2024 Toyota Tacoma Engines Face Wild Cancer Risk Claims
What in tarnation is happening with the Toyota Tacoma engines? This truck is known for having long-lasting, durable options. The new units for 2024 have more power and should provide a better fuel economy. However, some critics are concerned that the 2024 Toyota Tacoma engines might cause cancer.
Does the 2024 Toyota Tacoma cause cancer?
This seems like a ridiculous question to ask about the 2024 Toyota Tacoma. However, some critics are concerned about the GDI engine emitting cancer-causing particles into the air. Scotty Kilmer of YouTube is raising concerns.
No data or studies support this claim or directly link the Tacoma to causing cancer. However, Kilmer reportedly warns that the engines pollute the air with poison. In addition, he says they have emission problems that need to be addressed.
Toyota’s Gasoline Direct Inject engine (GDI) is at the center of this claim. The design injects fuel directly into the cylinder where combustion occurs instead of injecting fuel into a port in the intake manifold, where it’s mixed with air before entering the cylinder for combustion.
It has a lean fuel burn and provides more power while being more fuel efficient. But, the fuel might not be volatilized as well when being injected directly into the cylinder, increasing the rate of fine particulate matter being released into the environment.
An earlier study explains that GDI engines emit five to 10 times more hazardous fine particulate matter than port-fuel-injected engines (PFI) or heavy-duty diesel engines with a particulate filter. On a positive note, GDI engines emit less CO2 emissions, helping the fight against global warming.
But there aren’t even 2024 Tacoma models on the road yet to test this theory, and there aren’t any legislations related to this potential GDI issue. Certainly, the new engine has a more effective filter to counteract dangerous particle emissions.
What engines does the 2024 Tacoma have?
The 2024 Toyota Tacoma kicks things off with a standard 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine with 228 hp and 248 lb-ft of torque. It’s paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission.
This is an exciting increase over the 2023 Tacoma with its standard 2.7-liter four-cylinder engine with 157 hp and 180 lb-ft of torque.
Upgrade to the six-speed manual transmission for 270 hp and 310 lb-ft of torque. Higher trim levels with the automatic transmission get 278 hp and 265 lb-ft of torque. The outgoing V6 engine has 278 hp and 265 lb-ft of torque.
Also, the 2024 Tacoma Hybrid pairs the same turbocharged engine. This pairs with a 1.87-kWh battery pack and an electric motor to generate 326 hp and 465 lb-ft of torque.
How many MPG does the 2024 Tacoma get?
The official fuel rating for the 2024 Toyota Tacoma hasn’t been released yet. The 2023 Toyota Tacoma gets an EPA-estimated 18 mpg in the city and up to 22 mpg on the highway. The 2024 model is expected to be more efficient thanks to the GDI engine upgrades and hybrid power.
The i-FORCE Max Tacoma shares the same hybrid engine as the Lexus RX. That engine is 29% more efficient than the gas-powered model. Older rumors suggest that the Tacoma Hybrid is aiming for about 38 mpg.
As we get closer to the ordering banks opening up, we should receive the Tacoma’s official fuel economy rating and prices. The gas-powered models are expected to arrive at dealerships by the fall. But the hybrid variants will follow in the spring.
It’s often hard to follow exactly what’s going on in the automotive world. In some cases, it feels like there’s no reliable evidence to go on. Stay tuned for updates, and watch out for wild rumors like the Tacoma causing cancer.
