For 2024 the Toyota Tacoma is all new and inherits the brand’s now venerable 2.4-liter 4-cylinder turbocharged DOHC 16-valve engine known as T24A-FTS. Replacing the old 3.5-liter V6, the engine comes mated to a new 8-speed automatic transmission.
Similar to the variations found in many other Toyota products, the engine features D-4S fuel injection which is a combination of both high-pressure direct fuel-injection and a lower-pressure port fuel-injection system. The engine can either or both systems during operation. The engine also features dual variable cam timing.
In this particular installation the engine is rated at 278 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 317 pound-feet at 1,700 rpm running on 87 octane regular fuel. With 4WD in our double-cab TRD Off-Road tester it is rated at 19 mpg city, 23 mpg highway and 20 mpg combined.
At the front of the engine is a single serpentine belt driving a water pump, alternator and AC compressor. This Tacoma has an electrically powered power steering rack so there is no power steering pump. On iForce-MAX hybrid models, the AC compressor is electrically driven.
Following the airflow, the intake charge starts at the passenger side front of the engine compartment and flows into a large conventional air-filter box, through a mass airflow sensor and then into the turbocharger mounted low on the passenger side of the engine.
From there it travels through a hose up to the air-to-air intercooler mounted at the front behind the grille. Combing back into the engine compartment, the cooler air charge then flows into a composite plastic intake manifold before making its way up into the 16-valve head.
Atop the head you can see all four spark plug coil packs which are easily accessible. The steel high-pressure fuel rail for the direction injection can easily be seen. This is the natural view here as there is no snap-on engine cover here.
Once the combustion process is complete, the spent air exits through an integral exhaust manifold into the turbocharger and an electronically controlled waste gate before heading directly into the catalyst system down low.
Maintaining the 2.4-liter turbo engine is relatively straight forward. The air-filter is located at the passenger side front of the engine bay and accessible easily. There are two separate fuse boxes, one on the passenger side and one on the driver side. Both are easily opened and a fuse removal tool can be found inside the passenger side box.
The 12-volt battery is located in plain sight at the passenger side rear of the engine bay near the firewall. The oil filler cap can be found atop the engine as expected, oil level can be checked at the driver side of the engine with the bright yellow dipstick handle. The oil filter is located at bottom front of engine and needs to be accessed from below.
Brake fluid is at the driver side firewall sitting atop a conventional brake master cylinder and power booster. The ABS control unit is adjacent as is the aforementioned driver side fuse box. Ahead of both is the engine control unit (ECU). At the front of the engine bay on the driver side you will find the windshield washer fluid.
Last notes I would add are that this is a well laid out and clean looking engine bay. I was impressed with the side panels which help the appearance but also help with sound as does the large insulation pad found underneath the hood.
