38 Gal tank experiences....

You have to replace a fuel pump that overheated and died prematurely to learn how important is it to have enough fuel in the tank.

 

Ahem.

All this howling about "I can't use all my fuel!" is completely absurd to me. Am I the only person that grew up having it drilled into me to fill up at a half tank whenever possible and that I better never let it go below a quarter? Where does this obsession with running all the way down and then complaining that you didn't burn every drop come from?

 

No I don't but my wife might.

 

running out of fuel....

I told my kids if it ever happens to them....don't call me.

I can't fix/help stupid.

 

Stop making sense. There’s no time for that.

 

My wife yells at me all the time for applying logic.

 

"Are you making it up again?"

 

Followed by her own googling just to realize I was right lol

 

We just got a 2016 tundra. I researched here what people were experiencing with low fuel. Then I tested it for myself. It’s not that i always want to run the car to it’s furthest all the time. It’s simply for safety and peace of mind knowing when we are on long trip’s especially in remote areas. My second fill up I drove till 0 miles to empty. Set the trip odometer to zero. Went 71 miles, then filled up. The truck took 35 gallons. Now I have a good baseline for our tundra.

 

That is very smart.

 

Showed this to my wife of 17 years. She thought I was crazy to suggest such. I AM NOT ALONE!

THANK YOU!!!

On-topic: I normally fill at 3/8 or so, 20-22 gallons. I've pushed it to warning light and pumped almost 31 twice.

 

Some of us use our trucks very little and don’t want gas in the tank getting old.

 

Leaving very little in the tank is worse that leaving it full. Especially if you use ethanol fuel. Add a stabilizer if you leave it sit, but keep it full. Less space for condensation that will lead to corrosion.

 

Thanks for the reminder.

I’ve thought of that, but never cared much. Maybe I should.

I keep it almost empty. Drive it twice per month for a short 6 mile freeway trip. Put in a few gallons once per month and use Lucas fuel saver as a stabilizer and injector cleaner.

Not sure if the product does anything, but it’s what I used for 23 years in my 97 taco with no known issues. Same driving schedule.

Dry California climate. Plastic tank.

Keeping a full tank would be good for emergencies. And now you got me thinking about corrosion.

Hmm…

 

Can't take that on camping road trips.

road trips | Flickr

 

If you can, get it out and stretch it's legs once a week to get it fully up to temp (not just the temp gauge). You have to get everything hot enough to cook off the water/condensation in the engine and transmission.

 

Well, that doesn’t sound like a tough assignment.

It’s always a joy to get out of the Prius and into the truck.

 

I'd also cycle through the 4wd (if applicable)

 

Indeed. I make sure to do that about every month.

On a long straight road, taking no turns on the dry pavement.

Must avoid binding.

 

Hi everyone with a 2.5 generation Tundra with a 38 gallon tank. My truck is a 2021 I just bought with 22,500 miles on it. My question was why hasn't anyone run one of these tanks dry? The answer is that it takes time and could be problematic depending where the pump goes dry.

I took the challenge and here are the results!

When the low fuel light went on I set my trip odometer to 0 miles. When I was near Costco I filled my empty 5 gallon gas can with a measured 5 gallons of gas. I also put my trusty syphone hose in to make the transfer quick and easy once I ran out. It is a 3/4" clear hose and takes very little time to empty a 5 gallon can.

The first 40 miles I drove around town getting about 11 miles to the gallon average. Today I decided it was taking too long so decided to expedite the project. With all of you reporting that it takes 30 +- gallons I figured I should be able to go about 100 miles past the low fuel light getting about 12.5 mpg. to suck that tank dry. I live in Lodi CA and this area is flat farm land. I didn't want to be on a narrow or high traffic road so I stuck to the valley roads through the cherry, pear, almond, walnut and other crops cruising along at 50 - 55 with stop signs every few miles. I drove up past Walnut Grove almost to Sacramento and back all on those minor low traffic roads.

I was wondering if this thing was ever going to run out when it stopped with out warning, shortly after making a left turn on to another road from a stop sign. It didn't so much as hiccup just stopped running. I didn't try to restart I just pulled over and wrote down my mileage, reset the trip odometer and put in the 5 gallons.

I cranked it and it started as though nothing had ever happened. I drove straight to Costco 5.5 miles away and filled it up - - - Drum Roll - - - the filler clicked off at 33.2 then waited 30 seconds and pumped until it stopped again, totaling out at 33.5 gallons of fuel. Plus the 5 gallons I had just put in it minus the 5.5 miles at 11 +- miles per gallon ends up that I put 38 gallons of gas in that tank!

Now I will let you all figure out what happens when climbing up a grade or worse yet once you top the grade and start down the other side with an almost empty fuel tank. I believe it will use up the gas in the tank when traveling on level ground. I believe I have proved that my truck will at least do that but I don't know about yours.

