Why Atkinson Cycle?

Maybe this has been discussed before, but being a new owner, I have some questions as to why Toyota would choose to use an Atkinson Cycle engine for a truck platform. Maybe I'm missing something, but those types of engines are efficient, but lack low end power, exactly where a truck would need it. The way I understand it, Toyota's VVT system is sophisticated enough to compensate, but do you think they might have over thought this new engine? I mean, does a truck really need dual fuel injection? If one of the benefits of Atkinson Cycle is fuel economy, I'm not seeing it. On my 300 mile trip which was 90% highway, I only saw 19mpg. I get that the engine is green, only 400 miles on it.

Thoughts?

 

You should have been here 2 years ago.

 

from what I've heard it does get better after break in period.
otherwise...guess you bought the wrong truck dude.

I dunno I don't really have any issue with the power of it.
More is welcome and definitely better, but I find the current will do fine for me and my needs. If I want more speed I'll get in my car that has $20k in the engine lol

 

It does feel like less power than my '09. But it certainly pulls the camper better than my '09. I don't have any issues with it and I do get much better mpg in this than I did in the '09. I'm averaging 23 mpg and my '09 avg was around 19 mpg.

 

The new v6 is the reason I bought the 2.7. I wanted something that had been around a while and was proven.
If the 4.0 had been an option, I might have bought one.
The Atkinson cycle engines seem to have too many extra moving parts to me, which logically equates to more possible points of failure.
I also have a diesel dually flatbed if I need to tow or haul more than my Tacoma can handle, though. Not everybody has an extra P.O.S. work truck laying around.

 

Don't get me wrong, I like the truck overall and I certainly didn't buy a Tacoma for overwhelming power or gas mileage. If I want my head snapped back I'll take a ride in my Hellcat lol. My point was that maybe Toyota could have got similar results with a lot less complexity. Under 3k it feels kind of sluggish compared to the Colorado

 

Its more like quasi atkinson, and the cam phasers can advance to full otto cycle from my understanding

 

It all depends on your throttle position.
Its not a full atkinson. depending on throttle it switches over to full otto cycle and has a lot more pick up.

Maybe you're just not putting your foot down enough

yes it can.

 

Thanks for the clarification

 

So what would the benefits be as opposed to full Otto Cycle?

 

Why male models?

 

MPG

 

Better fuel economy.

 

You get better fuel economy when you aren't demanding power while retaining the ability to demand power.

 

You shouldn't do this on a new motor. You need to vary the throttle during the first 5,000mi as much as possible.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oklqJnm7_TY

 

I get that. I've done break in on tons of new motors in 40 years of driving. Luckily my trip had lots of rolling hills, up and down on the throttle. In my experience babying a new motor does more harm than spirited driving. Too many people get crazy about the break-in period. It's not an exact science. Don't redline it and don't do donuts. Common sense prevails and you'll be fine

 

Which would be why Toyota leaves "break in" directions for the first few thousand miles in the manual... 'Cause it's a nice use of paper and ink.