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No Low gas light?

Discussion in '2.5 Gen Tundras (2014-2021)' started by idude00, Feb 29, 2020.

  1. Feb 29, 2020 at 6:09 AM
    #1
    idude00

    idude00 [OP] New Member

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    I have a 2018 Tundra and have notice lately that I don’t have a low gas light. I adjusted my display to miles left, and ran my estimate down to 8 miles, and still no light or indication that I need gas. Has anyone else experienced this?
     
  2. Feb 29, 2020 at 6:21 AM
    #2
    tttrdpro

    tttrdpro Former Naval Person

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    When the hand on the gas gauge gets close to the E, it’s time to get gas. Do you really need a light also?
     
  3. Feb 29, 2020 at 6:42 AM
    #3
    idude00

    idude00 [OP] New Member

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    For clarity, I have a 2017 and a 2018, and my wife drives both. My 2017 has a low gas light and my 2018 does not. I’m posting this question in case it’s a software upgrade that I need to ask for. The answer to your question is yes, can you answer my question?
     
  4. Feb 29, 2020 at 6:43 AM
    #4
    14burrito

    14burrito IG @14burrito

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    How far down have you driven it?

    Once the light comes on there is still a bit of gas left. Maybe you just haven't driven it down to the point the light needs to illuminate.
     
  5. Feb 29, 2020 at 6:46 AM
    #5
    idude00

    idude00 [OP] New Member

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    I’ve taken it down to estimated 8 miles left. My 2017 illuminates around 30.
     
  6. Feb 29, 2020 at 6:47 AM
    #6
    14burrito

    14burrito IG @14burrito

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    Different tanks as well or the same?

    17 a 25 gal and 18 38?
     
  7. Feb 29, 2020 at 6:49 AM
    #7
    idude00

    idude00 [OP] New Member

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    Same 38 gallon tanks. In 2018 Tundra Changed the dash display completely and that is just something I noticed.
     
  8. Feb 29, 2020 at 6:51 AM
    #8
    knoxville36

    knoxville36 New Member

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    The gas light will only come on once you hit "0" for range. I have the 38 gallon tank in my platinum and once the range hits zero and the low fuel warning comes on, you stil have 8 gallons left. I have driven about 30 miles after the warning came on and the most I have ever fit in my truck is 32 gallons.

    Many many threads on here about the reserve and tank size.
     
  9. Feb 29, 2020 at 6:52 AM
    #9
    tttrdpro

    tttrdpro Former Naval Person

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    I meant no offense. Just got home after a long 12 hour night shift. My 2019 does have a low gas light according to the manual, but I would never rely on it. ✌️
     
    idude00[OP] likes this.
  10. Feb 29, 2020 at 6:52 AM
    #10
    KeetAz

    KeetAz New Member

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    My ‘19 never did either. I always thought that was weird. I haven’t taken my ‘20 low enough yet to see if the light comes on. I think I remember reading a thread about this fuel light thing before. Where guys took their trucks in to Toyota and they couldn’t figure it out.
     
  11. Feb 29, 2020 at 6:58 AM
    #11
    Midnite72

    Midnite72 Anything DIRT !!

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    I have seen the low fuel light on my 18 SR one time- try not to let it get that low - more chance of sucking “dirt” into fuel system from bottom of tank - JM2C
     
  12. Feb 29, 2020 at 7:00 AM
    #12
    idude00

    idude00 [OP] New Member

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    Brother I try not to but my wife drives round trip 68 miles per day and sometimes late at night, she won’t refill unless the light comes on.
     
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  13. Feb 29, 2020 at 7:01 AM
    #13
    blackdemon_tt

    blackdemon_tt Battery Slayer

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    If it makes you feel more comfortable fill up and carry a 5 gal jug of fuel and leave it in the bed of the truck and run it down past your estimates as to weigh your estimate vs actual, once your light comes on you can measure your miles and the 5 gal is just in case.
    I ran into this curiosity on my 07 just to see what my reserves were and how far I could go after low fuel light comes on, did it just once. My gauge meter is off now, so I keep a 5 gal jug and cycle it at every fill up and I haven't seen my light in about 2 years.
     
