1GR-FE (Single VVTi) Dyno Testing by OTT

Send us an email to info@overlandtailor.com and we can get you filled in further and work out the details with you.

 

It's totally worth it for this alone. But the overall tune will be head and shoulders above stock as well.

 

I've been running an OTT tune since mid-April 2022. Did a DIY flash myself using an HPTuners MPVI2+ unit. My 4.0L 2014 AC TRD-OR MT is close to bone stock but with 300-400 lbs added weight. ARB front bumper, A.R.E utility shell + tube-style lumber rack on roof. This is a daily-driver / work truck which I put maybe 3-4K miles/year on.

Noticed an immediate, subtle gain in power & torque across the entire RPM band, but esp. noticeable in the lower (1500-3500) rpm range. Maybe 5 or 7%? It's real. Manual shifts are more natural w/ reduced rev hang. Average mileage appears to be about the same, though this is hard to measure accurately because I've added weight at intervals after flashing the OTT tune, and I don't drive a lot.

Engine sounds a little different, more open, aggressive, growly, above ~3800ish RPM. Like it's breathing better. I believe this is due to OTT's decision to tweak the RPM thresholds at which the ACIS valve opens or closes? (Reading the Wikipedia entry about ACIS added little to my understanding of it.)

No mechanical or ECU-related issues (codes, CELs, etc.) noted in relation to this tune. Definitely worth the money & time I spent on it.

 

Would love to read some more testimonials on the 1GR with OTT if anyone has any.

As for the dyno results... I'm pretty surprised at the difference that the air filter makes... JUST installed a new OEM filter. Wish I woulda known!

How much reprogramming of the transmission is done and how much does that contribute to butt dyno feels and daily drivability vs engine tuning?

 

The transmission receives a complete retune with updated shift scheduling that revises each gears upshift and downshift points. The line pressure is adjusted as well as the torque converter lock-up/release scheduling in 4th and 5th gear.

In our standard transmission tune, the shift points wont feel drastically different, but you'll find they're more in-line with what you do with your pedal. You give it a little more gas, the shifts will hold a little longer. You give it a bit more gas, and the gears will hold a bit longer. It's a pretty refined package.

Our sport transmission tune takes the same approach but you'll find it is much more eager to drop a gear to keep the truck higher in RPM range and will hold gears a bit longer as well. Very popular with Pre-Runner vehicles or those with forced induction.

If you're looking for reviews, feel free to search my user name here on this forum (and others) as I used to offer the same tuning service under my own name before joining OTT.

 

Thank you for the succinct yet thorough response!

 

Really like my OTT tune. Lonestar Yota Tune hooked me up with the quick response version (Spicey?). Probably should step it down a notch but haven't convinced myself yet. Only thing I really don't care for at this level is the whiplash when accelerating from a dead stop, let it roll out before applying throttle and all is good though. Really like the no delay throttle response everywhere else.
Can't say fuel economy was affected, I don't track it closely but it's about what it was before. I can run 87 Octane now with no pinging, previously had to run 90 alcohol free or 93; that'll pay for the tune pretty quick. Oh, probably never would have tried 87 but the truck seemed to respond a bit harshly on the higher octanes. Probably try a higher octane next road trip to see if I've adjusted my driving style to smooth it out. When you're not used to throttle response, takes a bit to adjust.
Transmission shifts beautifully around town and short trips. Smoother for sure, and doesn't annoy me by not making the shift like I think it should. No long road trips yet and haven't pulled my little camper yet.

 

I can tone down the initial bite for you and keep it the rest of the responsiveness there if that's something you'd like. It is a bit much for most, however some folks just have to have "all the sauce". On our 2G development vehicle I run our Mild throttle, Spicy is just too much for me personally!

Let Kaleb know if you'd like to adjust. I'll be happy to whip up a custom throttle mapping for you the next time you visit him.

 

Thanks Justin, will do, still sorting out what I like and what I'd like to change. I'll hook up with Kaleb when I get it figured.

 

@JustDSM

What can I expect from this tune on a ‘15 6-speed manual, sport, that is heavily modified (including snorkel) and with 33” tires?

 

What’s “heavily modified” entail?

 

Aero of a brick and chunky. Armor, suspension, gears/lockers, snorkel, roof rack, cap, 33” tires, etc.

 

You would see virtually identical figures posted here.

 

And it will be awesome.

 

Guess I'll throw out another 500 bucks. Currently I have the AFE CAI, URD Cam gears, and soon to be installed Intake Manifold Spacer. Hopefully the tune will tie it all together and delay the inevitable purchase of a supercharger.

Also, can't wait to get rid of rev hang (6 Speed FTW)

 

Let me know when you’re ready, we’ll get you setup with our RTD device.

 

Ive put just under 1k on an OTT tune on my 4.0, with medium throttle response. 70k on a 2015 DCLB, AT w/ 32" tires.

The difference in power is noticable but not crazy. The truck lugs less, and shifts more appropriately especially in the lower gears, 1-3. I'm afraid I'll break something if I floor it from a stop. It also pulls hills at 75mph without downshifting, if I'm loaded up it's a slightly different story but still predictably truck feeling and not car. That little extra few ft-lbs and the trans behavior is notably improved. The truck will also actually accelerate in 5th at highway speed without sponge pedal and/or having to downshift.

I'm very glad I got it done and I love that I don't think about weird shifts and behavior most of the time. I also spend most of my miles driving between 55-75 on the interstate. Weekends are country roads and highways as well.

Throttle response is also better. Gone is the sponge. Medium is good, mild would have also been good. More than medium would have been too much for me. Especially from a stop. I already spin the tires on accident trying to get out into traffic quickly.

