What is stopping Toyota from

turning the engine in the 4Runner off when you are waiting at the stop light or other similar situations? I drove a friend's Highlanders sized Chevy SUV and I noticed that the engine turns off all the time.
Also, Toyota does this thing in their hybrids all the time.
So what if they do that to the 4.0L. It will not remain as bulletproof as it is right now? I used to get 21 from 4Runner on the highway, but the city mpg sucked, like 12 mpg sometimes.
What do you guys think?

 

Please, no.

 

You sure know how to poke the bear with your question topics haha .

There is nothing stupider than pulling into your garage, stopping, then the engine turns off automatically, then you put it in park, then it starts back up automatically, just in time for you to immediately shut off the car.

The auto start/stop feature(ASS system) is the equivalent of the automatic shoulder belts of the early 90’s. A stupid idea meant for the dustbin of history.

Have I mentioned how much I hate the feature? Id rather drive 55 for as long as it takes if I had to save fuel.

 

Come on @The last breed

https://youtu.be/31g0YE61PLQ

 

It is a feature that is a pain in the ass, but if it doesn't hurt the durability of the 4Runner and improves the city mpg to like 20, then I guess it is worth it.

 

Auto stop start might get you an extra 1mpg if you're lucky. 20mpg city is not happening. I've driven cars with this feature and it feels like crap plus it can't be easy on the engine or the starter motor.

 

Then why are these companies are doing it? Maybe it is just a gimmick to show "responsibility" to ETA and climate crusaders?

 

Because if they can get a 1 mpg boost it helps them meet their CAFE numbers, and because some consumers think it's a benefit.

 

1 mpg is not worth that pain of dealing with that experience. In hybrids it feels smooth because of the battery. But in gas cars it feels horrible. Driving this Chevy SUV made me like vomiting lol.

 

Yeah, I had the same experience.

 

Yup. I would bet that, on average, it gains much less than 1mpg, though.

Agreed! Plus, the electric motor in a hybrid is strong enough to get you moving as it starts the combustion engine.

 

What is up brother? How is life? Missing my 4Runner!
Thinking of renting one with the fanciest insurance on it But TRD Offroads aren't available with Enterprise and Hertz right now.

 

Doing OK here. How's it going for you?

 

Things are fine. Parents' case is going well too. Hopefully by May next year they get their US visas.

 

That's good to hear!

 

Nothing is stopping Toyota from doing that. Usually cars with auto stop start have more robust starters to withstand the constant use. Toyota could definitely do that, but this generation of 4runner might not be around that much longer (we've said this for years I know) and Toyota might be waiting to design it in.

It is likely that the next generation of 4runner has it.

 

I once rented a 2021 Expedition for a road trip to Las Vegas and was surprised that had the stop / start feature. Didn't do s*** in terms of saving MPG. Just my buds and I doing a shot for everytime it did it.

 

Pretty sure GM was the 1st to have that in their pickup trucks. Everything I read on it said it and the cylinder deactivation is something you want to permanently disable if you plan to keep your GM pickup long term.

Our 2021 Highlander XSE has it. It's not that bad. I don't even notice it. Funny thing with the Highlander, it has the same engine as the Taco. I have no complaints with it. The things moves out pretty good with AWD and 295hp!

 

You might get a extra mpg outta it, but I would think you would go through batteries and starters much faster..

 

My F150 is the first vehicle I have owned that does this. Drove me crazy for about a month after getting it. Freaks me out when the engine just shuts off. I worried incessantly that battery/starter/AC compressor and other belt-driven accessories, etc would die prematurely. over 220K miles and none of those have died (in fact, ZERO issues with that truck). I'm pretty sure all those components are engineered properly to take that kind of off/on cycle.

However, I do NOT like it. Picture a hot summer day. AC is nicely keeping you cool. You get stopped at a traffic light for 3 minutes. Your AC stops blowing cold air. It takes about 20 seconds for the sweat to start pouring. I learned quickly to lightly/quickly let off the brake (or hit the button on the dash that disables the feature!) to avoid that. Same with Defroster in the winter time and, to a lesser degree, even the heater.

It did get me better mileage. I drove it from time to time with the feature disabled (I had to hit the button every time at start up), and it appears that I got a solid 1.5 to 2 mpg better if I let it do it's thing. I lost almost that much when I switched to KO2s from my original tires, though. It may have done better on the MPG if I did more in-city driving.

I'm glad my new TRD Pro won't have the feature. Before long, we won't be able to escape that kind of new technology, though, I'm afraid.

 

I wish all the EPA crap would go away like air pumps, displacement on demand, etc.

 

The goal is to force everyone into EVs...even though mining the stuff to make batteries pollutes more. Truly it will be paradise once everyone lives in a city of Chinese type mega apartment buildings riding public transportation worshipping Gaia or something. Me? I'm thinking about going out back and burning some tires.

 

that may be the goal now, but that's not what it was about when they first started making these rules.

 

..And soon drivers across the US must prove they are not drunkards. Driver facing cameras will monitor drives for ANY form of impairment, not nessasirily being drunk. Drive in a way that the computer does not like and your car shuts off!!

Cars that can shut off by themselves. Remotely shut off I might add as well. EVs and software a driver must please at all times. The future is here and it's not 'Trekish', more 1984 on steroids.

Toyota is doing it's best to hold out but it's a delaying action at best.

 

Some folks feel it’s ok for others to control us. I’m not saying folks are ok to drive under the influence, but I’m not looking forward to where things are headed.

 

I'm all for reducing emissions and improved fuel economy. But, some of these things seem to cause more trouble than they are worth. I have heard that the engines with cylinder deactivation can be problematic. That's not very appealing to me.

Electric vehicles have such a long way to go before I would consider them an acceptable replacement for ICE vehicles. I love the idea of instant torque, and better power and efficiency. But, they need to figure out an environmentally friendly power supply. Aside from that, the range and charge time is the biggest factor keeping me from wanting one.

This stuff here is scary. I can't figure out why so many people are OK with letting the government control them. People want the government to take care of them, and don't seem to understand or care that they're giving away their freedom.

Personally, I prefer those bastards stay out of my business as much as possible.

 

What makes you think Toyota is holding out on anything EV and high tech?
They may be slow to the party but they’re fully on board with the bZ4X BEV. And more models will follow.

https://pressroom.toyota.com/revealed-the-all-new-all-electric-toyota-bz4x/

 

Because this is what Toyota was banking on