Power issues

yes. Not enough power.

What am I trying to do with it you ask? Oh, just drive.

I live at 9,600ft in Colorado. I have a lot against me with just that going on, don’t mention the rack and tent adding a 500lbs, or the front bumper that is 150lb, or the soon to be added rear bumper of 60-100lbs.

Is there anyway to squeak out 25-100 more HP or torque?

I plan on doing a lot of higher elevation drives, and really notice the truck struggling more with the added weight.
Turbo? Turbos Plural? Supercharger? Hi-flow exhaust? Is there anything I can do under 5,000$?

 

Welcome.
Here's one option: https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...anual-transmission-engine-ecu-reflash.515734/

This is for the manual transmission, but there's another thread about the auto trans version

 

Nothing right now. there is a super charger in the works from magnuson but hasn't been released yet. Odds are it also wont be sub 5k. For now the best you can do is ect and mash the pedal and get your revs up, thats where the power is on the 3.5L

 

Fortunatly, I have a MT.

I’ll poke around reading that.

 

Then scrap my ECT suggestion

 

Well damn. That would be nice! Just a little smoother with the elevation and a tad more power- that might do the trick!

 

Regear is your only current option. Will give you quite a bit more torque with stock size tires. No more hp, but more torque.

 

OVT is exactly what you are looking for. The new release came out earlier today and it’s completely changed the dynamic of the truck. It’s a night and day difference. If you want to save some time in the thread just check out the first post and then everything since about noon today.

 

+1

I agree with hiPSI, sounds like his advice is exactly what is called for in a situation such as yours.

 

might be that the roof mounted rack/tent/weight could be hurting the aerodynamics of the truck, resulting in a loss of power/performance. the rack could be catching a lot of wind resistance, maybe somehow mounting the rack in the bed behind the cab would be a better alternative than to mechanically trying to get more power from the truck

 

4.88 gears and you will plenty of torque and power, cost around 2-3000

 

Start here and read the reviews. Then spend money.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...ansmission-engine-ecu-reflash.515734/page-107

 

OVtune for your manual trans truck is where it's at for the money. ~800 bucks vice 2-3K for a regear.

Those ppl that are on here advising you to start with the tune are actually running it, not just bench racing.

While I know that NA engines do suffer power losses at altitude, the tune is not just about peak HP/torque gains. The torque curve has been nicely flattened in the area where it was needed most: 2000-3000 rpm. Throttle response is also greatly improved over stock.

But hey, what would I know.. I'm not an engineer, just a guy who actually runs the tune every day.

Edit: another thing to think about - in the event you weren't happy with the tune it's completely reversible in about 5 minutes, and you could sell the flashing hardware on here to re-coup some of the cost.

Good luck,

Frank

 

the OV tune is significant for our motors given that the factory tune is so bad, and hugely mutes the motor's hardware, and that is what you're suffering. the difference with that tune from stock is night & day. but it's still gonna be a NA 3.5L V6. it makes me happy, it's great, but i run light, no armor, near sea level.

if a SC or whatever was available and good, that's your answer. but it's not. so you need to decide if waking up the motor you got is worth it.

btw, it is.

 

As a side benefit, the regear option should also help take some of that load off your transmission. Heavy loading is tough on vehicles and that should help your drive train stay healthy and strong.

 

This is where turbo engines shine. I live up high, not as high as you, but still up there. It’ll be interesting when I test drive the new Ranger. I’ll most likely stick with the Tacoma, because I don’t have the need for more power. But I’m betting the thing will have some getup-n-go.

 

I could see that for sure, but the M/T is already running 4.30's. We turn 2k rpm at 60mph in 6th (stock) already lol.

 

It’s a truck, it’s not meant to be airodynamic.

I’m not looking for speed, without the tent- rack, etc: i used to be able to drive over the continental divide (11,300ft) in 5th, now it’s 4th required.

 

okie dokie

 

To those advocating for the retune (don’t fear, I’m about to go running and screaming into the next 4wd shop I find that I’ve found my answer to life and everything) how does the effect warrante items in the future? I already don’t go to dealerships , but warrantee work or recall work?