Mileage to Empty

Hello all, i just bought a 2015 Sequoia used and wanted to ask about the mileage to empty. Are they inaccurate or set super conservative? Its my understanding these have a 26 gallon tank. I drove till it said 35 miles to empty, went to fill up and only put in 19 gallons. That means i should of had 7 gallons left (over a quarter tank and mine was showing almost empty), averaging 15 mpg the miles to empty should have been closer to 100 not 30. Thanks in advance for any input.

 

Conservative. Very common question. Your truck is operating normally.

The fuel tank is long and Toyota gave it an extra large reserve presumably to keep the fuel pump submerged.

 

On my '13 Tundra CrewMax, it's more accurate as miles to the low fuel warning light coming on. At that point, there's about 6 gallons left, after which I can usually go another 100 miles.

 

Thank you, that seems really dumb to have 1/4 of the tank as reserve.

 

There are two camps of thought on this.

First: By consistently draining the tank below the submersible fuel pump you risk burning that part out. Consider it a 20 gallon tank and just forget about the 6 gallons left to submerge the pump to keep it cool.

Second: Track your milage by the odometer instead of your fuel gauge. Refuel at your milage interval that is calculated.


I use the first option. YMMV

 

Have you ever heard the saying, "The speed of the fleet is judged by the slowest ship"?

 

When the fuel gauge gets close to E (empty), put more gas in the tank..
Not sure why you want to make something so simple so complicated..

Welcome to the forum..

 

No. This isn't a mower gas tank. You have a fuel pump in there that needs to stay cooled. Plan in advance. 400 miles to empty is plenty to plan for a fill-up.

 

I have a 38 gallon tank and according to my hand calculated trip report my two highest fill- ups were around 1/4 tank displayed. I guess the only true way to find range is send it until it flames out and take notes.

 

hahahaha. I'm pretty sure you're the only guy here getting 400 miles out of the smaller tank. I only get over 300 if I'm traveling. In town I'm 275 tops before I'm filling up again. I'm always impressed with your dedication to milking the most milage out of your rig.

 

Once upon a time, I got 500 miles on a tank. And filled it up with 26 gallons on the nose. It was a bad idea. Don’t do it.

To corroborate what has already been said - yes, the light turns on at 20 gallons. I would agree with the assumption that it is for the sake of keeping the pump cool and not starving it or running it dry from sloshing low levels of fuel.

Another advantage is for folks that use their truck to tow or haul; most places in the US are at most 50 miles from the nearest gas station (excluding some of western states). If you are getting 10 mpg towing, you can make it to a gas station most anywhere.

 

No kidding lol same. 400 miles by the time you hit fuel light would be 20 mpg!! Can you imagine?!
Sure would be wonderful!

 

My low fuel light usually comes on at 360 or so, then I'll take it on to 400. I usually get between 16.5 and 16.8mpg. But I don't live in no big ol' city. And it's okay to be little bitty.

 

Well, the most important point, if you're on a road trip and you know 300miles gives you an 'empty' tank, look for gas station at 250mile mark! Also, driving with a couple jugs in the bed helps you artificially increase range if you want to fill up less often on a long road trip.

Mr.Guy03, rwd and smaller motor probably takes the credit, because it isn't a lot of effort to achieve those figures on my truck. You'd be able to get same mileage if you drove her!

 

Now I'm intrigued and don't want to turn this into a milage thread but have to ask.

If we ran a test of a rwd against 4x4 and both vehicles have the same motor, weight carried, etc. Would the 4WD truck in 2x get the same milage as the rwd?

 

Yeah have the same MY - I also wondered Why when the yellow low fuel light came on and I filled up all it took was right at 21 gls.

So my only real issue is convincing my back seat drivers I Really have a bit more I could go if necessary. Its only for long range drives so sits alot with at least a half tank.

So the Miles to Go calc is Not including the 5 gls in reserve. OK i guess once you get used to it. Luck all.

 

4x4 is heavier as well as more resistance on the front wheels when driving (turning cv shafts and the front diff.

I’ve got the 4.7L V8 in a RCLB, lifted as well; the most I’ve ever been able to squeeze out was 16 on the highway, but that was pretty much tucked behind an 18-wheeler or other car the entire time, running 60 mph and also when I was on just a level and 33s.

now on a 3/1.5” lift and 35s I see 12 on the highway and 10 in town (12 running 70 or so mph); some of the loss is probably due to the leaking exhaust manifold causing the driver side bank to run very rich


Side note: oddly enough sometimes my low fuel light will come on when I’ve burned 17-21 gallons; it can swing pretty wide on that range… either the sender is starting to go out (which it doesn’t seem like) or I’m not sure what. I looked to see if there was a relearn for it but I don’t believe there is

 

Thanks for clarifying how stupid I was even asking. How or why didn't I think of this? I could blame the lack of coffee when I asked, but that's a poor excuse. Sometimes one just has to eat crow...

 

Results for crow recipes. Here you go:
https://www.grandviewoutdoors.com/varmint/how-to-prepare-and-cook-crow

 

Don’t sweat it, some of the stuff you wouldn’t even think to think of