1998 2.7L V4 Tacoma is gutless.

I have a gutless wonder for a truck. The truck is a 1998 Toyota Tacoma 2.7L manual transmission 170k miles. It's impossible to spin the tires on dry pavement. Even on gravel, I have to be at a near stand still and give it everything it's got to spin the tires. 0-60 on the flattest ground I can find is 29 to 31 seconds.
This problem gets even worse on any kind of hill. 0-60 on a hill takes three or four minutes!! My daily commute is 12 miles uphill. As you can imagine it's driving me crazy, plus it drinks gas like a fish. 15 maybe 17 miles per gallon if I drive very carefully. Is something wrong with my truck or engine?


On top of that my truck is geared way to high. It has 3:58's in it. Regearing is pretty expensive at 600 to 800. Getting a supercharger for the engine (3RZ-FE) is about three grand. I have found small turbos for two or three hundred. Is there any way I can use an off brand turbo or supercharger for my truck? Perhaps a chip would help?

 

I'm guessing it's an auto transmission?

 

My heavy 4 door 2.7L AT 1st gen is gutless too. Lots of hills here. Get 20.79 MPG. 28 inch tires.

Love that thing, even with no power. More reliable than Buckingham Palace guards.

0-60mph is about 11.5 seconds.

 

Nope on the turbos, well you can, but it's likely not gonna do what you're thinking. How's the maintenance been on the drivetrain? Is the MIL on? My 2.7L I4 is peppy enough. Definitely not fast, but no complaints. And I'm on taller than stock tires even.

Edit: I'm not saying turbo isn't worth it. I'm saying those cheapy turbos aren't gonna be worth it, that's all. To turbo properly, it'll likely be as much as completing a SC install, if not more.

 

2wd Automatic 2.7L I-4? How long have you owned the truck? 1st post is to complain about your truck?

1. Regearing is your cheapest route of what questions you asked.
2. Off brand turbos
3. Chip

2.7L is not a powerhouse. You could look into performance robbing issues by checking some of these items:

• Do you have OEM tire size?
• Exhaust system operation check
• Fuel system/ delivery check
• New Fuel filter
• New Spark plugs
• OEM air filter (new air filter)
• Transmission fluid level (fluid level flush)

 

my V4 kicks ass

 

V4???

 

3rz is inline

 

My 2.7 I bought yesterday is no slouch. It's 4x4 with 4.3 and will roll tires no trouble.

 

First of all, v4?? Seriously? Its straight 4c or just "4 cyl". And youve got to realize, it IS a 4 cyl and is obviously not a race car. But i have the same engine in my 02 reg cab 4x4 and i never have any problems i see on here like cant climb hills or run 75 on the interstate, and i live in east tn, pleanty of hill. It feels more like a v6 to me. Id says yours probably needs tuned up. Now mine does have 3.91 rear end stock, so that may have something to do with it.

 

My 3rz was always really slow and low on power, but that's kind of expected from 150 horsepower 4 cyl

 

I now have the 3.4 and it packs a lot more power

 

I have the 4 cylinder. I've never had any problems with it, it treks through the hills and mountains of California with no problem. I have the K&N Intake on it that's supposed to add 5 HP but that was only tested on the 2.4l. I really just got it because the 3RZ is too damn quiet.

I commute on I-580/I-680 through the Altamont Pass in California at 65-75 MPH no problem.

 

It's a standard 5 speed

 

Bad or slipping clutch...

 

Maybe mine does need a tune up. I wonder what that costs.

 

A tune up might help give it a little more pep. Air filter, spark plugs, wires etc.
At the end of the day, it's a 4 cylinder.

 

It sounds like you have a ton of power.

 

Very true I will look into a tune up thanks.

 

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