LOL.. I ain't no chevy fan boi.. but I promise you, drop a twin turbo on the 5.3, and the adage remains the same. Rebuild that 5.3 with boost in the plan, (as the ecoboost engines are) and that 3.5 is nothing but a spec in the mirror.

More displacement is always the answer for maximum power. Yes you can spin, stuff, build with unobtanium, and electronically control the living crap out of small engines and make some truly remarkable numbers. But starting with a bigger engine, means bigger numbers on the back end.. just plain old physics.

In the case of this discussion it revolves around how much power do you need to get the job done, and how thick is your wallet.

These are not like the turbocharged engines from back in the 80s or 90s. There used to be issues with cool-down, and other things. The Ford V6 EcoBoost engines utilize two separate turbochargers; one for each 3-cylinder bank. That allows them to make them smaller. The advantages are that they spin up faster, and eliminate most of the lag that had been associated with early turbocharged engines. They do really spin though. I've read that the turbos in the 3.5L EcoBoost spin at something like 170,000 RPM.

The 3.5L EcoBoost is now on the 2nd or 3rd generation, depending on how you count generations. The 2.7L EcoBoost (no slouch at all) is essentially a 2nd generation version.

Glueguy, do you know when Ford started offering the Ecoboost? What year?

Thanks

The newer V6 turbocharged engines are very impressive.  They operate better at higher elevation and take a much smaller hit on power because of altitude like a non-turbo engine. I'm watching, and when I'm ready for a new vehicle, maybe that's the ticket. They sure do COST a lot more though.

Of course if someone only tows close to home within a 100 miles or so and doesn't do long distance towing or hitting the hills with great frequency, all that power is not really a priority. This subject is so very subjective. It really depends on what someone really needs, think they need, and can live with.

CharlieM,

Is your supercharged Tacoma aftermarket or factory installed? If aftermarket how much does it cost parts and labor for a mechanic to install? I assume gas millage compromised?

Any other pluses or minuses to the supercharge?

Thanks

Originally posted by CharlieM Big difference in favor or the V8. "There's no substitute for cubes."

The Ford 3.5L V6 EcoBoost will out-tow that Tundra with its eyes closed. It puts out over 400 ft-lbs at only 1800 RPM, and continues with an almost flat torque curve all the way to redline. It will also out-tow Ford's own 5.0L V8.

Turbochargers have been the replacement for displacement for over 20 years.

The V8 makes more torque. Looks like 315 ft-lbs. Pretty good.

The V6 makes 266 ft-lbs. That's fair, I remember my towing experience with my 2003 4Runner 4.0L v6. Highway speeds were high rpm, I'm sure the engine was fine Toyota's have really bulletproof powertrains, but climbs were slower.

Torque

V6 - 266 ft-lbs. @ 4000 rpm

V8 - 315 @ 3400 RPM

Hello fellow r-podders,

I currently own a 2009 Toyota Tacoma 4x4 4.0 V6 and a 177, which I have had for a couple years. I'm out camping 6-10 times a year so have plenty of experience towing with this combo. As many have noted it's a pretty good combo but does have it's limitation when towing in the mountains. The V6 struggles in the hills.

I'm considering purchasing a 2000-2003 Tundra V8. The horsepower specs are listed below. My questions for those that may have experience is: will I really feel much difference with only 9 horsepower difference? Are the newer V6's almost as powerful as the older V8's?

2009 Tacoma: 236 hp @ 5200 rpm

2000 Tundra: 245 hp @ 4800 rpm

Thanks