Overall I'm happy that it much more closely drives and feels (power wise) like my Silverado.

Two gripes/questions. Both to do with transmission behavior.

1. When accelerating briskly, pulling 4500+ RPM up to highway speed, you get to 50-70mph pretty quick. Quick enough that the truck is done with this pull in 2nd, 3rd, and maybe barely 4th. By the time I hit 4th, my foot is backing off cause I'm already up to speed. Sometimes the final shift into 5th is met with a sudden increase in RPM as the trans leaves fourth, and then kind of a neutral drop effect into 5th... This is with my foot already out of it and when I'm barely accelerating if at all.

Not sure what this is from, as it didn't occur before, and the truck only has 70k on it. It shifts ok most of the the time but that 4-5 shift is funky with an almost neutral feel in between gears where the RPM goes up before 5th. Doesn't happen during calm driving, but it does happen when you were mashing it but pull out before the final shift.

2. More simply, it shifts a little soon into 5th sometimes. I pull a small curvy country hill at 40mph and the truck doesn't like being in 5th despite at this speed and incline, but always shifts to it. To get to stop lugging out demands a little too much throttle, which is followed by quick acceleration once the downshift to fourth occurs. Back your foot off, and it downshifts again. I wish I'd just roll through that in 4th. Granted 5th is fine/preferred on flats at that speed. Don't know if that can be tweaked. Otherwise I slap it into 4th manually every day at that hill. This second one is a bit picky, but its one of the last low torque gaps at any speed. The first one is of more moderate concern.

Will either of these two issues change at all if I unplug the battery and have it relearn?

If I run 91 instead of 87, how long (how many tanks) will it take to learn the new gas and see more power?

Anyways. I DO like it better than stock, especially around town and average highway driving. It's not night and day in power but it's a notable. The trans logic is much improved. But I don't like how it pulls hills at 40 and the final shift with rpm blip into 50 after a "spirited" acceleration thru 3rd.

 

Appreciate you taking a bit of time to share your thoughts and impressions! Glad to hear you're enjoying it.

This is a shift flare. It's something we're aware of, especially with the supercharger trucks that are making a good bit more midrange torque over the factory N/A setup. While not super common, it's pretty well documented these trucks do occasionally suffer from it. It's usually brought on by an increase in torque, inadequate line pressure on the friction elements, or damage to the friction elements themselves (typically not the case).

This is a simple fix for us. If you were tuned by one of our remote tuners, please reach out to them and let them know you've got a shift flare on the 4-5 upshift and that you've spoken to me (JustDSM). Schedule with them to get a time/date to meet-up and we'll update your file. If you were self-tune customer, please email info@overlandtailor.com with the same information and we'll get you sorted.

Depending on how much pedal angle is being registered, this can be the case, and was by design. If you'd like to have your 5th gear shift schedule reworked, please follow the instructions above about contacting us or your tuner and we can create a custom shift schedule for you. With our baseline settings, we've had to make certain compromises (just like the OEM's) and given the years and years of feedback from tuning 2G Tacoma's, the shift scheduling you have is what *most* tend to prefer. But we're not about a one size fits all approach, so if you'd like something different, we can make it happen.

Another thing to keep in mind, is being in 5th isn't always a match for the driver demand. Our shift scheduling is designed to maximize the available torque delivered to the rear wheel by using the available transmission gearing reduction to deliver the appropriate amount of torque to the rear wheel for the requested amount of torque the driver is requesting from the vehicle (Pedal input).

Additionally sometimes the shift schedule just wont be perfect for what you want. These are a very simple 2D table that identifies a shift point relative to pedal input for up and downshifts. They do not have any fancy logic that is predictive or anything like that. It's very basic and simple controls that are available. Appreciate the criticism, however!

No, resetting the battery will not change the shift scheduling or performance.

Difficult to answer accurately as it will depend on a number of parameters that are defined in the ECU.

One, you need to be up to specific temperature to even have the knock control system active. You need to be at an even higher temperature (normal operating temp) to have the adaptive knock learning active. Then there are 3 distinct RPM windows that have their own independent learned value to determine additional retard over baseline.

To fully adapt the ECU (all 3 windows) you need to sustain a steady state load/throttle input to allow the ECU the opportunity to learn up. It will only learn up .22deg/sec so depending on how "bad" your 87 octane fuel is/was, it might take a bit of time in each of the RPM windows to get the ECU adapted.

The ECU is quick to yank but slower to learn back to protect itself from inconsistent fuels. If running premium is something you'd like to do, we can make a specific change to a parameter in the ECU to denote your running premium and the ECU will default to a more advanced state while still having the full range and flexibility to learn back down to 87. Again, just let us know your intent and we'll get you setup for what you're after.

Hope this was helpful!

 

@JustDSM

Thank you for your fantastic reply!

I'd like to reiterate to everyone who might read the last few posts, that I would absolutely recommend OTT's 4.0 tune. It does indeed drive much better, and there IS more power. Obviously, it's not just magically a V8 now, haha!

My two sticking points are not deal breakers, and my second point is totally a personal point based on my driving habits, preferences, terrain/slope/etc. I don't dispute that the shift schedule just wont be perfect every time all the time.

I'd also say that JUSTDSM has been so responsive and both before I got my tune, and since. The amount of feedback, background information, clarity, and engagement that OTT presents here on TW is of great value to me, as a customer, a previously as a prospective customer.

Also, shout out to @PNWTacoma. Paul installed the tune and it was a great experience.

 

Paul will probably install mine too. Just gotta get my final engine mod in, then tune it