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2016 Tundra w/ 38 gallon gas tank question....

Discussion in '2.5 Gen Tundras (2014-2021)' started by thumphrey, Jan 8, 2016.

  1. Jan 8, 2016 at 8:04 PM
    #1
    thumphrey

    thumphrey [OP] New Member

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    Got my 2016 Tundra Limited last week. One of the best things about getting this truck was the 38 gallon gas tank. Today was my second fillup, Monday, the 4th was my first. The fuel warning light came on on both occasions. When I filled up on Monday, it said I had 11 miles till empty. When I filled it, it only took 31 gallons to top it off. Today, it said I had 30 miles till empty. When I topped it off, it only took 30 gallons.

    What's up? Have I got a dented tank? Is there a reserve tank I don't know about? Am I the only one with this experience? I had a 2014 Sequoia before this Tundra. It's gas tank was pitifully small for the amount of driving I do. The gas warning light would come on and I rarely put in more than 21 gallons in it. Does Toyota take pains to make you think you are fixing to run out of gas, but there is still plenty left?

    Any insight would be appreciated......
     
  2. Jan 8, 2016 at 8:45 PM
    #2
    Black Wolf

    Black Wolf Bigfoot Hunter, Sasquatch too, but not Yeti

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    I know that when my fuel warning light comes on, I have at least 6 gallons left on my 07. Not necessarily a bad thing. Most of the time I refuel at 1/2 a tank and even then it may only take 9 or 10 gallons to fill up. (26 gal) Go figure.:homer: Could be worse I guess. Maybe @LOTSOFTOYS has some insite on this.
     
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  3. Jan 8, 2016 at 8:48 PM
    #3
    LOTSOFTOYS

    LOTSOFTOYS Toyota Whisperer

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    I don't have experience yet with this new fuel tank.... does the owners manual describe it?
     
  4. Jan 8, 2016 at 8:54 PM
    #4
    thumphrey

    thumphrey [OP] New Member

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    Haven't checked the manual......yet. Thanks for posting!
     
  5. Jan 8, 2016 at 9:21 PM
    #5
    T-Rex266

    T-Rex266 Elon approved Staff Member

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    It's your reserve tank I'm betting. Also, if you look at "miles to empty" you'll see that'll change some too based on your driving habits.
     
  6. Jan 8, 2016 at 9:21 PM
    #6
    csuviper

    csuviper Moderator Staff Member

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    All those with the 26 gallon tank have the same results. It's a good way for the company to ensure toyotas don't end up on the side of the road because they ran out of gas. Bad PR if people think they broke down.
     
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  7. Jan 8, 2016 at 10:55 PM
    #7
    jlee

    jlee New Member Vendor

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    Oh one or two.
    I see this as well with the 38 gal tank. I tested it out and drove it to 0 miles on the Hud and then some it only took 33 gallons to fill it back up. I'm sure it's a failsafe to keep the pump submerged.
     
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  8. Jan 9, 2016 at 3:56 AM
    #8
    AMRE2ME2

    AMRE2ME2 New Member

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    I have the 38 gal. tank and when the light goes on, it takes about 30 gal. to fill up. Only done it once just to see how much it would take. I used to haul an extra 10 gallons with me in my old truck because I hunt in some remote areas without a gas station anywhere. Don't mess with that anymore.
     
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  9. Feb 19, 2016 at 3:14 PM
    #9
    JoaquinDeD

    JoaquinDeD New Member

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    I have the 2016 "1794" edition and waited for the low fuel warning light to come on, which displayed 26 miles to go. Filled up with 30.4 gallons. Called the service department, took it in and they verified it was a 38 gallon fuel tank, with what the service representative said was a 4 gallon reserve tank to keep the pump submerged. Not really 38 usable gallons of fuel, unless you want to fry the pump because it's dry of fuel. A selling point to say it has a 38 gallon fuel tank, which was one of the main reasons I purchased it. Nowhere in the Toyota manual does it state what the reserve capacity is.
     
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  10. Feb 19, 2016 at 3:35 PM
    #10
    ToyotaTundraMike

    ToyotaTundraMike Not A New Member

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    Was wondering why I can never put more than 21 gallons in my "26 gallon" tank.
     
