95.5-2004 Tacomas & 96-2002 4Runners 4th gen pickups and 3rd gen 4Runners

5VZ-FE and top-end power

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Old Oct 24, 2006 | 03:57 PM
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5VZ-FE and top-end power

Does yours have any top-end power? I realize these engines are tuned for low to mid-range power, but mine is completely out of steam by 4200 RPMs and I start hearing a nasty rattle at 4500 RPMs. I would expect a 66,000-mile 24-valve 4-cam V6 to rev better than my old 3VZ-E.

Anyone else have a naturally aspirated 3.4 V6 that will happily rev above 4500? Does it still sound okay as you approach the redline?
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Old Oct 24, 2006 | 04:09 PM
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mine just has no power above 3600rpms but that dont bother me at all
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Old Oct 24, 2006 | 05:03 PM
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interesting with my deckplate and ISR, I can get some juice around 4200 but it depends on what gear Im in too.
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Old Oct 24, 2006 | 05:12 PM
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Well my T100 is the same way, all yota trucks are really set up for alot of lowend grunt.
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Old Oct 24, 2006 | 07:59 PM
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thats really weird, mine has awsome power on top end. i raced my buddy's frontier and thats when i started pulling on him, is in the top end range. although when i went to 33's it takes a little longer to get there.

Last edited by TX-BLKRUNNER; Oct 24, 2006 at 08:08 PM.
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Old Oct 24, 2006 | 08:01 PM
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well ive really haveint takin mine past 3500rpms ill have to see 2morrow
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Old Oct 24, 2006 | 10:41 PM
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peak hp comes at 4800 rpm so I would think if everything is working right it should pull hard up to there and then taper off. I kicked down to 2nd on the freeway last week and revved from about 4.5k to redline. It sounded pretty nice with no elbow and an amsoil and I was definitely going faster.

Last edited by hotlavaaaa; Oct 24, 2006 at 10:46 PM.
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Old Oct 25, 2006 | 04:08 AM
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Mine does fine above 4200 rpm. Although right at redline, there's a strange noise.
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Old Oct 25, 2006 | 04:28 AM
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Mine does fine up into the higher RPMs, but I can't say I ever push it into the redline very often. Haven't heard it make any strange noises yet either.....maybe you are bouncing off the rev limiter when taking it so far into the redline?

Last edited by MTL_4runner; Oct 25, 2006 at 05:56 AM.
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Old Oct 25, 2006 | 05:03 AM
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I have run mine up to redline A LOT. It doesn't pull at all below 2500RPM. Once above 2500 RPM it will pull hard all the way to redline. Its been like that since the day I got it. I guess I am kind of throwing off the curve on what these engines perform like.

Drew
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Old Oct 25, 2006 | 05:54 AM
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Thumbs up

I had mine (1996 3.4L ) raved up over 5000 RPM numerous times.
And it is always sounds very nice –no noise and it pulls very hard as well.
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Old Oct 25, 2006 | 05:57 AM
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Don't rev mine very much but top-end is definitely lacking on these trucks. I don't really have an issue getting to a pretty decent mph but it doesn't get there fast. Let me also mention that a high mph is OK as long as the road is flat. Once we get to inclines, it's over...

One of the reasons that I keep contemplating the s/c is not for quick-off-the-line power but I really want top end and even more power in the mid range.
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Old Oct 25, 2006 | 06:18 AM
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Mine pulls great on the upper end. My best performance is on the highway, not on the low end.
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Old Oct 25, 2006 | 06:36 AM
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You should get lots of power about after 3000 rpm's. Its the Twin Cam on each side that help it. Not a lot of power from 1000-3000 but after that its like it hits a power band. Something similar to Hondas "V-Tec". Single over head cams and push rods have most their power in the lower RPM's, The Twin Cams have it in the higher RPM's.
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Old Oct 25, 2006 | 07:06 AM
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Enough people have said that the top-end is lacking for me to feel a little better about my engine. I was starting to wonder if something was wrong with mine.

Ebelen--I keep wondering whether or not the SC will improve the top-end power. If the cams aren't tuned for higher RPMs, it won't want to get there regardless, although it will get there faster.

I guess I'm just used to the Supra--it loved to rev to 7300 RPMs and it sounded great up there...the 4Runner...not so much.
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Old Oct 25, 2006 | 07:17 AM
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That doesnt sound right to me. Even with my brothers Auto 98 runner. It seems to gain more power after the 3000 mark. I have the 5 speed and i notice it more.
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Old Oct 25, 2006 | 08:23 AM
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My 5-speed pulls to about 5,000 RPMs okay in first gear, about 4800 RPMs in second gear and by third gear, anything over 4500 RPMs and it feels like the truck is slowing down. With more power (supercharger), it might pull higher without feeling like it's running out of breath. I am registered at TRD and URD if anyone wants to buy me a christmas gift.
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Old Oct 25, 2006 | 08:50 AM
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I run my 99 with the ECT button on all the time. I regularly run the tack to the redline (geting on the freeway) it pulls all the way through each gear change
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Old Oct 25, 2006 | 09:09 AM
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Mine pulls strong at any rpm's, but I'm cheating

Seriously though, it depends on gas, altitude, oil, maintinence... Making wierd noises above certain rpm ranges is generally not a good thing so you might want to look into that. One of my family members owns a '97 2wd 4Runner with the 3.4l, it pulls just fine all the way up to redline.

And quad cam doesn't have any effect on rpm vs. power, it's the number/size of the valves. Plenty of 2-valve per cylinder engines make lots of power at high rpms, take for example the Corvette's LS2.
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Old Oct 25, 2006 | 01:51 PM
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Originally Posted by Elton
well ive really haveint takin mine past 3500rpms ill have to see 2morrow
well i tryed it and welll 4th+4300rpms=85mph i had to let off as i was running out of road
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