Engine Hesitation

Hi and thanks for letting me join this forum.

I recently bought a 2009 Tundra TRD with towing package (automatic transmission). I'm concerned because the engine hesitates while driving on the highway. At speeds of between 60 - 80 MPH you can feel it hesitate. Sometimes when you give it more gas it goes back to normal, smooth acceleration, sometimes not. My husband feels the hesitation has gotten a bit worse since we bought the truck a month ago.

I asked the Toyota dealer we bought it from and a reputable Toyota mechanic. They both said what we were feeling was normal and nothing was wrong with the engine. But I don't know if they actually took the truck out on the highway to test it.

I've driven Toyotas all my life - but never an automatic transmission, and never a big one like our Tundra. Is this hesitation normal for automatic transmission?
Thanks!

 

I would start by cleaning the throttle body and mass airflow sensor, check spark plugs. How many miles are on the truck?

 

Thanks to you both. The truck has 168,000 miles on it. We need to use it today to drive about 300 miles. So I can't check the things you suggested today, Nm6300. But just a few days ago we had a certified Toyota technician check the whole vehicle. Would those have been checked at the time?

We probably can use the Sea Foam, NewImprovedR. What is it? Can we buy it at a gas station? And do we just add it to the fuel tank?
Thanks again.

 

Might be time to change out spark plugs, fuel filter, & air filter as well.

Seafoam can be bought at Walmart or any car parts store. The ratio is one ounce per gallon of fuel. Yes, just pour it into the gas tank.

 

OK! Thanks so much. We'll take your advise and check on all of it.

 

We got the Sea Foam and it seems to have helped. Thanks to everyone who replied. Tomorrow I'll have another (possibly more challenging) question for you