I've driven both and honestly kinda felt the same, but wasn't back to back. What I haven't done much of is use ECT mode.
Nice ECU Tune found for the 200 5.7
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Same here. My LX570 transmission tuning is one of the best I’ve experienced. The only other vehicle that I’ve driven that is as good or better from the factory is the Dodge/Ram vehicles with the Hemi and ZF 8 speed transmission. Those are near perfection.
But I have not really noticed a difference in the throttle response or shifting between any of the drive modes(comfort, normal, sport or sport+). it just always is good.
My GX460 was horrible on the other hand. It never wanted to downshift and only got worse with 33’s.
I’m not quite that advanced, 47. My main cause for concern is getting out of my ability to make changes to the more computerized side of things. I can diag fine with a reader and make those repairs but get lost in the weeds easily. I even have a tech degree but after turning 40 I feel like my dad does when he cusses out the tv remote regarding all the tech crap under the hood of my late model cars.
VFtuners is pretty clear one of the ways to “make power”‘ is to adjust the VVTi camshaft timing. I’d have to go back and read the manual for all the gory details but basically you can change the intake and exhaust cam timings, but as you advance one you lose performance somewhere else. Essentially to gain low end torque or HP you give up higher end torque or HP. The stock tune tries to maximize performance for most normal use cases and account for emissions and fuel consumption , but your preferred tuning, especially if you’re modified your rig, may be different
That is the beauty of variable valve timing. In a fixed cam scenario you had to compromise between low end power or high end power. With a variable setup, you have the best of both worlds to the extent of how much it can adjust. With the dual VVTI (intake and exhaust) it allows the exhaust valve adjustment which not only adjusts exhaust valve lift and duration but will further allow the adjustment of the intake and exhaust cams lobe separation angle, which many people forget about, but makes quite a difference in power numbers.
Found what I remember seeing. Page 22 of https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0885/5830/files/Toyota_Gen1_Tuning_Guide.pdf?v=1704226372
Toyota has a map they use. You can modify the map and get more power in some scenarios but it sounds like it's more or less a zero sum game - if you do get more power in a certain band you'll likely get less power in other RPM range(s), or you'll get more power overall but the cost is a rougher or louder idle (or presumably something else like worse mileage or higher emissions or something.
Note that I've not tried this and I know very little about how this works in practice
From a camshaft selection and installation standpoint this is correct. More overlap creates less engine vacuum, less low end torque, and a lumpy idle, but gives you greater high end power. VVTi can give you both though. Modifying the VVTi maps will essentially allow one to customize the duration, overlap etc to allow for more power throughout the RPM range. The manufacturers really don't have that option because they also have to meet emission standards, so even with VVTi, there is still a compromise game being played. Not so much with an aftermarket tuner as long as you live in a free state with no emission checks.
Edit: It would be interesting to know what Big Turtle Tuning does. Not so much exactly what they do in detail, because that would be their protected information understandably, but what they are actually tuning. Maybe @BigTurtleTuning can shed some light without giving away too much.
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The cam timing is adjusted based on rpm so you should not lose power anywhere. It’s not like a pushrod motor where you have a single fixed cam and you get what you get.
From reading this thread it sound (please correct me if I’m wrong) like this tuning service is mostly adjusting the gas pedal gain settings, like a pedal commander or similar device. Possibly also adjusting the lockup points for the TC, but generally not much else in terms of cam/ignition timing or fueling.
The difference between a pedal commander and a tune is that the pedal commander cannot change shift points. The transmission still is shifting at the same engine load, it just is less deep in the pedal throw since the signal is being spoofed.
I’m sure they do adjust those other things but there just isn’t a lot on the table with a port injected, naturally aspirated V8. The PCM already adjusts timing on the fly to maximize power and efficiency so there is not a ton to gain there.
That said, it looks to me like they did pick up 10% torque from 2500 to 3500 rpm. That will definitely be noticable.
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The added torque is noticed just off idle and past 3500. Although i don't tow very often so i keep the revs low for better fuel efficiency.....
Added torque is piquing my interest…
Not trying to be a downer but only +20hp is within stock ecu parameters of adding or reducing power. The only thing that is happening with the tune it sounds like is they are bumping up the line pressure and extending redline.
What are the afr's looking like is my question, the truck should have picked up a bit more power and tq. This is all my opinion not trying to rain down on anyone's parade.
What are the afr's looking like is my question, the truck should have picked up a bit more power and tq. This is all my opinion not trying to rain down on anyone's parade.
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Just got my ECU flash done on my 100% stock and unmodified 2017 LX570. Started a thread to track my progress on power modifications as I go with as much detail as I can share: Power gains on the 200 series - Starting from 100% stock - https://forum.ih8mud.com/threads/power-gains-on-the-200-series-starting-from-100-stock.1341415/
So I had VFTuner before I bought the LX and had registered my former GX. They want $239 to register my LX. Then it’s another $99 to trade in my current flashing device for their new WiFlash.