In April took my 2.0 generation 2010 Tundra with a 26.? gallon tank, towing a 25' travel trailer on a 10 western state trip and I had that same gas can full of gas in the back all wrapped up in a black plastic garbage bag so it wouldn't be noticed. I traveled 6,000 miles and didn't ever use that gas, however I did have it there as security. At one gas stop I put in 25.5 gallons of gas!

When I take this truck to Alaska next summer towing my little trailer, I'll have that same gas can in back! Yes, I am happy with my 38 gallon tank. After all it's only money that it takes to fill it right? You all that live outside California have cheap gas, at least that's what they say.

There's my experience for what it is worth. My next challenge is find out where the pump is located in the tank and what type of well or plastic baffles surround the intake sock. With that knowledge other assumptions might be made?

ShopMan2

 

I forgot to state how far I went on my test from the low fuel light coming on. I made it 107 miles to when it ran out. NetMonkey is right on. Of course it depends what mileage you are getting during that period how far you will make it. It seems you can safely assume about 8 gallons useable on flat ground to actually run out.

 

Very nice.


Thank you for running good test for us.

 

Given my average city fuel economy of around 11 MPG, I experienced at least a 52 gallon tank as reported by truck yesterday after adding just 27 gallons till it clicked.



Usually it says "408 miles" for the full tank.

 

I just ran my fuel down to the low fuel light and immediately went and filled the tank. It took 32 gallons so that means I only had 6 gallons left and not 8 as others have experienced! It is a 2021. So there are variables that are at play here. If I was betting on 8 gallons today I would have been in trouble!

 

I hope everyone realizes that the 38 gallon tank is the full calculated volume of an empty tank. Drop the fuel pump/sending unit assembly and and other hardware inside and it will consume some of that 38 gallons.

I will admit that the fuel pump/sending unit assembly will not eat up 5 gallons, but also keep in mind that you will never fully empty a tank. They aren't going to lay the pickup sock on the bottom of the tank to suck up all the sediment and garbage that collects down there.

I did not read through this whole thread and maybe someone already said this but you will very rarely have a fuel tank that will actually pump anywhere near its advertised capacity.

I am appreciative of those who took the sacrifice to run empty and report results. I agree that 50-75 miles is a safe and conservative estimate for reserve past 0 miles to leave yourself some extra room for stupidity and climbing hills.

Also agree that you have no one to blame but yourself if you run empty somewhere. I typically fill up somewhere around 1/4-1/2 tank unless I'm on a long haul drive somewhere and trying to minimize stops and wasted time.

 

Another installment on the 38 gallon tank. It is important for me to know how something is designed and works. Knowing how something works allows me to make judgements about performance and functionality of say, gas tank capacity / useable fuel amounts! I put my '21 Crewmax on the lift the other day and now I know where the tank pick-up is located. I have not removed the tank or removed the pump so cannot describe the actual form of the pick up sock and how close it is to the bottom of the pump "well" in the tank. I can assume the the pump and pick-up sock are located in the center of the tank due to the the tank design visible from under the vehicle. The tank is designed with a channel that allows gas from the back of the tank to flow to the "well" on the passenger side of the well and a channel for the gas to run to the well from the front of the tank located on the drivers side of the well. The well is right in the center of the tank. Now at least I understand why the vehicle can give trouble in inclines if left or driven in that inclined position for some time when the tank is near empty. The tank is very long and on inclines when run very low the remaining gas will flow away from the center and in time will starve the pump! Due to my test I also know that the tank performs as designed and will use the 38 gallons completely when driven on the level until empty. My point was never to tell people to run their tank to empty, but just to understand when and why it will possibly starve the pump when it still has fuel in the tank! I do like my 38 gallon tank over the '10 tundra I had that only carried 26 gallons.

The picture is taken looking towards the front driver side. As one drives with an almost empty tank the remaining gas tends to move forward and back as one starts and stops. That well in the center of the tank tends to trap gas in a small cup in the bottom of the well supplying the pump. If one is on an incline for an amount of time the pump uses up the trapped gas in the cup in the bottom of the well and starves with some gas still in the tank but collected on which ever end you have inclined your truck!

This is, as I expect, way more information than most people care to know!

 

New owner of a used 2020 SR5 4x4 LB here. Acquired it with 27k on it…….within the first 3k I put on it I was curious as well, so I filled it reset the old and ran it down to the light………filled it up and it took 32 gallons…..so I had 6 gallons reserve……I also don’t like to run it down less than half a tank if I can help it……..

Just my experience……

 

38 gallons... I know jealousy isn't a good look but I am jealous.

 

Which tank to I have on my brand new old 2021? The VIN specs say is the small tank but when I purchased the truck tank was full showing me 566 Miles to go. Does it mean I have the 38 gallons tank?