Toyota 4.0L Musings

[Plannerman]

I had an interesting discussion with a 4Runner owning friend day and realized that Toyota uses versions of the 4.0L v6 in many of its trucks, but has tuned/rated the engines very differently. This strikes me as strange and I wonder whether anyone has any insight as to why.

Tacoma/Tundra with VVT-i 236 hp 266 ft-lb
4thGen 4Runner with VVT-i 245 hp and 282 ft-lb
5th Gen 4Runner with Dual VVT-I 270 hp and 278 ft-lb
Early FJC (VVT-i) 237 hp and 278ft-lb
Later FJC with Dual VVT-i 260 hp and 271 ft-lb

 

[marshal]

also reference that those numbers increase even more when premium gas is used

 

[Mrknowitall]

There are 3 factors at play here
1. The engines with and without Dual VVTi- there are real mechanical differences.
2. Toyota rates the engine in some vehicles on premium gas and some on regular. Regular gas will run fine in either, but ratings will be different. To a lesser extent, the tailpipe nois/back pressure of a particular vehicle has a tiny effect.
3. At some point between 05 and 08, the ratings were adjusted downward, without any actual changes to the engine, but rather a change in testing procedure at Toyota.
Clear as mud, right? Long story short, The 1GR-FE engine exists basically in 2 versions, one of which DOES have a little more snot. Within one type or another, the different ratings have no REAL effect on performance.

 

[Martinjmpr]

I had an interesting discussion with a 4Runner owning friend day and realized that Toyota uses versions of the 4.0L v6 in many of its trucks, but has tuned/rated the engines very differently. This strikes me as strange and I wonder whether anyone has any insight as to why.

Tacoma/Tundra with VVT-i 236 hp 266 ft-lb
4thGen 4Runner with VVT-i 245 hp and 282 ft-lb5th Gen 4Runner with Dual VVT-I 270 hp and 278 ft-lb
Early FJC (VVT-i) 237 hp and 278ft-lbLater FJC with Dual VVT-i 260 hp and 271 ft-lb

There are 3 factors at play here
3. At some point between 05 and 08, the ratings were adjusted downward, without any actual changes to the engine, but rather a change in testing procedure at Toyota.

I believe #3 explains the discrepancy here.

My 4th gen 4runner is rated at 236hp, but earlier ones were rated at 245hp

Actually, the engines are exactly the same, what changed was the way they measured HP.

I would guess the "later FJC" probably uses the 5th gen 4runner's 270hp engine. Maybe they de-tune it slightly for a little more torque?

And did the later Tacos get the 270hp engine? Or are they still using the same engine as the 4th gen 4runner?

 

[Plannerman]

Number 3 does seem to make sense. I recall the Taco was initially introduced as a premium fuel vehicle, so perhaps early tests were based on high octane fuel.

I believe the Taco's engine has remained static through the entire generation. Same with the Tundra. But I cannot help wonder why. Why would you want the lower rated engine in vehicles designed to tow greater loads? Emissions? Torque curve?

And then I started looking at GVWRs and GAWRs and found less clarity. So, for example, if the front end of the Taco, the later 4Runners, and the FJCs are largely the same, why do they have different front GAWRs? Why does the Taco have higher front and rear axle weight ratings, but a lower GVWR and net capacity?

I should have been an automotive engineer...




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[Clutch]

Why does the Taco have higher front and rear axle weight ratings, but a lower GVWR and net capacity?

I should have been an automotive engineer...

To further make you think....the HiLux has the same rear axle, front suspension, petrol engines, and auto tranny as the Tacoma, beefier frame though....much higher capacities. The HiLux is considered a 1 ton in the rest of the world, yes?

Believe the numbers for the Tacoma are dumbed down a bit, so it keeps it out of the US half ton segment. I assume it can handle much more than what is written on paper.

 

[Plannerman]

I thought that the Hilux and the Tacoma might have that kind of relationship. That Toyota might have dialed down the numbers to keep it from being a half ton competitor, well, not surprised. It sure seems easy to eat up the 1200 pound capacity


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[Clutch]

I thought that the Hilux and the Tacoma might have that kind of relationship. That Toyota might have dialed down the numbers to keep it from being a half ton competitor, well, not surprised. It sure seems easy to eat up the 1200 pound capacity


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Jonathan Hanson, had a good write up comparing the two.

Link

 

[Plannerman]

Thanks for the link


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[Clutch]

Thanks for the link


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You're welcome...when people get jealous that we can't get the HiLux here...they really aren't all the much different than the Tacoma. And who knows...the 2015's might share even more components.

 

[Plannerman]

I wouldn't mind a small diesel al la the 2016 Colorado or Chrysler's 3.0


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[SIZZLE]

Jonathan Hanson, had a good write up comparing the two.

Link

Great article. Makes me feel a lot better when I travel south of the border and see all the hard working Hiluxes. I don't do a lot of heavy hauling, so it seems like the engine is the main difference. As much as i'd love the range of the turbo diesel, i got no complains about the 1GR, even if i did get the lowest tuned version.

 

[Clutch]

Great article. Makes me feel a lot better when I travel south of the border and see all the hard working Hiluxes. I don't do a lot of heavy hauling, so it seems like the engine is the main difference. As much as i'd love the range of the turbo diesel, i got no complains about the 1GR, even if i did get the lowest tuned version.

I see quite a few HiLuxes up here from Mexico, nice... but not terribly different what we can get. The current petrol engines are more than enough for me 98% of the time. Want more range, carry a couple jerry cans or toss on a bigger tank. Not a huge deal.

 

[Plannerman]

I believe the rear frames of the two trucks are very different. The Hilux is designed for carrying more weight. The Tacoma's frame is designed to to more weight.


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[juicebox]

The Hilux is designed for carrying more weight. The Tacoma's frame is designed to to more weight.


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Totally...

Wait, what?