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  11. Feb 19, 2016 at 5:10 PM
    #11
    Black Wolf

    Black Wolf Bigfoot Hunter, Sasquatch too, but not Yeti

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    Not exactly a bad thing. Better than having the low fuel light come on and you run out of gas 10 miles later and you have 40 more miles to go. I've never let my truck get below 1/4 tank anyways.
     
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  12. Feb 19, 2016 at 5:51 PM
    #12
    MotoTundra

    MotoTundra The Ocho

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    I wonder if other manufacturers design their tanks with a built in reserve and advertise the same way. I don't know enough about the design of the tank to know when the pump would start giving problems, but it is still better than the size of the tank on my 14'.
     
  13. Feb 19, 2016 at 6:01 PM
    #13
    Black Wolf

    Black Wolf Bigfoot Hunter, Sasquatch too, but not Yeti

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    There is no reserve tank. When the fuel level gets to a certain point, (6 gals on my 07) the light comes on. 60 more miles at least for me.
     
  14. Mar 18, 2016 at 2:16 AM
    #14
    astro-jason

    astro-jason New Member

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    They are using the fuel to keep the fuel pump cool which is a very good idea. GM's are notorious for cooking fuel pumps it is the unwritten rule not to run any lower than a 1/4 tank with them. Basically whats happening the fuel pump gets warm because is not submerged in fuel, you stop and fill it up and you "shock/freeze" the pump with cold fuel and it quits working. Now you have a full tank of fuel you have to wrestle to get to the pump.

    So Toyota is preventing this scenario by manipulating the distance to empty to keep customers happy and on the road.

    Hope this makes sense.

    Jason
     
  15. Mar 18, 2016 at 2:46 PM
    #15
    Tracker

    Tracker New Member

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    I wonder how many gallons the 38 tank will actually expend until the truck shuts off.
     
  16. Mar 18, 2016 at 3:10 PM
    #16
    csuviper

    csuviper Moderator Staff Member

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    I'm thinking the PR person is happy with this to keep Toyota's from being on the side of the road.
     
  17. Mar 19, 2016 at 10:56 AM
    #17
    tacouser

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    There is at least one person on this site that has a after market 46 gal tank. I would be interested as to when his tank shows empty.
     
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  18. Mar 19, 2016 at 11:47 AM
    #18
    mdavis

    mdavis I need a beer.

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  19. Apr 5, 2016 at 9:31 PM
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    Airbagged

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    I have the 46 tank, at what would be a 1/4 tank I'm still left with about 15 gallon. When it's near empty lights coming on there's about 5 gallons in the tank
     
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  20. Apr 5, 2016 at 10:24 PM
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    Red Freighter

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    I must be the only one that thinks this is totality stupid to have a fuel tank that you must keep 4,5 or 6 gallons in the tank to cool the fuel pump. If this is their solution To cool the fuel pump think of the added weight. Make a fuel pump for the exterior of the tank with cooling fins or dozens of other solutions. They should be honest and call it a 23 gallon tank or a 33 gallon tank. If I ever buy a new Tundra and while it under warranty I'm running it out of gas every time just to test everybody's theory. Better yet if it burns up imagine the pr guys thoughts. Tundras blowing up because you ran out of gas. Sounds like a big lawsuit.
     
    Last edited: Apr 6, 2016
  21. Apr 6, 2016 at 5:40 AM
    #21
    Netmonkey

    Netmonkey Don't be a Dumbass

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    I have a new 2016 with the 38 gallon tank. yes, on the first tank, the "miles to empty" screen was way off. As I have filled up more tanks, it is getting closer and closer to the correct miles. I always use the trip odometer to track how many miles I have left on a tank and manually calculate the mpg after each fill up. when the low fuel light comes on, I have 8 gallons left. this has been consistent on each tank.
     
  22. Apr 6, 2016 at 7:51 AM
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    mdavis

    mdavis I need a beer.

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    What the hell does it matter for? Come on, the same amount of fuel gets burnt either way. Live with it or buy another brand.
     
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  23. Apr 6, 2016 at 8:05 AM
    #23
    jlee

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    Oh one or two.
    I think the main concern is dumping cold fuel into the tank with a hot pump burning up the pump. I normally fill up around 1/4 tank but I know that if I'm in a bind I still have over 6 gallons after my light comes one I'll just be sure to let the pump cool a little before I refuel when I get to the station.

    I've been tempted to bring 10 gallons on a trip and run it to a sputter to see how far it will go after the light comes on just to see if the pickup will take the rest that's in the tank.
     
