Sluggish takeoff

Hey guys,
I have an’09 Taco and have been fixing random bugs since I purchased it 3 years ago. No big deal, but the one I am having rough time with is every so often, usually when it’s warm, I have to mash the pedal to get it to pull out of it’s own tracks. I have been using an octane booster every few fill-ups and that seems to cure it for a while… I don’t have any knock sensor codes or throttle issues/codes to speak of… has anyone else had the same issues?

PS… currently getting around 16mpg and I fill up using Chevron mostly/ using VP Madditive Octane booster-

thanks in advance

 

Do you have any codes at all present?

 

Have you checked/cleaned the MAF sensor?

 

I'm not saying the Octane booster isn't helping, but are you sure it is helping?
The only thing octane booster will do is allow for more timing.

If you have no codes, the only other thing you can do is look at live data.

 

Does it happen after it rains? Are you getting water in your intake from somewhere? Any way water getting into gas (but should resolve with the additives)? MAF Sensor cleaned? I am trying to think of all the reasons why warm weather would correlate to the problem you are facing.

Do you have any leaks of any sort? Last time changed your spark plugs? Are the spark plugs on tight? Feeling any knocking (I know you don't have codes but if you feel a difference in the engine)?

 

Zero codes

 

MAF sensor is a few months old

 

It will do it more if it is a hot day; if I am pulling a hill I will hear the engine pinging, which usually means garbage fuel… but it basically feels like I am towing a heavy trailer pulling away from a stop.

 

I’m wondering if it could be the Cats?

 

Select low range on the gear lever and try it.

 

How old are the sparkolators?

 

I've have detonation when running hot on a couple other marquees. Thought it was a few things but turned out to be inadequate air flow. Which in itself can be from several things

 

I honestly can’t remember if I changed them or not… I changed to NGK coils, not sure about the plugs. I will check into it

 

Wondering if I should do a cold air intake

 

If you can’t remember when… it’s probably time.

 

It has a factory one that's just fine.

When I say airflow I'm talking cooling system, not intake.

 

Gotcha

 

Do you have a scanner that can graph data? If so I'd want to see what fuel trims and AFR/O2 sensors do when the problem is occuring.

 

Fuel trims hold the answers

 

I have a reader, but have only used it for simple codes. I will mess with it tomorrow and see what happens. It did start pinging again today so I bought some new NGK Laser Iridium plugs. I honestly think I might have blanked and never changed them when I replaced the coils.
It’s been 3 years anyway so they are due to be replaced.

I’ll keep you posted