Tacoma ECU Tuning for 4.0L

Norton,

I understand what your saying about the unhooking the power to install the new battery. When I bought this truck, I unhooked the oem battery cleaned and put the dielectric grease on the battery studs and cable lugs.

Never new the fuel mileage @ that point or the lack of power or anything really. I changed all oil, lubes and filters. It was after all that I started noticing the poor mileage and power.

After driving the truck a couple 1000 miles I changed oil and filter again to get the crankcase clean as possible. Lifted the ground cable again... Sense noticing the poor highway mileage @ that point.

I understand what your saying about the placebo effect, but this truck since I have had it has never got 18 and change mpg in town or highway driving. I have put 12,000 miles on this truck at the point I installed the new battery.

I have no reason to make this all up, I have no other idea why this is happening other than the better running voltage, the alternator working with much more of a load to try and keep up with the electric requirements of the 4.0L is the only thing I can come up with.

If this was the older technology I grew up with would have had to have a good battery or the motor wouldn't keep running. This new technology is more efficient and once started will remain running if you have no battery.

Whatever, however that has caused the improvements on my truck, just thought I'd share and ask the question here.

Sorry to have hy-jacked this thread.

 

You know what would be a fantastic addition to this tune?

Adding a button to the dash that activated a spare sense point on the ECU to give a tow/haul mode. So in a situation where you're loaded heavily around town, or pulling a steep grade with a trailer, you shift the automatic transmission into 3rd and press the tow/haul button and the torque converter would lock up and stay locked and in 3rd gear until you shifted out.

Or even simply instructing the transmission to lock the converter and refuse to change into another gear when you shift into 3rd without using a button.

 

I could be wrong, but a guy could intercept the signal to the SLU solenoid and with a switch, select to lock it manually or allow the ECU to control it as it normally would. If you're not shy of that kind of wiring

 

We can do it via S mode. Shift selector to S, and it will lock in a gear.
We do this already on the 3rd gen and the Tundra. We'd love to develop more for the 4.0L, if we can get people interested again. Most have moved to hptuners...


Also. Our tuning software for the 4.0L is done. (via toyotacal handhelds).
use the handheld for flashing and datalogging.
use our software for creating your tunes, and viewing your datalogs.
base tunes are provided for supported ECUs.

I know there was like 2 or 3 people that got our very very early version software, we really want to get you guys updated on our new stuff

 

@OVTune Would I benefit from an update or stick with what you provided me (custom 2.7 tune.)

 

The toyotacal handheld is a different kind of handheld, not a software update to the current handhelds that are out there

 

@OVTune is 4801 91 Oct R1-Shift the latest 91 Octane file?

CAL 30480100
Software 89663-04801-
Hardware 89661-04G61

If so, any updates planned?
I have the first original offered handheld

 

I received and flashed the NA 4.0L (87oct) tune!

I’ll update with thoughts/feedback/review once I’ve had enough run time to compare to pre-tune.

Thanks @OVTune for all your help.

 

@OVTune
I also just received my tunes for my gen 4.0, Matt you say to upgrade P5flash to version 1.2.2. How do I do that,,,I did not find it with my tunes you included.....

 

Does the 4.0 NA 87 tune eliminate the spark knock?

 

I've been following this since the OP and have always been interested in purchasing a handheld tuner but feel like I haven't come across much detailed feedback or dyno info on what the tune can do for me on 91... Can anyone who has been driving with the tune give me some insight on what you like, or things you expected that maybe weren't met? thanks

 

The preloaded 91 gave me more pep. It made it idle smoother, acceleration was smoother, and over all just improved performance. No dyno to prove anything. I’m also supercharged if that matters. I went on to receive a custom tune for my given mods. Made the truck run even better......improved rev hang (6spd), slightly better gpms. I can’t tell you what OV actually tweaked for my custom tune but it worked.

 

I wonder if have 2 of 4 cats on the 91 would give me slightly better performance, asking for a friend who wants one also... Thanks for the response

 

I have 2 high flow cats (front) on mine

 

Come in Berlin

 

There is actually a TSB for this.
If you can't get the TSB our software will automatically update the ECU to the latest version when tuning.

 

I had this done which cured the 40mph knock. However accelerating onto highway....it pings. 93 it will rarely do it

 

UPDATE: I've been running my 87 tune for a few weeks now. I can say without a doubt that my truck feels better to drive and is more efficient since flashing the tune. Gas mileage has increased around 1-2 mpg, depending. Shifting points are much improved. Far less gear hunting on an incline. My truck idles and runs better now than it ever has since I've owned it. Was it worth the money? IMO, yes! I am moving up from 33.5" tires to 35" (on stock gearing) soon, so I'll update again after that.

 

Let us know for sure, also want 35s, still on stock gears and ah, maybe a little on the heavy side. Tired of 12mpg lol

 

For what it's worth, I'd be happy to help out with further development for the 4.0L. I went with OV Tune because I have no idea what I'm doing when it comes to tuning myself, which I think (not totally sure) is what HP Tuners offers. Just got my tune put in, OV helped out a ton with making it work because the first few tune files weren't flashing properly. I'm super happy with how it turned out so far.

Let me know if you want to work on further development. I'd be happy to oblige.