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  24. Apr 6, 2016 at 8:32 AM
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    Krazie Sj

    Krazie Sj Resident Jackass

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    As a Tacoma with a 21 Gallon tank I've put 20.5 gallons in mine before. Light comes on with 4 gallons left. My needle can bury into the "E" and I've still got a few Pints left. You also have to consider that the pump in the tank as well is going to eat into volume restate and you also have the fill tube as well as the entire fuel line that is going to hold some fuel as well. Probably not a gallons worth, but still, if we're going to nickel and dime the shit out of this, let's go for broke.
     
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  25. Apr 6, 2016 at 9:04 AM
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    joonbug

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    Yeah it's kinda stupid. But I'm sure the pump doesn't require all 6 gallons to cool it. Probably more like 3. Just think of it as a 3 gallon reserve tank. Then you're really only carrying around an extra 3 gallons which only weighs 18 lbs.
     
  26. Apr 6, 2016 at 9:30 AM
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    Krazie Sj

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    The pump sits vertically. You'll find a few gallons barely gives you an inch or two off the base of the tank. An inch will cool the filter sock and not much else...
     
  27. May 11, 2016 at 5:24 PM
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    manfang

    manfang New Member

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    I was curious about this so I used a techstream to check the actual fuel level in the tank. When you run the tank down to 0 DTE the analog gauge will show E, and techstream will show 4gal. If you then fill it mine took 31 gallons (as measured on the pump) and showed 35 on the techstream. If you step through the diagnostics on the fuel gauge there is an Empty (which maps to the DTE = 0) and a sender unit empty which is even lower on the needle. That would appear to be the 4 gallons that are required to keep the pump cool.

    But it also appears that either 3 gallons of the tank 38 gallon tank are unusable, or the gauge also has a 3 gallon offset which is either a software bug or a calibration issue.

    Has anyone else hooked up a techstream and seen if they can register more than 35 gallons in the 38 gallon tank?
     
  28. May 13, 2016 at 10:48 PM
    #28
    alalmcgrath

    alalmcgrath Old Fart at Large!

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    I have read in more than one technical article that keeping the fuel pump submerged to keep it cool is an old wives tale.
    Think about it, the minute that you run out of fuel you will lose fuel pressure and the engine will die.

    I don't know about Toyotas but The postal vehicles (with S10 chassis and motors) would immediately turn off the fuel pump because loss of oil pressure opens a switch in fuel system.
     
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  29. May 14, 2016 at 1:19 PM
    #29
    ColoradoTJ

    ColoradoTJ Certified tow LEO Staff Member

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    Having a reserve is a good thing. When you start towing and get 9.5 mpg, this will be a mute point. I have to carry no less than two 5 gallon jerry cans with me when towing to some remote locations. Normally I carry 4 cans.

    Two things I can't stand about my Tundra:

    Small fuel tank. However this has been resolved with the 2016 trucks.

    No limited slip/locker for the rear axle and the traction control is way sensitive.
     
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  30. May 14, 2016 at 1:40 PM
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    V8sOnly

    V8sOnly New Member

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    Most vehicles cannot use all their fuel.
    In aviation there are always two fuel capacities listed.
    Amount of fuel each tank can hold, and actually useable fuel.
    So it is common to read in the POH (Pilot Operating Handbook) something like Left tank capacity 30 gallons, 25 useable. Right tank capacity 30 gallons, 25 gallons useable. Very simply its basically impossible to use every last gallon in a tank. From a family of Automotive mechanics (Dad, Brother, Uncles ), they say its not really an issue of keeping the pump cool. The fuel passing thru it is what actually cools the pump, not the immersion of the pump. The last vehicle gas tank i looked inside (Honda Accord ) the pump was at the top of the tank and just the fuel pickup tube and filter were low down in the tank. The pump would have been completely above the level of the gasoline by the time it was down maybe 40% from full or less.
    Yes, I am a woman who works on things, and rides and races motocross bikes, and jet boats. I help my employer work on everything from his stunt plane, to his 1/4 mile car, or yacht. My job is pretty much the best job in the world.
    He and I both are unhappy with the reliability of my current 2015 GMC pickup. So he told me to find a new truck I like, and order it. Technically its my company vehicle, and not mine. But I will be the primary driver.
     
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