Fuel range issue

I see that this has been discussed before, specifically in threads regarding the 38 gallon tank but I feel like my issue is slightly different. I've had this 2019 SR5 for about 3 months and have only filled it up twice in that time....I only use this truck to tow our boat so I don't drive it much. I noticed that the first time I filled it up when I got it from the dealer, the range only showed 288 miles. Didn't really think anything of it. Today the range showed 32 miles left and so I took it to the gas station and filled it up. To my surprise it only took 18 gallons of fuel and the range is showing 288 miles again. That's a significant discrepancy from what I expected. For one, I would expect the range to be in the 400's and two, I would expect the range to last longer and take more fuel at the pump? Anyone experiencing this same issue? I have the 100,000 mile extended warranty but I don't think it covers electrical. Not sure if something needs to be adjusted in the tank or...?

Side note, my 2017 Lexus CT200h has the same problem. Gas light comes on super early. It's a 12 gallon tank and gas light comes on at half a tank. Dealer says this is normal. Doesn't make sense to me. I've always just dealt with it.

 

I think the SR5's have the 26 gallon tank not the 38.

 

This has the TRD off road package. I was under the impression that package gives you the 38 gallon tank amongst other upgrades.

 

I have an SR5 and it is a 38 gallon. I have not experienced the same issue but I do know that if the battery is disconnected for a bit it can take 3 tanks or more to reset the range on the truck to be accurate. That sounds a lot more off than usual though based on the times I've disconnected the battery for various thing. You could always give it another tank and if it does not become more accurate try disconnecting the battery for a bit and see if a reset will help.

 

Worth a shot at this point.

 

Put your vin in on Toyotas site and find out what tank you have. If you have the 26 then it’s probably correct range

 

I plugged the VIN into this website here: www.vinfreecheck.com and it came back as 38 gallon tank. I created an account on the Owners section of the Toyota website and entered my VIN number. Nowhere does it give me the size of the tank.

 

Go under the truck and look at the tank then go online and compare both. You can see the 38 is bigger. And then if you have a 38 then you can rule that out. I don't think the gauges are that accurate sometimes

 

computer is learning your driving habits

 

The truck has 44k miles on it. It's slow to learn if it's still learning....

 

it learns driving habits every day, at my previous job i use to drive city streets for 9 or so miles and after a fill up i would be under 425 mile range now i drive 40 miles a day to and from work on the highway and my range went to 490 and some change.

 

Well this thing better figure it out fast because I'm about to drive 500 miles to the lake towing my 7000lb boat and I really don't want to be stopping every 150 miles to fill it up.

 

Look under your truck, if you have 2 straps holding your tank, you have a 26 gallon, if you have 3 straps, you have the 38 gallon. The only way to know for sure. I have an SR5 with a bench seat and a 26 gallon tank. If you have a center console and shifter, you have a 38 gallon tank.

 

Don't know what size boat you're hauling, or what kind of terrain while hauling, but if as you say, the truck is used mostly for pulling your boat, then perhaps the MPG you get doing that is what the computer uses in the truck's calculation of miles per tankful, i.e. you get around 280 miles range pulling the boat.

Edit .... just read your post #13 that you wrote as I was writing. My guess is that even with a 38 gallon tank, you'll stop at least twice for fuel with that load on hilly terrain. Nature of the beast.

 

If you mostly tow with the truck, the low range could be accurate to the 38 gallon tank since you probably average 10 mpg towing i would imagine.

 

its all on driving habits and you are towing something to so you are going to loose range as well when towing.

 

I have the bench seat. I'll look under the truck now.

 

You have a 26 gallon tank, you cannot get a bench seat with a 38 gallon tank, i tried lol

 

2 straps holding up your tank? put some duck tape on instead that will hold er better lol

 

It looks like it has 2 straps holding it up. I guess it's a 26 gallon tank.

The bench seat was a must for our family. But still...showing 30 range and it only fills up 18 gallons? What about the other 8 gallons of fuel? That's another 80-100 miles of range at least.

 

That is exactly correct, it is working properly. 30 range is about 2 gallons left. 18 gallon fillup accounts for 20 gallons and we have a 6 gallon reserve. You are fine.

 

Case closed I suppose. Thanks for the help.

 

Annoying yes...but now you know...have a great weekend! Bring a couple fuel cans if you must...

 

Toyota is very conservative with its safety buffer. Eventually the Range value will just say “Refuel”

My truck is a 26 gallon. For the last 6-7 fill ups I have logged fuel. I fill up drive and fill up again as soon as low fuel light comes on. Every time I can only put 21 gallons in. You have 5 gallons (approx 20%) still when low fuel light comes on. MPG is about 14 and I’m getting just shy of 300 miles between fill ups. Mainly city driving

I’m sure towing your MPG will be much less. Just know in general you have 20-21 gallons of usable gas before Toyota starts to warn you that you are low.

If you are going on a trip I might reset the Trip meter as I pull out of the driveway. Assume you get 8-10 MPG towing, based on distance you can approx how much fuel is left in the tank. At 10MPg you got 200 miles of range before fuel light.

Best reason I have heard for the large buffer is keeping fuel in the tank (5gal) to cool the pump and keep it from overheating

 

I have the 2014 TRD SR5 with the 26 gallon tank and my range is about 330 after filling up. That’s pretty average. If I was doing a ton of miles I would upgrade to the 38 gallon tank but just not worth it to me considering I only drive about 150 miles in a normal week. Still confused by your 280 mile full range, unless you have mods that have lowered your MPG??

 

The estimate is far from correct. It calculates based on the usage it has in memory. I have the 38 gallon and it would show it was nearing zero miles left and I would fill it up and it would take 28-30 gallons. The dealership drained it, and filled it up and it was 38 gallons. They said all their vehicles allow for a reserve and on the Tundra it is set for somewhere around 9 gallons of fuel left in the tank even though it will show as empty on the gauges. Crazy I know, but that's what I was told by the dealership. I rarely let the fuel level get below half anyways. If I am doing a lot of idling, then it will show a lower miles left, if I am all highway miles, it will jump up much higher. Usually around 460 miles on full.

 

I have the 38 gallon tank in my 2019. I just fill up when the light comes on. I usually need to put between 30-32 gallons in to fill.. With no trailer, I can get about 450 miles before my light comes on. If I'm towing my boat, it comes on before I hit 300 miles..

 

The fuel gauge reads lower than the actual fuel remaining because Toyota does not want you to run the tank to nearly empty. The reason is that there needs to be sufficient cool fuel in the tank to cool the fuel pump. If you run the tank to nearly empty, returning fuel will heat the small amount of fuel remaining which will not sufficiently cool the pump and potentially damage it.