Is the 4.6 V8 over rated?

[pusaterkm]

Do you think that Hyundai over rated the output of the 4.6 V8? I have the 2011 4.6 rated at 385HP on premium, which is what I put in the tank. Only engine modification is a K&N filter. There are times when it just doesn’t feel like a 385HP car. I traded in a 2006 Avalon with a 3.5 V6 rated at 268HP. When I went car shopping I was playing a lot of Gran Tourismo 5 on PS3 so I was looking for more performance than what another Avalon could offer on paper. So the 4.6 Genny on paper looked to be a big performance improvement. I am just not sure that I got the performance that was promised. There are times when the Genny doesn’t feel that much faster than the Toyota did. Now I have seen dyno results that list the HP at less than 300, seen 0-60 and ¼ times that are less than what Hyundai stated and I have also seen cars of similar weight and class outperform the Genny . Did Hyundai inflate the performance specs and HP rating on this car? I still love the car, and some partial to full throttle runs make me feel like it is a high performance car and other times…not so much. When getting onto an expressway yesterday there was an Avalon in front of me that took off, I had to go full throttle to keep up. It is moments like that they make me wonder. But then, the TAU is on Wards ten best list, Consumer Reports loves the Genny and yadayadayada…I don’t know what to think.
This makes me want to do stupid things like buy Dura Lube and magic horse power chips that I know won’t work.

 

[scottdk]

Something to consider is a car will perform differently due to temp, road conditions, etc. etc. I know what you mean that some days it feels fast, and other days it isn't running is fast. The hotter it is, the worse the car will perform except for traction. Cold air is dense air and packs a punch, which I can def notice at night now that the temp goes down around 50 degrees. Where are you seeing your HP figure below 300hp? Keep in mind car manufacturers rate the HP and TQ at the crank, and other reports such as dyno reports measure the power at the wheels after the driveline sucks aways some of the power.

 

[ImInPA]

To answer the OPs question. NO. THe Tau 4.6 is not overrated. The actual "power" you feel when accelerating is not from the hp but rather the torque and gearing. You cannot compare this across different cars. Rest assured you got exactly what you paid for in the engine department. The Tau is a sweet engine.

 

[Gambler]

Also Hyundai limits engine power at times to protect the drivetrain. There was a video on YouTube (can't find it now) of someone on here pulling their TC fuse and leaving black strips on the pavement.

Edit: I think it was Ping, but he seems to have pulled his videos since he left

 

[yuhaze]

NO!!!!

 

[nextcar]

Do you think that Hyundai over rated the output of the 4.6 V8? I have the 2011 4.6 rated at 385HP on premium, which is what I put in the tank. Only engine modification is a K&N filter. There are times when it just doesn’t feel like a 385HP car. I traded in a 2006 Avalon with a 3.5 V6 rated at 268HP. When I went car shopping I was playing a lot of Gran Tourismo 5 on PS3 so I was looking for more performance than what another Avalon could offer on paper. So the 4.6 Genny on paper looked to be a big performance improvement. I am just not sure that I got the performance that was promised. There are times when the Genny doesn’t feel that much faster than the Toyota did. Now I have seen dyno results that list the HP at less than 300, seen 0-60 and ¼ times that are less than what Hyundai stated and I have also seen cars of similar weight and class outperform the Genny . Did Hyundai inflate the performance specs and HP rating on this car? I still love the car, and some partial to full throttle runs make me feel like it is a high performance car and other times…not so much. When getting onto an expressway yesterday there was an Avalon in front of me that took off, I had to go full throttle to keep up. It is moments like that they make me wonder. But then, the TAU is on Wards ten best list, Consumer Reports loves the Genny and yadayadayada…I don’t know what to think.
This makes me want to do stupid things like buy Dura Lube and magic horse power chips that I know won’t work.

i think the advertised HP is probably accurate but keep in mind that it's only the peak HP at a given RPM. what determines acceleration times is the area under the curve for the HP and torque.

other reasons for why we no longer think the 4.6 is so potent:

1. the engine and exhaust are so quiet that you don't get the additional sensory input.

2. we've gotten used to the power. go drive a honda civic, then step back into your genny, and you will be reminded of how powerful it is.

 

[kayroe]

My wife owns a 2007 RAV4 V6 version, and it has a 0-60 of about 6.4 seconds. This is the same engine that is in the Avalon. My 4.6 will smoke that RAV4 every time. I think that when you drive a powerful car on a daily basis, you get used to it and therefore after a while it just doesn't feel as quick as it used to. Car makers know this, hence the Genesis 5.0. Buy one and a year or two later, the 5.0 won't feel that fast either.

 

[pusaterkm]

Lot of valid points and theories here. Good discussion and food for thought. Thanks.

 

[Mark_888]

Lot of valid points and theories here. Good discussion and food for thought. Thanks.

If I were you, I would ditch the K&N filter. Maybe messing up the engine computer.

 

[scottdk]

If I were you, I would ditch the K&N filter. Maybe messing up the engine computer.

I 2nd that statement.

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[yuhaze]

K&N filter is fine in my opinion - I have one, and love it.

I think what is more important is the fact the the Genny learns your driving style.
When I first got mine, I too, was unimpressed with performance. That changed very quickly when I started applying my "aggressive" driving style; the Genny got the hint and changed its attitude.....