Thoughts on the 4.0 V6 in Gen 2

This will sound like I'm complaining, but I'm not...I just bought a 2015 Tacoma, with the 4.0 V6.

As I understand it, the 4.0 V6 has only been offered in the Tacoma lineup for a few model years...Before that, it was a 3.4L V6.

I have read the owner's manual fairly well, and noticed the following:

1) The spark plugs are not iridium - they have to be changed every 30K miles, according to the manual.

2) They want 5W-30 oil in this engine, rather than following the trend towards 0W-20 that Toyota and other manufacturers are following.

So...If the 4.0 is only a few model years old, why did Toyota follow the older conventions for this engine? Even engines that came out in 2007 in the Toyota lineup had Iridium 100k mile plugs and

$54 0W-20 oil Toyota/ exxon mobil Case of 6 Quarts Full Synthetic TGMO SN 0W-20 Oil

0W-20 oil recommendations.

Why didn't Toyota follow this with the 4.0 engine?

I know the 4.0 is offered in the 4-runner and the Tundra - is this the same exact engine in those models, or do those versions of the 4.0 have Iridium plugs and 0W-20 oil recommendations?

As I said, I am not complaining, I am just curious about this anomoly.

 

The 4.0L engine has been in the Tacoma since 2005... It seems like a dated engine because it is. Personally, I'd rather have 5W-30 than 0W-20. My new truck runs on lighter oil and, I'd guess largely as a result of the lighter oil, requires a lot more of it. The plugs not being iridium, no big deal, swapping them takes all of an hour and the new ones are $6/ea rather than $25/ea.

 

The 4.0 in my 2007 uses 5W-30... plugs get changed at 30,000 miles.

 

Very interesting...Thanks for the comments. I wonder why they "improved" the engine for the FJ, and not carry the improvements on to the same engine in the Tacoma? I would think this would not cost Toyota much if anything, as they could then have the exact same engine across all the vehicles it is used in.

 

Toyota kept using the dated engine because they were still able to sell the Tacomas 70% of the market. Now with the new Colorado, they have to come up with better and more efficient engine which will be in the 2016 model, a 3.5 liter but more hp/torque and better mpg. I think Toyota has been taking it for granted too long. Hopefully they'll improve the trans, too.

 

I don't think they went to the 3.5 because of the Colorado, that decision had to be made a long time ago. It's more likely related to the government's CAFE regulations going into effect in 2016.

I will be skeptical about a new engine that is being put in place because of government regulations, that is smaller and puts out more power. Only time will tell if it's reliability matches that of the 4.0.

 

Although I like the technology on the new 3.5L engine slated for the 2016 model, I specifically went for the 2015 because the 3.5L engine will be Toyota's first experience with direct injection. This technology has been troublesome for other manufacturers. I'd rather have a proven stable design for my needs at this time.

Rock Lobster - I don't think the older technology has anything to do with the supercharger. You can get a TRD supercharger for the 5.7L Tundra V8, and it still recommends 0W-20 and has the 100k mile Iridium plugs. I suspect amati5 is probably the right answer, but what do I know

 

I've tried the Iridium plugs, there is no performance or mileage gain, so stick with the cheaper ones.

As for oil rating, there are a number of factors that determine the use of a particular weight. The engine was developed to accept a bolt-on supercharger, with only the change to larger injectors. If you can't comprehend the significance of that, then you need to do some more reading.

Ten years from now there will be many people that wish the 4.0v6 was never replaced.

Explain to me how you can get more hp/torque and mpg all at the same time, when there are only so many therms per gallon of fuel? The current engine is incredibly efficient, so I would have to venture that the new engine is lighter, and the powertrain is also lighter, to reduce the rotating mass value, and some additional aero tweaks.

The FJ is a completely different animal, using gear reduction to a greater extent, and less cargo capacity. It resembles more of a failed experiment to compete with the likes of Range Rover and Rubicon. Not posh enough for snob appeal and not rugged enough for weapon of choice.

 

Same. I have learned to never buy the first version of anything even remotely complex. Software, hardware, equipment, vehicles, engines, etc. Let the "gotta have it" suckers sort out the gremlins.

 

Agreed. I am sure they'd done their research long before that. It's just that the 2016 comes out just in time to compete with the much improved Colorado. But I doubt if the Colorado's sale even comes close.

 

That old technology has given me nearly 300k miles, and running.

 

I have heard this over and over again about the 4.0. I am hoping to get many years out of mine.

 

This statement applies to the majority of discussions on TW

 

This

 

I have an '06 & use the iridium plugs and they work great.

I use 5W-30 and have no issues.

 

The engine has enough torque to haul my fat ass around. No complaints.

 

Plus since the 4.0 has aluminum heads and spark plugs are still made of steel you're a lot less likely to have the plugs weld themselves in place if you swap them every 30k rather than every 100k. Having to pull a head, drill the old plug out, and machine new threads is a LOT more expensive than replacing the plugs more often.

 

The weight of oil is related to a number of things, like the tolerances of the engine, cooling, oil pump, etc. I have not seen a V6 Tacoma that does not have a "towing package"....which includes an oil and transmission cooler. This leads me to suspect that this engine runs hot, and needs the extra help to keep it at an ideal temp. So, a thicker oil may be called for in this case.

I live in the hot southwest desert, so some extra cooling and robust oil, is not unwelcome!

 

To answer the question about improved mpg in the new taco, it's direct injection and runs an Atkinson cycle.

 

hmm, I guess I am happy and sad at the same point. I have a V-6 and the towing package but hope I didn't pay extra for extra cooling even if I don't tow.... eh, I live in Florida and it will get HOT and the truck will be stuck in traffic.... no way the engine just "runs hot"......pretty sure you don't have to get the towing package. Could be mistaken