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38 Gal tank experiences....

Discussion in '2.5 Gen Tundras (2014-2021)' started by KeithM, Mar 19, 2018.

  1. Jan 28, 2021 at 4:28 PM
    #361
    BrakeDust

    BrakeDust New Member

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    On my 2008 with 26gal I knew I had a 60-mile reserve after empty. Thanks to this thread I know my new 38gal also has 60, plus probably another 30 after that.
     
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  2. Jan 28, 2021 at 5:48 PM
    #362
    Infernotundra17

    Infernotundra17 2017 Inferno SR5 Crew Max

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    Got to love the bigger tank,love mine .I drive like my grandmother lol
     
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  3. Jan 28, 2021 at 7:48 PM
    #363
    Astom22

    Astom22 New Member

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    Had a 30.195 gallon fillup today and the low fuel light wasn't even on yet. It was just under the 1/8th of a tank indicator though.
     
  4. Feb 7, 2021 at 7:24 PM
    #364
    TheBubbaDude

    TheBubbaDude New Member

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    The most I've ever put in my 2020 is a little over 32. Pisses me off that I supposedly have a 38 gallon tank but the light comes on and only takes 32. I'm not playing roulette with my gas though LOL
     
  5. Feb 7, 2021 at 7:46 PM
    #365
    lonedrake

    lonedrake New Member

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    I actually like the empty light coming on early. On my 2014 Silverado when the low gas light came on and said I had 75 miles left....I really only had about 45-50. Found out twice the hard way. Both on road trips after midnight. The first time the I barely made it. Ran out as I was getting close to the gas station....put it in neutral...coasted in and made it close to the pump. Had about two inches to spare.

    The 2nd time....I walked a couple of miles....bought a gas can...walked back..put in a gallon and made it to the station
     
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  6. Feb 7, 2021 at 8:10 PM
    #366
    19TurdPro

    19TurdPro New Member

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    It's because your truck can get 7 or 8 MPG while towing. A 2 gallon reserve wouldn't cut it with a 30ft travel trailer behind you.
     
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  7. Feb 7, 2021 at 8:12 PM
    #367
    L_S_SHOE

    L_S_SHOE New Member

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    Wait, why’s this a thread? Most cars have an indicator light that comes on before the car actually runs out of gas.
     
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  8. Feb 7, 2021 at 8:15 PM
    #368
    lonedrake

    lonedrake New Member

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    That shouldn't matter. The truck calculates what my mpg is. As soon as the needle on the gauge just touched the red line...I was out. Thats different from any other vehicle I have had.
     
  9. Feb 7, 2021 at 8:30 PM
    #369
    19TurdPro

    19TurdPro New Member

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    It matters. It's not a super computer in there calculating shit. It's averaged out over time and miles, and far from perfect. It can't accurately calculate DTE pulling an 8k load, account for terrain, driving habits, etc...

    I don't know where you live, but where I am, we have large hills and mountains. I also know that if tow at 65 MPH, I get 9MPG; if I slow down to 55 I get 11. It's not going to instantly and accurately account for that. Running on a smaller reserve with the capabilities and poor fuel economy of this truck would be stupid. You'd see a lot of Tundras on the side of the road.
     
  10. Feb 7, 2021 at 8:36 PM
    #370
    19TurdPro

    19TurdPro New Member

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    Think of it like this. You're driving light footed on the highway, averaging 18 MPG, truck calculates a DTE based off of that. Low fuel light comes on with a reasonable 50 miles left which would equal about 2.77 gallons of fuel. Now you hook a trailer up thinking you got 50 miles left. Now you're basically fucked if you don't have a gas station nearby.

    Engineers had a choice to make, and they erred to the side of people being idiots.
     
    Cpl_Punishment and lonedrake like this.
  11. Feb 7, 2021 at 8:42 PM
    #371
    lonedrake

    lonedrake New Member

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    I was pulling my boat on the return trip from Florida both times. Back up into Iowa or Missouri. Regardless...It should not tell me I have 75 miles left when there is only 45. It was a crappy gauge. One of several...although minor reasons I switched over to a Toyota after 25 years of Chevys.
     
  12. Feb 7, 2021 at 8:45 PM
    #372
    lonedrake

    lonedrake New Member

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    Thats not really the case. I drove 78 down there and 78 back. Its about a 22 hour drive one way.
     
  13. Feb 7, 2021 at 8:54 PM
    #373
    19TurdPro

    19TurdPro New Member

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    I meant that as a general scenario that could happen in real life, not how you towed on that trip.

    In the real world, with this truck, MPG can be extremely dynamic and near impossible for a computer to accurately calculate a DTE and account for idiots at the same time.
     
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  14. Feb 8, 2021 at 4:34 AM
    #374
    TheBubbaDude

    TheBubbaDude New Member

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    I was showing 0 on my gauge once and no indicator light. After 2 or 3 experiences of being on 0 and no light, I took it into the dealership to have it checked because my 4Runner would come on with 50 miles left on the gauge. When I picked it up the light was on and the tech explained that the system is set up to light it up when the truck has 3 gallons left. The dummy light does not compare mileage but volume. Appreciated the info but they could have at least given me a credit for the gas they burned driving it another 35 miles to get the light to come on.
     
  15. Feb 8, 2021 at 5:04 AM
    #375
    ScenicRoute

    ScenicRoute New Member

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    would you feel better if the light came on at 5 miles remaining and you run out of gas before you get to the next gas station.

    I fill up at 1/2 a tank because I like a full tank.

    It’s just an idiot light for people who are oblivious to a gauge. Imagine the push back if the light came on as the tank was empty how pissed off people would be then!

    but at least you’d be able to put more fuel in the tank!
     
