

https://www.fordpro.com/en-us/fleet-vehicles/f650-f750/

 

Did a fluid drop and fill, twice. I have a new filter here but the trans pan is sideways and hits the frame, it almost looks like the engine mounts have to be removed. I have not researched to see if there is an easier way.

 

148hp, do not need to put unnecessary miles miles on the truck while using more fuel.

 

Thank you. I have been reading all of the YouTube comments from "keyboard crawlers" and they love to use the word "gutless". I am very happy with the performance of my V6 Tacoma.
It gets into passing gear very quickly, as I drive a lot of two-lane rural areas, where some people do't even drive up to the speed limit.
BTW My first car was a 67 Barracuda with a small V8, that was much less responsive and dependable as what we have today.

 

I've just got a 21 Lexus IS350 Fsport AWD hooked up to a 6 speed with the same Yota 3.5l V6 stock for that car and it's kicks ass. 311hp 289lb. Numbers are all in the upper rpm range but the tranny makes it easy to stage the motor above 3500rpm ready for power, especially on the highway. The torque number is a little low, but barely Noticable compared to My 2010 4.0l. My Taco could only stage around 3000-4200rpm before redline. Lexus stages power around 3800rpm and redlines at 6800 with the same motor running on 93oct and the reliability expected from Toyota/Lexus.

It seems like the responsiveness of the motor and throttle package along with number ratings is what a lot of performance threads on here feel like they are trying to accomplish. I just had an intake an exhaust on my truck lol.

It would be great if they made the performance tuned V6 an option in the Toyota just like they do in Lexus. The IS 300 which is normal horsepower or the IS 350 gets the tuned V6. Pick your car, pick your motor tuning. Either way the cruise control is great and is not constantly fishing for gears.

 

You could do the whole Camry intake swap thing with cams…

 

Intake swap doesn't do to much for this car since it already has an isolated cold box intake that's fed air from the front grill directly instead of most of the intake kits which leave the cone exposed to pull air from the engine compartment. Upgrading the filter will be the only intake change worth doing.

I think the IS350 Fsport has different engine valves than the other tune too.

 

Forgot that the modern world immediately thinks of an intake as where the air filter resides. Guess I’m old. Intake manifold swap from a Camry does do wonders along with a few other changes. Or you can go the route of a manifold from a Lotus. Heads can be reworked by Monkey Wrench Racing to get any valves desired. Size and springs too.

 

I didn't read this entire thread, but the title caught my attention. The 3.5L V6 isn't inherently "weak" per se...it is just detuned to provide maximum reliability and longevity. Which is why so many Tacomas with hundreds of thousands of miles on the odometer are still on the road.

 

This Tacoma is on Dopamine !.

 

Not mine! After the first 500 miles, yeah it left me knowing I could not live with the sluggish off-idle performance or the “nervous” transmission gear selection process. At 500 miles, I stepped up for an OTT tune and I’ve been all smiles since. My eldest son, who has a pristine ‘13 with MT and 4.0 V6, also was blown away by the difference. I understand a tune isn’t for everyone, but it is the answer to performance issues. Not cheap, but a simple and easy fix.

 

What I enjoyed most was how far he took 1st gear. He nearly gets to the white truck to the left nearest him. I love the Powerglide effect the 3rd Gen has with a tune.

 

OTT tune is next on my to-do list. I have yet to read a single comment from anyone saying they regret doing it. You don’t come across many products/services with a 100% customer satisfaction rating.

 

After 3 months of ownership I tried the ect for the first time today. Not some world changing difference, but definitely a noticeable one. The transmission hangs around in a gear longer, before downshifting (if that makes sense?). Holds at a higher rpm than it would without ect, and is a bit more responsive with the throttle within a gear, but still likes to downshift.

 

I must disagree. Only with one thing said.

You said the tune wasn’t cheap but it was worth it.

I wholeheartedly disagree with that statement. In the big scheme of mods and what I guess you can call performance on our trucks, 450 bucks is cheap as hell for what it does.

Want an aluminum tailgate panel that’s flat…150 bucks and it’s only used when you drop the tailgate.

Lights. Shit we can go into the thousands there. Only used at night and off-road…. Well supposed to be.

We just crushed the OTT price. On things only used at certain times. The tune is used every time the truck is started and driven.

Try to fix the transmission shifting issue many on here have had. Those that don’t wrench have to take it to the dealer. How must is the wonderful diagnostic charge? Let’s not get into that bullshit.

No satisfaction there so a drain and fill is attempted. How much is fluid…and now your time has to be thrown in there.

Still not good, we now have to look elsewhere for answers. And this is just the transmission.

Want to get better throttle response? Many turn to a pedal commander. How much are they? And they only change the signal from the pedal. OTT actually adjust fuel trims and timing as well.

Pretty close to 450 buck yet with our attempts? Yep. Well probably past it by now. Maybe close to solving the issues, but probably not. Need to dump more money at it?

The tune is cheap, easy, painless, and if you don’t have a beer and bs with your tuner like I did, probably done in less than 10 mins after you sign the paperwork.

That’s cheap as hell in my book.

 

I never paid attention to the numbers. But it makes a whole lotta sense now. Well all know when the peg hits 3500rpm, the magic begins and makes you take notice. 4500rpm and the giggles begin all the way up to a strong redline, say 6500rpm to be on the conservative side.

Hard pulling in 4LO…let’s go get high with the 3.five!

Seriously though, I’ll be going out to Dove Spring tomorrow to video the new and improved Topanga Launch that I will air in the 4Lo fitty thread ;0)

4LO + TRAC OFF + Sport + = I hope it puts a fucking smile on your face for you nay sayers!!!!!!!!!

 

Its weak. I'm 8500 miles in, and unless it's above 3500 rpm it's not making any power. I rarely drive it like it needs to be driven, so I think it pretty underpowered. If you drive like you stole it maybe not.

 

Every time this thread pops up in my “watched threads”…




…it is, but I don’t care, not much in a hurry anymores.