38 Gallon Gas Tank Question

So the other day, I'm driving and finally decided to get fuel. The needle was at the E. I found this odd because I expected a warning light well before I got there. Filled the tank up and it took about 31 gallons of fuel.

I'm not trying to bring up the touchy subject of "it says you have a 38 gallon tank but really you don't" which in this case would point to I do. But has anyone seen this? Is this worthy of bringing to the dealer? Getting a gas can and bringing it with so I can reproduce and run into the dealer with fumes.

Just wondering.

2018 Toyota Tundra 5.7 FFV SR5 TRD OffRoad pkg.

 

Yes, it's a known. Not unique to 38 gal either. Search "38 Gallon" for lots of details on here.

 

there is a large reserve in the 38 gal tank

 

OK good to know! Thank you!

 

Yup, very large reserve. My car said I had around 20 miles left on a recent trip, which should have left me in needing at minimum 35 gallons. I stopped at a gas station and the truck filled up with 30 gallons.

 

Do all new Tundras have the 38 gallon gas tanks ? Thanks. D

 

No. Certain packages.

 

When my gas light comes on I know I have around 7 gallons left in the tank....and at 12.8mpg I can find a gas station within 89 miles.

 

When my fuel light comes on I hit the Trip A reset button. Once I get over 60 miles, I start to think about getting gas. The most I've ever been able to put in is 34 gallons. That means I still had 4 gallons of reserve.

 

I believe you have to bump up to an SR5 upgrade and have the 5.7L option, and it has to be a 2016 or newer. My sister has a 2017 SR5 upgrade 2wd and she only has a 26 gallon tank. My dad has a 2014 limited TRD with the 26 gallon as well.

 

Don't know what I'd do with a 26 gal tank............

 

That is odd maybe the 2wd SR5 upgrade package only have the 26 gallon tank my 18 SR5 Upgrade has the 38 gallon tank but mine is a 4x4.

 

As others said, there is 4-6 gallons remaining when on E to keep the fuel pumps from not being submerged with fuel and starving it/overheat

 

Are you sure she has the upgrade package? Does she have a column shift?

 

Negative, I got SR5 2wd and I have the 38gal tank. Wonder if it's motor size that gets the big tank, I got the 5.7.

 

It HAS TO have a large reserve. The width and breadth of stupid in our society, along with their lawyers, is almost incalculable.

 

I also find it kind of odd that the low fuel light doesn't come on until "miles remaining" is practically at 0. If they want you to fill up before you dip into the 10 gallons of "reserve" (I won't even get into that whole thing) it seems like the low fuel light would come on with around 20 miles remaining.

 

I've speculated that perhaps they expanded the volume of the tank by enlarging the length or width without changing the depth of the design and without revising where the sensor is located in the tank. Thus the volume of reserve of the 38gal is so much greater but the sensor still picks up the "level" of fluid at the same depth as the smaller tanks. Not even sure how the sensor works on these nor if that's a plausible theory.

 

acording to the manual the "low fuel indicater light" or the icon looking like a gas pump coms on when there is 5.7 galons left.

 

I have the SR5 upgraded 38 gal fuel tank. I've filled up from 1/4 of a tank and only was able to squeeze in about 26-28 gal..

 

For me, it is 8 gallons remaining almost always, regardless of recent miles/gallon readings. At a minumum of 10 miles/gallon remaining, I can go a long way, so I am good regardless of the wife's panic look and fidgeting.

 

If I fill up right when mine says it's at 0 miles left I can put in 30 gallons. I generally figure I have about 80 miles left when it hits 0 miles left. Just filled up today after driving on E for a while and got a little over 32 gallons in.

I try not to take it too far past 0 as I've read here that the reserve also cools the fuel pump and the shock of fresh cool fuel on a hot pump can shorten its lifespan. But I don't worry about going a little over from time to time.

 

My 2018 SR5 5.7L NON Flex Fuel 4WD
does NOT have the large fuel tank. is is a 26 gallon

 

Yeah 38 gallon tank is on the SR5 UPgrade and higher packages/trim levels.

 

Ya could be the fact you went 4x4.

 

I think it has to do with what other packages are part of the sale. I have an 18 SR5 DC 4x4 and it has a 26 gal... It has bench seats, not really too many upgrades from there. Maybe some of the higher end packages add the 38 gal tank

 

Here’s where it showed up on my window sticker; SP- the SR5 Upgrade Package.

 

Wow. That's the most gas I've seen put back in. How far did you drive it past the "0" mark?