CEL, code P0020, fuel injectors keep getting clogged

I've been having an ongoing issue with my 2009 Tacoma AT (2nd owner, regular maintenance, 117,000 miles) throwing the p0020 code. It started happening in July of 2023 and I got the driver side solenoid replaced and the other one cleaned. It did help with the poor fuel performance but I've had a persistently difficult time accelerating up hills. It seems like my car can't get above 2000 rpm without really putting my foot on the peddle and making a lot of engine noise, not rattling just sounds like it's really putting in it's all. I keep clearing the code but it keeps coming back after I drive for longer than an hour at a time. I've taken it to my mechanic so many times and to Toyota once. Pretty much to no avail until this last trip when I was told that there is build up on the new solenoid which could possibly be engine sludge so they put marvel mystery oil in my truck and told me to ride it until my next oil change which is coming up this week.

hoping to get some suggestions before I go to the mechanic, to see if it could be something else!

also, after the CEL turns on my truck seems to hesitate when I initially try to drive after I start it up.

 

The FSM doesn’t show a P0200.
A quick google search says it is for an injector circuit fault.
Is the p0200 the only code?
Also, what engine are we talking about?
2.7 or 4.0?

Does the check engines light ever flash?

@Dm93 might be able to help more.
None of my manuals show a p0200.

All I know to do is start looking a5 the injector circuit?

 

Ah geeze! Sorry I am new to posting on forums. The code is actually p0020. Smh woops. The engine is 4.0. The light never flashes but I get the secondary traction control light. And that is the only code.

 

P0020 is a circuit code for the bank 2 (driver's side) VVT Oil Control Valve.
Either the valve is going open/short circuit when it gets hot or there is an intermittent open/short in the wiring between the valve and the PCM, it has nothing to do with the oil side of the valve.

Being you have a low power problem you may have more than one issue but you need to get the VVT circuit code sorted so it's able to control both timing solenoids.
Service info isn't very helpful in diagnosing the code but I'd inspect the engine wiring thoroughly first and maybe check the solenoid resistance (should be 6.9-7.9 ohms cold).

 

could be an issue with map sensor that is preventing the transmission from downshifting when under load. Up shifting is mostly rpm and downshifting is mostly map, so only see the issue when you hit the throttle hard when going over 30 or going up a hill. Could also be the maf going bad,but that would present with issues across the envelope. Agree with previous poster that the vvt alone shouldn’t create this kind of unique problem and not this severe. It creates only a moderate performance hit, though it would be most noticeable under heavier load.