Without the WiFlash you don’t get anything beyond version 1.7.5 of the VFTuner software.
It’s $400 to just get a whole new kit. I might do that and keep my old flasher as backup for the $60 difference. Seems steep though.
Without the WiFlash you don’t get anything beyond version 1.7.5 of the VFTuner software.
It’s $400 to just get a whole new kit. I might do that and keep my old flasher as backup for the $60 difference. Seems steep though.
I have one of the first gen VFTuner as well. It will still work, but like you said, you are limited to the older software. I opted to just order a new. VFTuner WiFlash and just keep the old one for now. Maybe I'll just sell the old one. I relate it to basically anything else technology based. Laptops, cellphones, cameras, etc... You can keep using the old one just fine usually, but at some point the manufacturer stops developing and updating the old units and you have to make a decision to upgrade or keep operating with the lack of updates and support.
Sorry new to the forum and haven't enabled notifications. Unfortunately due to some competitors gathering information from what we've said other places online to figure out what we are doing that they aren't/can't, I am sworn to secrecy; but what I will say is that of all the vehicles we tune the 3rd Gen Tacoma is the most popular which is why it's the only one we have CARB approval on (only company I know of world-wide with that) and we tune all of our vehicles to that same standard. Also, if you look at our dyno graphs on our website toyotatuningnetwork.com you will see what we focus on is low-end and mid-range power that we use every day and keep high-end power only a little better than stock (red-line is where things break and we won't sacrifice reliability) but we don't lose high-end power. Let's be honest here, Toyota and it's umbrella do lots of things right, but tuning their vehicles is not one of those things, we fix that. Smoother idling, more power, more torque, improved shifting patterns and many even report back an MPG increase.
I wish I could say more, but it's clear we are doing things right with those results.
Just FYI, VFTuner has a SUMMER2024 discount code right now so its $320 for a single license and WiFlasher.
I did this OTT tune today with my local vendor/installer, who was very professional. Below is my layman’s/butt dyno short term experience. I will report back after a while if my thoughts/experience have changed.
Met tuner locally and there were a few Tacoma/4runner guys getting tuned. Tuner updated my truck with latest OEM software (I don’t take it to dealer and neither did prior owner) and then added their tune with the “Mild” base setting and “Medium” ECT setting. I took it for a spin and definitely noticed increased hp/torque in the low/mid range but more noticeably was the improvement in shifting and pedal travel. The truck always took a long pedal movement and time to get in the correct gear once I needed to go from grampa mode (which is how I drive 90% of time) to GTFO my way mode.
I then started using it in the “Medium” ECT mode for a bit and found that liked those characteristics better. The truck is still very drive able in grampa mode but when I dip into the throttle it shifts much more quickly/smoothly and generally feels like it has more usable power in the midrange.
I went back to the tuner and he bumped it up to “Medium” base setting with “Spicy” ECT setting, which is what I left with and enjoy very much. The Medium setting is just right for my driving characteristics and the Spicy ECT is quite a hoot whenever I want it.
Overall, for $450 it feels like money well spent considering there are dynos showing you gain circa 20-40 hp/torque in the mid range, which many people spend thousands of dollars to try and gain through aftermarket parts on various cars/trucks. Plus the added upgrade of better pedal travel and shifting is very usable in my opinion. Overall, it feels like the tune woke the truck up without any obvious downside (some have reported marginally improved fuel economy, which I will need to report back on, but frankly is not a concern to me).
Met tuner locally and there were a few Tacoma/4runner guys getting tuned. Tuner updated my truck with latest OEM software (I don’t take it to dealer and neither did prior owner) and then added their tune with the “Mild” base setting and “Medium” ECT setting. I took it for a spin and definitely noticed increased hp/torque in the low/mid range but more noticeably was the improvement in shifting and pedal travel. The truck always took a long pedal movement and time to get in the correct gear once I needed to go from grampa mode (which is how I drive 90% of time) to GTFO my way mode.
I then started using it in the “Medium” ECT mode for a bit and found that liked those characteristics better. The truck is still very drive able in grampa mode but when I dip into the throttle it shifts much more quickly/smoothly and generally feels like it has more usable power in the midrange.
I went back to the tuner and he bumped it up to “Medium” base setting with “Spicy” ECT setting, which is what I left with and enjoy very much. The Medium setting is just right for my driving characteristics and the Spicy ECT is quite a hoot whenever I want it.
Overall, for $450 it feels like money well spent considering there are dynos showing you gain circa 20-40 hp/torque in the mid range, which many people spend thousands of dollars to try and gain through aftermarket parts on various cars/trucks. Plus the added upgrade of better pedal travel and shifting is very usable in my opinion. Overall, it feels like the tune woke the truck up without any obvious downside (some have reported marginally improved fuel economy, which I will need to report back on, but frankly is not a concern to me).
