T4R runs smoother in warmer weather, am I smoking crack?

S

scott78945

Member
In NY it was in the mid 60's, yes this is a heatwave for us, and I notice that my Runner ran much smoother and accelerated better. I have a black 05 V8 SE and it sits in the parking lot all day in the sun and when I drove home it just felt almost like it glided on air. Am I smoking crack here or is there any validity to this?
 
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scott78945 said:
In NY it was in the mid 60's, yes this is a heatwave for us, and I notice that my Runner ran much smoother and accelerated better. I have a black 05 V8 SE and it sits in the parking lot all day in the sun and when I drove home it just felt almost like it glided on air. Am I smoking crack here or is there any validity to this?
Click to expand...

I too felt this way with my 4Runner. If you think about it, a warmer engine does run better than a cold one.
CV
 
scott78945 said:
In NY it was in the mid 60's, yes this is a heatwave for us, and I notice that my Runner ran much smoother and accelerated better. I have a black 05 V8 SE and it sits in the parking lot all day in the sun and when I drove home it just felt almost like it glided on air. Am I smoking crack here or is there any validity to this?
Click to expand...

My transmission shifts a bit harshly when the fluid is cold. So smoother shifting in warmer temps isn't a surprise. As for power, generally the higher temp the air, the less power your engine can make. It has to do with air density.
 
Thanks guys! For a minute there I thought I was going to the nut house...I figured the warmer the fluids the better it ran but I just wanted to confirm it.
 
scott78945 said:
Thanks guys! For a minute there I thought I was going to the nut house...I figured the warmer the fluids the better it ran but I just wanted to confirm it.
Click to expand...

Warmer oil will be thinner and easier for the oil pump to move about the engine... This could possibly lead to easier smoother accelerations.

The part about the tranny shifting smoother when the fluid is warmer is very true as well.

Also, when the tires are warmer, they will not stay flatspotted as long as when they are cold and the rubber is harder.

Ricky
 
finally people that agree
i to live in ny and it gets cold every mourning i warm it up for about 5 minutes before use but lately its warm and after work i just take off becaause its warm out and i dont want to stay one minute more at work and accerlaration is smooth and brisk awesome people say im dumb but finally people that agree
i love the site
 
wilsoncwil said:
Does anyone get that feeling it runs smoother after you wash your vehicle?
Click to expand...
Yep.....I remember my Dad told me when I was a kid that cars run better when they're clean......funny how it kinda works!
 
The V8 4Runners will feel better in warmer weather vs. colder temperatures. One reason being that they are permanent 4 wheel drive. The front differential is engaged at all times. This is the issue with the vibration that so many V8 4Runner owners complain about. The problem lies with the front differential mounts and the harmonic distortions associated with it. Basically they cause feedback you can feel in the vehicle and is worse when temps are colder. The Lexus GX470 suffers from this as well and actually has a fix...Toyota will not address this with us because...well...we are not driving a Lexus. If we could disengage the drive from the front diff I am confident we would not feel anything.

This may not be your exact issue but could be since you mentioned you have a V8. I have had 3 4th Gen 4Runners...all V8s...and my current one has this issue. However since it has been quite warm lately I haven't even noticed it. As soon as the cold temperatures return it will be right back...guaranteed!
 
Every vehicle I've had alway's run's and ride's better in warmer weather than in dead of winter.

But maybe your still smokin crack:D....lol
 
no1sportz said:
The V8 4Runners will feel better in warmer weather vs. colder temperatures. One reason being that they are permanent 4 wheel drive. The front differential is engaged at all times. This is the issue with the vibration that so many V8 4Runner owners complain about. The problem lies with the front differential mounts and the harmonic distortions associated with it. Basically they cause feedback you can feel in the vehicle and is worse when temps are colder. The Lexus GX470 suffers from this as well and actually has a fix...Toyota will not address this with us because...well...we are not driving a Lexus. If we could disengage the drive from the front diff I am confident we would not feel anything.

This may not be your exact issue but could be since you mentioned you have a V8. I have had 3 4th Gen 4Runners...all V8s...and my current one has this issue. However since it has been quite warm lately I haven't even noticed it. As soon as the cold temperatures return it will be right back...guaranteed!
Click to expand...

Umm, not all 4Runners are 4-wheel-drive.

Mine's a 2WD V8, and I notice smoother shifts and a smoother running engine when it's warmer.

Of course, after 30 minutes of driving, everything is warm enough anyways that you should not notice any difference between driving when it's cold versus hot out (except for the fact that you will have more power when it's cold out since the colder air is more dense).

Ricky
 
RickyCRX said:
Umm, not all 4Runners are 4-wheel-drive.

Mine's a 2WD V8, and I notice smoother shifts and a smoother running engine when it's warmer.

Of course, after 30 minutes of driving, everything is warm enough anyways that you should not notice any difference between driving when it's cold versus hot out (except for the fact that you will have more power when it's cold out since the colder air is more dense).

Ricky
Click to expand...

OK...I am referring to those WITH 4 wheel drive...obviously.
 
no1sportz said:
OK...I am referring to those WITH 4 wheel drive...obviously.
Click to expand...

Right... However, those of us that don't have 4WD also experience a smoother-running vehicle in the morning when the weather is warmer.

It has much less to do with the extra running gear on your vehicles (transfer case, front diff, etc), as opposed to the engine oil and tranny fluid being cold.

Ricky
 
My truck doesn't "feel" any different to me when the temperature changes, but I've noticed a definite difference in gas mileage. I get about 1.5 to 2 mpg better when it's warm outside. Same deal with my old Land Cruiser.
 
I think you get more mpg because when its cold you usually have the heater and vents going which will burn the gas a little quicker. But when itw warmer out you usually have the windows open. Just my thought...because I noticed this also.
 
RickyCRX said:
Right... However, those of us that don't have 4WD also experience a smoother-running vehicle in the morning when the weather is warmer.

It has much less to do with the extra running gear on your vehicles (transfer case, front diff, etc), as opposed to the engine oil and tranny fluid being cold.

Ricky
Click to expand...

Please disregard my posts. I am referring to a specific problem that V8 4WD 4Runners and GX470s have. Nothing to do with 2WD 4Runners or temp of fluids.
 
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