  14. Feb 29, 2020 at 7:03 AM
    #14
    Hostage81

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    You still have 8 gallons left on the 38 tank once the indicator reaches E on the meter. So you're good in terms of getting out of a bind. But I wouldn't make a habit out of it or kiss your fuel filter goodbye and thats dollars out the window for no reason :)
     
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  15. Feb 29, 2020 at 7:06 AM
    #15
    idude00

    idude00 [OP] New Member

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    I don’t think I’m that curious, just trying to establish a baseline between my two trucks, so I can well inform my wife whether or not she “needs” to stop. In my 2017 the light comes on around the 30 mile mark. Apparently the 18+ light comes on after the estimate hits 0.
     
  16. Feb 29, 2020 at 7:11 AM
    #16
    Ericsopa

    Ericsopa Old man and the sea

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    PAY NO ATTENTION TO THE "MILES LEFT" It's bogus!

    Your iight will come on.
     
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  17. Feb 29, 2020 at 7:12 AM
    #17
    tttrdpro

    tttrdpro Former Naval Person

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    According to the manual page 548, if you have the large fuel tank, the light comes on when you have 3.8 gallons or less left in the tank.
     
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  18. Feb 29, 2020 at 7:12 AM
    #18
    blackdemon_tt

    blackdemon_tt Battery Slayer

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    I'm not saying run out of gas, just finding your buffer zone, I lived in the middle of nowhere when I did this, so I still carried one just in case. I've only run out of gas twice in this truck, once when I was testing this out since there was no info on this in 07, and back in 18, when I didn't notice my needle didn't move past the 1/4 tank and I ran out of gas 100 yds from a gas station.
     
  19. Feb 29, 2020 at 7:18 AM
    #19
    idude00

    idude00 [OP] New Member

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    That’s weird that the 17-18 differ so much on that parameter. Maybe not in terms of actual fuel left but the dash indication with regards to the trucks estimated mileage. I’ll just have to tell my wife not to wait on the light in the 18, she likes to push it late at night though.
     
  20. Feb 29, 2020 at 7:23 AM
    #20
    idude00

    idude00 [OP] New Member

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    Well this answers my question. I just hate that the estimate is so different between the dash change in the 14-17 & 18+ models.
     
  21. Feb 29, 2020 at 7:27 AM
    #21
    GODZILLA

    GODZILLA Hail to the King, Baby.

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    You could just do somthing similar to this on the fuel gauge. I'd put it around the halfway point. :devil:

    [​IMG]
     
  22. Feb 29, 2020 at 7:31 AM
    #22
    idude00

    idude00 [OP] New Member

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    My wife would purposefully put the truck at 7000 RPMs and 140MPH just in spite.
     
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  23. Feb 29, 2020 at 8:09 AM
    #23
    Lovetrucks

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    A mechanic friend of mine once told me to not let the gas gauge go below 1/4 tank because the electric fuel pumps actually get cooled by the fuel in the tank ( that was when fuel injection first came out ) . So maybe the manufacturers are making the range lower than actual so there will still be enough fuel in the tank to keep the pump cool . I obviously don’t mean that it’ll heat up enough to cause a fire or anything but heat up enough that the pump doesn’t like it .
     
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  24. Feb 29, 2020 at 5:34 PM
    #24
    MGM2018OR

    MGM2018OR New Member

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    It will only go to 108 MPH. Don’t ask how I know.

    I have an 18 SR5 with a 38 gallon tank. I’ve actually run out of gas and guess how many gallons left I actually have when the light comes on? About 8 . My light comes on around 2 to 4 miles left and so will yours.
     
  25. Feb 29, 2020 at 6:05 PM
    #25
    Hostage81

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    The concept you refer to is accurate; however, there is about 8 gallons remaining once you reach the E mark as many mentioned. The reserve fuel is like a buffer which cools the fuel filter and prevents it from getting damaged. That is why the reserve is so large. For the smaller tank Tundras, I believe its 6 gallons of fuel in the reserve.

    In the summer, I fill up when its gets to E because I know I still have a lot left over. But I’m cognizant of the fuel filter issue and don’t like to push it. But in the winter time, I make a habit of filling it when its at half a tank or a quarter tank at most because its super cold in the winter time and the condensation build up in the tank can mess things up. It’s pretty much -30 here daily in the winter and that’s no joke weather.
     
  26. Mar 1, 2020 at 4:47 PM
    #26
    Midnite72

    Midnite72 Anything DIRT !!

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    Hope the light never burns out - lol
     

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