Fuel tank size

Ok 4Ger’s,

I am really liking the looks of the new gen both exterior and interior. I do have a question though. Specifically for those that came from a 3G. Do you find the 4G reduced range with the smaller tank ok or does it leave you wishing you had stayed in the 3G. That is really my only hang up with the new truck. Just want some honest feedback.

 

Several threads. Opinions are that it is fine vs it needs to have the 33 gallon tundra tank. I get about 330 miles per tank before the light comes on. Still has 2+ gallons left in the reserve. Stock OR.

 

FWIW, I didn't have a 3g. I traded in a Grand Cherokee that had a 600 mile range on a full tank so I was disappointed that my new 4G only showed 325 range when I bought it. But the computer is not calculating correctly. I've had other vehicles that took a few tanks of gas before they would adjust and calculate proper mileage. So I'm hoping this will do the same. I've also notice the speedometer reads 3 mph faster than actual. I've never had a vehicle that wasn't far more accurate than that. On my brand new 500 mile Tacoma, I'm getting very good mileage, 25 mpg mixed highway/city. So that would give it a 450 mile range which is not bad. I don't really see the gas tank capacity as an issue. Would I like a larger tank? Yes. But the issues I find more concerning are the rear brake line. I have a 2WD so it's not on stop sell. I expect they will eventually also recall the 2WD after they fix the 4WD units. I also am not thrilled with the rear glass bottom corners being unsupported and you can stick a finger under the glass. My only other concern is what I discovered when I happened to tap the top corner of my front door on a wall. Light tap and the paint chipped. Upon inspection I noticed the paint was incredibly thin and easily scraped off more with a light rubbing of my fingernail. Not cool to have thin paint that doesn't adhere well. I really hope it's just on that part of the vehicle and not the whole thing. On the plus side the ride is very good, the power is very good and the engine is quiet (a different truck I test drove sounded like a box of rocks) and the steering is nice and light with a good strong return of the steering wheel. I'm really liking the truck now that I've disabled most of the nanny systems and next I'll work on disconnecting the incessantly annoying chimes and bells that Toyota was obsessed with installing. You wanted honest opinion, you got it.

 

I came from two 3rd gens and honestly the smaller 4th gen tank hasn't really been an issue. It gets more MPG's so I fill up around the same time as the 3rd gens. Winter mileage has been pretty bad, but that happened to the 3rd gens too.

 

No 3g here but plenty of other cars. I would buy a larger tank in a heartbeat. I get 240 miles when the light comes on. Then my range says another 25. This winter with 240 lbs of sand in the back I was getting about 16 mpg. Even before winter I was only getting 18. It is probably my only gripe with the truck. I am at the gas station all the time.

 

No 3rd or 4th gen here, the idea of a larger tank sounds better and I can't see a downside to having more available fuel ready to go. If Toyota could fit a larger tank under the 4G it would cut into your usable payload and wouldn't be good for comparison against other midsizes. Yeah you could carry less fuel in the tank to offset the payload. If you really need the range a larger tank offers I suspect you could get a fullsize with a larger tank and it probably won't cost much more money upfront.

 

It seems most manufacturers determine fuel tank size in order to give 300-350 miles range. That's about where 2nd, 3rd, and 4th gens fall. Which is fine if you don't tow. I pull a sub-4000 lb travel trailer and 10-13 mpg is all I'm going to get, and it doesn't matter much if I'm pulling it with my Tacoma or my F150.

We pulled it 6580 miles last summer from GA to Montana and back with my Fords 36 gallon tank. Headed for Utah this summer. I was still stopping every 300-350 miles, but with any of the small trucks would have had to stop every 150ish miles. That's not just Tacoma, but all of the smaller trucks.

I'd like to see a bigger tank in a Tacoma, 25-30 gallons would be nice but there are trade-offs. A larger tank along with another 10 gallons of fuel is going to add 100+ lbs to the trucks weight and reduce payload by the same amount. Tacoma's are already laughably low on payload. Even a Honda Ridgeline beats Tacoma by 300-500 lbs.

I'd like to buy a new. or newer Tacoma, but right now it makes more sense for me to keep my older 07 Tacoma for daily driving closer to home and keep my older F150 just for pulling the trailer.

 

Now approximately at a 9000 mi and 9 months with 4th gen plus past Toyotas experience, I can say no annoyance from fuel tank size would rank like not having all the other positive improvements.

A lot of 4th gen complaining is silly to me and especially for all the comparing and testing we did against the competition. Especially from considering important things like the long bed option, safety ratings, and pure design and use elements.

 

Are you a continual long distance driver? Tow heavy regularly? Or days in remote areas with no fuel available?

Just wondering why ~300 miles isn't enough at one fill up. On interstate runs stopping every 4 hrs or so seems like a good idea anyway.

 

Thanks for the insight. A stock OR is what I would be looking at getting. Those numbers sound much better than some of the other threads. And really about on par with my 3G.

 

My difference in real range is negligible, no issues. However, out of some misguided paternal instinct, Toyota’s reported distance to empty is too conservative. When I fill up, I’m reminded that I really had 50-60 miles, instead of the reported 10-15.

Others here with lifts and 35’s will likely disagree, but in my opinion, Tacoma doesn’t necessarily need a bigger tank, just range programming for grown adults.

 

I'm just impressed with how long some people can go non-stop. Man, I'm having to stop every 1.5hrs to pee

 

Well for transparency my son drives my 3G now. I went to a GMC 1500 a couple of years ago. However I really don’t have a need for a full size and the full size trucks are enormous now. The only towing I do is a skiff 5 minutes down the road to my local ramp. I am sure the Tacoma can handle it just fine.

 

Your first question is my main problem. I drive 120mi round trip on the days I work. It’s a swing shift. 7 on and 7 off. A mix of interstate and city. The 3G mileage was ok until you go over 65. This reason put me in a Sierra 3.0L diesel. That gets an average of 28 mpg. Doing that drive.
However I have had a few issues with the GMC. And as much hate as the 3G received. My 2017 pro is stock with 135k miles and no issues.

 

Just be prepared to be disappointed with the fuel mileage on the Tacoma compared to the Sierra's diesel.

 

Yeah I am going into this with my eyes wide open. I know what my tacoma gets. So as long as it is not worse than that I can live with it. Also pushing this decision is the fact that tacomas are actually getting really good discounts currently. Not sure how long that will last. But the price for the 4G is a bit more palatable under MSRP. Luckily I am not rushing too much. I want to get the info from the people already driving them before I go test drive the trucks. We will see.

 

dont be silly. five extra gallons of gas is 30 pounds. That's less than some of us take to work each day. We aren't asking for 50 gallon tanks here. 23 would be perfect.

 

GX550 has a 21 gal tank, TNGA-F but shorter wheelbase - I'm sure it fits. Toyota could have saved money by not having to make two different tanks. Makes no sense.

 

We’ll make sure your eyes are fully open. MPG and this range is all over the board. Many claim crazy MPGs that aren’t even close to what I actually get after 12k. I would take those that aren’t hyper milers and use that number for your decision. 18.2 gallon tank at 16mpg. Leaving 2 gallons in before you fill up equals about 260 miles total. Are you ok with that? I am getting even less. Seems like about 250 for me before a fill up.

 

Touché. I do already have all the vehicles I need. So this is more of a want. But I am hoping for some very honest responses from current owners. 16mpg is a deal breaker. That just doesn’t support my drive style. My 2017 avg about 19/20.
If I may ask. Where geographically are you ie. Mountains, high altitude etc. I am in coastal Georgia. Sea level. Mild winters. Hot summers. 2wd 90% of the time.