...I have a 2018 V6 AWD and it struggles to maintain 50 mph on some of the interstate and two-lane highway grades...

I doubt many people have done any real performance mods on a HL - just not that type of vehicle.


Have you tried using 'S' mode and manipulating the highest gear. That should address the issue if I understand what you're describing.

 

Those programmed chips are a complete rip-off.


First off...there is no reprogramming. The program never ever changes. The ECU chip programming is actually very primitive code. All it does is set air and gas mixture based on the set of parameters it sees at input. If sensor A is with range of x-y then add z amount of air to mix. There are hundreds of simple decision logic statements like that. All the new programming chip does is change the value of the x-y range or the z amount - thus fooling the ECU to either add more air or more gas. These chips will add a little HP, but only had the high RPM range. Cruising at 50mph - no chip change will effect the HP of this.


I suspect the problem is with the high altitude of the Rockies. Air is less dense...so the ECU is going sense that and meter in less gas. As a rule of thumb - Every 1,000 rise in elevation = a 2-3% drop in performance.


I really don't think there's much you can do. For what it's worth...I have no problem towing a 3,000lb trailer and maintaining 65 in 6th gear with my 14 highlander here near sea-level.

 

Those chips are gimmicks. Real tunes cost much more and I doubt any company makes tuning software for a Toyota. Just no market for it.

Your only option if the car feels sluggish when towing is to just keep the revs up in a lower gear. The HL doesn't have much torque and it weighs almost 4500lbs by itself so you're out of luck here.

 

Thanks for the quick replies--very helpful. Those chip modules do sound too good to be true. If it was that easy then Toyota would probably offer these as upgrades. Tough towing conditions here in the high-altitude Rockies, I'll just learn to manage it.

-Rob

 

Tough towing conditions here in the high-altitude Rockies, I'll just learn to manage it.

yeah, altitude involved. No idea if turbo avail for this V6, but if so that would give u some extra power. Not aware of any performance mod (chip) for toyo V6. At least not when I looked sometime ago.

 

Has anyone tried feeding the intake some Oxy from a tank? Wonder if that would help?
Super charger? N2O?
(of course these void any warranty, but it might get you on the Rockies)

 

He want's to cruise at 50, I presumably for several miles. Those solutions are very short term 1 mile is really really pushing it. They void your warranty for a reason....they can so easily damage your engine. I helped tear down a friends engine that was destroyed by one N2O. 3 of the 5 (yes 5) 5 cylinders were completely destroyed. When we tore into the engine we realized it was beyond hope.