  16. Feb 8, 2021 at 5:54 AM
    #376
    Boerseun

    Boerseun MGM XP-Series

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    Ferdie
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    It's quite interesting to read through this thread and see how a little fuel volume gets people's panties in a bunch. Just drive the truck, fill it up, drive some more. Don't overthink it. Even if you think you have "only" 30 gallons available; that's still a huge tank compared to other vehicles. I love my bigger than normal tank.
     
  17. Feb 8, 2021 at 7:21 AM
    #377
    Cpl_Punishment

    Cpl_Punishment Young men never die.

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    As I've said before: you have 38 gallons in the tank; the distance to empty calculation is just very very conservative. If you want to put more fuel in the tank each time you fill up, ignore the DTE and gauge and drive farther before going to a gas station.
     
  18. Feb 8, 2021 at 7:25 AM
    #378
    ScenicRoute

    ScenicRoute New Member

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    This is like the gripe for the hybrid rav4 and Highlander owners who can’t get their tank to read full and demand a buyback from Toyota.
     
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  19. Feb 8, 2021 at 7:30 AM
    #379
    Cpl_Punishment

    Cpl_Punishment Young men never die.

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    This is not nearly as bad as that. Everything on our Tundras is working fine.
     
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  20. Feb 8, 2021 at 8:13 AM
    #380
    TheBubbaDude

    TheBubbaDude New Member

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    20 years ago I bought a used car with a broken gauge that always read full. I learned pretty quickly to calculate MPG and kept a full gas can in the back for emergencies. That sucked, this is more of a "false advertising" beef with Toyota. Nothing critical. *RANT OVER*
     
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  21. Feb 8, 2021 at 9:08 AM
    #381
    Astom22

    Astom22 New Member

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    My '86 CJ7 has a gas gauge that is full for most of the tank, then it drops to 1/4 tank, which is it's early warning signal for "time to feed the beast".

    Best gas gauge ever was in my 1979 280ZX, at a 1/4 of a tank a smaller gauge within the fuel gauge would take over and show down to a 1/32th of a tank. For a kid in high school that didn't have much money, it was awesome!
     
  22. Feb 8, 2021 at 9:39 AM
    #382
    Boerseun

    Boerseun MGM XP-Series

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    I don't see the false advertising part. They advertise it as a 38 gallon tank and it is a 38 gallon tank - exactly like advertised.
    The fact that you can't use exactly 38 gallons has to do with basic physics - the tank is 6 ft long - a couple gallons spread over a 6 ft tank is not very deep. Nothing anyone can do about that.
     
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  23. Feb 8, 2021 at 11:05 AM
    #383
    PomDad

    PomDad we having snacks?

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    This. It's not like you HAVE to fill up as soon as the light comes on. Though, honestly, I always fill up when I'm under 100 on the range anyways because it's nice to know I could make it a good distance without a fill up if I needed to.

    Now for my experiences with the tank, the increased fueling time over my previous Hyundai Elantra has led to me going into the gas station to buy a powerball pull every time I wait for it to fill. Could this potentially be a built in retirement feature by Toyota???
     
    Last edited: Feb 8, 2021
    MDJK and Cpl_Punishment[QUOTED] like this.
  24. Feb 8, 2021 at 11:10 AM
    #384
    AZBoatHauler

    AZBoatHauler SSEM#140/ASCM#3/2ndGenNaysayer/BAF140

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    Had the same in my ‘86 300ZX.
     
  25. Feb 8, 2021 at 11:22 AM
    #385
    Astom22

    Astom22 New Member

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    Read an article last week discussing the reasoning behind it in those cars and why it was included for the additional expense. Since they were GT cars, Datsun/Nissan engineers felt is was necessary for those drivers to have a better understanding of their remaining fuel and they were perceived as more intelligent/appreciative automotive owners.

    Not sure I would classify my 15/16 year old self as intelligent, but I appreciated my 280ZX and wish I had never gotten rid of it. (so I guess I didn't appreciate it enough then)
     
  26. Feb 8, 2021 at 11:51 AM
    #386
    TheBubbaDude

    TheBubbaDude New Member

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    I'm quite fond of driving down to the light, but I'm less concerned about the gauge now knowing that the light gives me another 3 gallons. I was also told at some point, either here or another Toyota forum that the gas tank is actually designed to keep reserve fuel on the pump to keep it from running dry, so less stress about a light or gauge. Fortunately I'm a suburban road warrior and there's a gas station every half mile between work and home.

    That being said, I may have to join that retirement plan as I too find it hard to keep myself occupied while waiting for that beast to fill up.
     
  27. Feb 16, 2021 at 5:04 AM
    #387
    prsrcokr

    prsrcokr New Member

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    You mean yours didn’t come with the predictive mileage feature? Calculates how you’ll be driving in 20 miles based on the prior 50....

    On the thread topic, most I’ve been able to add at the pump to date is 28 gal. and that was driving 15-20 mi. beyond the refuel message. That’s what lead me to this thread.
     
    Last edited: Mar 3, 2021
  28. Mar 3, 2021 at 7:40 AM
    #388
    JMB711

    JMB711 New Member

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    I have understood for years that tank fuel pumps spin at approx 10K RPM. Running the tank dry will shorten their lifespan.
     
  29. Mar 3, 2021 at 7:43 AM
    #389
    LarryDangerfield

    LarryDangerfield MIT (Mod in Training for the next 10k years) Moderator Secretary

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    I had a 38 gallon experience today! $70 to fill up :bananadead:
     
  30. Mar 3, 2021 at 9:19 AM
    #390
    GratefulDean

    GratefulDean Swagless

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    I just did 50miles past and put in 34.34 gallons. 50 was the furthest I’d go past in my Silverado. Good to know I can go as much as 85.

    That’s the number I’ve been looking for.
     

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