32.2 gal fuel tank...are we sure about that?

I've only filled up by gas tank twice since I got the truck. But, each time, I've driven it down until the computer says I got less than 50 miles left, and of those two fillups I was able to put in 24.2 and 26.5 gallons.

What's the deal with the other 8 gallons? Is my computer broken? Did the previous owner remove the stock gas tank and replace it with a smaller one?

 

There’s about 6 gallons of reserve capacity not accounted for in the MTE calculation. There’s been a fair amount of griping about this feature/bug.

 

I think one member drove something like 120 miles after the MTE indicator said he was empty. So, the 6 gallons of reserve capacity sounds about right.

 

The reserve is a designed to keep the in tank fuel pump cooled... same for My 2021 38gal tank.

 

There has to be about 15 of these threads for all generations of tundras lol

Toyota has huge reserve , think towing getting 7-8 , then you at least have some to get somewhere when the light comes on

other than that, drive the truck and enjoy it

 

Just about every Toyota forum has people asking same question about tank size across all models.

It's just a Toyota thing with having a reserve.

 

haha that’s wild. Had no idea it wasn’t included in the MTE calculation.

 

Great use of the word. Reminds me of some of my favorite comfort TV

 

Welcome to the forum @Big Sexy
I can only put 21 gals in my 26-gal tank on E.

Just for you Sexy, my full avatar....

 

Good ol Remy

 

best post you’ve had in a while, ha!

 

It’s not just Toyota .

 

I’ve run my MTE to zero twice and put 32 gallons even both times. I should have taken a picture.

 

So about 3 times now I have gotten the low fuel warning and it took 28+ gallons. Mine used to yell at me at about 26 gallons so something is changing

 

I think you have the 38 gal tank.

 

Toyota always had huge reserves for the gas tank. I filled up to about 28 gal one time after driving on E for a while just to test

 

Heads up you will need a scan tool to take the truck out of limp mode if you run out of gas. Ask me how i know

 

As Lovetrucks stated, other manufacturers do the same thing. My 2019 Superduty Powerstroke had a 34 gal tank and could run 30 miles past 0 DTE and still only take 30 gal. It is about keeping the fuel pump cool. Running out of fuel with a diesel is a significant issue, so Fords use a large reserve.

 

Can't. Stop. Watching.

 

30 miles I would appreciate. I should give me from any campsite to a decently trafficked road.

180 mi is absolutely insane. That would get me to a whole other city.

 

2.5 Gen Pro owner here - I refuel at 1/2 tank to keep the sticker shock and blood pressure down.

 

It's not really about reserve or cooling the fuel pump or any of those things going around.
It's just simple physics due to the shape of the tank. Go lay under your truck and look at the tank; it's about 6' long. Now lower the front or back just a few inches like driving uphill or downhill. Assuming that the fuel pump is in the middle of the tank, there is your 6 gallons at the end of the tank, out of reach for the pump, so they have to gauge it accordingly.

 

I have heard this for decades, never let you gas fall below 1/4 tank or your fuel pump will run hot and burn up

 

The smaller sr fuel tank of 22.5 the low fuel light comes on if you run it to zero miles remaining takes 18.5-18.8 gallons to fill so about 4 gallon reserve. The bigger 32 gallon is likely 5-6ish gallons if you run to showing zero miles. Toyota is conservative with the fuel capacity so we don’t run the fuel pump dry.