2019 tundra 38 gallon tank.

Seeing if anybody else has the same issue or maybe I’m just overthinking it. I have a 2019 tundra with a 38 gallon tank. I’ll get the 50 mile till empty notice and then I’ll keep driving until my fuel light comes on. I don’t rush to the gas station, but I make my way there. I have yet to put over 32 gallons in my tank. Is this normal to have 6 gallons in reserve? Seems like it should be closer to two or three.

 

Yes, I have same thing happen. I spoke to Toyota mechanic and they keep that reserve to avoid the fuel pump from burning out. Totally normal.

you could go past it, but it’s a huge tank and needs that reserve to avoid damaging the pump.

 

Totally normal.

Toyota has a 6 gallon or so ‘reserve’ when the light turns on - I’d suppose it is to keep the pump cool and keep the user from running it completely dry. Being that the bottom of the tank is fairly flat, 6 gallons equates to 2 inches of fuel or so. The smaller 26 gallon tank has had 6 gallon reserve since 2007.

And in case you are curious, the 26 gallon tank actually does take 26 gallons of you run it fumes… The 38 gallon tank should also be 38 gallons. I don’t advise trying it for yourself, but take my word on that... I tried it. Once. Ha.

 

My Tundra has a 26 gallon tank and I hate having such a small tank! I wish it had came with the 38 gallon tank.

 

You can change that for a few bucks and some elbow grease…

 

The tundra tank is shallow and wide, it's not skinny and deep. 5 gallons is not that deep in the tank, pushing yourself more is a risk.

Totally agree it's dumb and they should have just called it a 33 gallon tank and non of us would have said shit when we only put in 31-32 after the lights been on. But its a little late for anything to change unless you fully change the tank to go larger, but again it will be roughly the same design so you will still fill up about 5 gallons under it's max.

 

Really, I heard it was a very expensive process and took a lot of work?

 

My light comes on when there is 8 gallons left

using the scanguage 3

half tank mark is 15 gallons

fill up before the light comes on

 

I've owned multiple Toyota over the years. It seems like they plan on you having roughly 100 miles of fuel left when the light comes on. My 4Runner had about 4.5 gallons, my wife's Rav4 3 gallons and my Tundra 6 gallons. All equal 90-100 miles average.

 

Like I said - for a few bucks and some elbow grease…

You can use factory parts and they will bolt right in. The only things you will need to sort out are the additional (front) crossmember and the parking brake lines. The lines will need to be moved/modified to fit the crossmember, and the crossmember will need to be snook into place and secured. IIRC, frames from ‘15 or or ‘16 on up have some provisions for the crossmember while older trucks do not.

 

So does mine, I find it sufficient. There's still 1/4 left on the gauge at around 340 miles.

 

Likely '16 and up because that was when the bigger tank was added to the Tundras.

 

That sound right. I couldn’t remember what year exactly it was added but knew I was in the ballpark.

 

Thanks Blenton, I will be looking at doing this after I get some stuff done to my son's truck. Doesn't sounds too bad actually!

 

Check out this thread - it's for a 2007, but should be fairly similar for your '14.

https://www.tundras.com/threads/07-14-38-gallon-tank-swap-install-thread.27144/#post-656378

 

Thanks Catus!

 

I never get 300 miles out of my 26 gal tank. I average maybe 12.5 mpg though. You must be driving nice to be getting 350+ per tank.

 

There's a fuel light?

 

Well a check light for low fuel once you get to a specific fuel level. It illuminates on the dash.

 

I was surprised to find the same thing the other day. Drove to "0" miles left and only took 32 gallons. I can understand leaving some room to spare but 6 gallons is a lot.

 

It’s a huge tank and generally flat, 6 gallons only covers the bottom by a couple inches or more. It’s to really ensure the fuel pump is not damaged. You can go past it, but I wouldn’t advise it haha.

 

Every car I've had with the pump in the tank was sufficiently baffled that it wouldn't be an issue. I don't condone running it to empty but it's just weird that you have about 1/6 of a tank still.

 

Another point - if you are towing and getting 10 MPGish... you have 60 miles to dead empty. Most places are 40 miles or less between gas stations. Most... but definitely not all...

The only time I've personally killed a fuel pump was on an explorer that I drove 20 miles past the fuel light on a hot summers day. So I view it as a forethought on Toyota's behalf to do us a solid favor, instead of an annoying quirk. I'd rather be annoyed by a premature light on the dash than stranded in the middle of nowhere, out of gas or with a dead pump. But that's me.

 

A few gallons in a big tank is almost nothing at one end when going up or down inclines.

 

I think it’s a testimony to Toyota and their overbuild quality. I love my 38 gallon tank, I generally get 600 miles on the hwy. Especially if I am not using the AC and going the speed limit hahah.

 

I would absolutely love that! Just fill it up all the way and drive forever. It feels like I have to fill up once a week and with the gas stations here in Wichita, KS ...they are always packed for the good stations that have good gas.

 

Yep, so have I. Lol

 

When your remaining fuel volume drops to a size of compact car it lights up, you know.

 

The concept of "burning up" a submerged fuel pump when the tank is almost empty rather scares me. If the idea is that the fuel pump needs plenty of gasoline to cool it and without that coolant it gets hot and fails due to overheating while surrounded by potentially explosive gas vapor?

Does anyone else see the problem in this plan?

 

yes.

the remedy is to fill at or before the little yellow light.


lather in a supercharger to this equation...and you have the makin's of a full hootenanny.


I refill at 19 gallons. which is that line below half tank.

because.