1. Welcome to Tacoma World!

    You are currently viewing as a guest! To get full-access, you need to register for a FREE account.

    As a registered member, you’ll be able to:
    • Participate in all Tacoma discussion topics
    • Communicate privately with other Tacoma owners from around the world
    • Post your own photos in our Members Gallery
    • Access all special features of the site

Gas tank

Discussion in '2nd Gen. Tacomas (2005-2015)' started by LRGonzo, Feb 21, 2009.

  1. Feb 21, 2009 at 12:51 AM
    #1
    LRGonzo

    LRGonzo [OP] Member

    Joined:
    Jan 28, 2009
    Member:
    #13047
    Messages:
    6
    Gender:
    Male
    Socal
    Vehicle:
    Toco SR5 4X4
    Bone stock
    Hello all new to the Forum just got a 09 4x4 SR5. Now the sticker and manual says I have a 21 gal tank but when i go to fill up the tank after the gas light comes on it only takes about 17 to 17 and a half gal. Is there really 4 gal in the tank and fuel lines or is my fuel gage screwed up? Another thing I noticed I get 100 miles on the first 1/4 tank then the gage drops fast. Any ideas
     
  2. Feb 21, 2009 at 1:25 AM
    #2
    Krazie Sj

    Krazie Sj Resident Jackass

    Joined:
    Oct 9, 2008
    Member:
    #9849
    Messages:
    13,771
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Power Serge
    LV-426 (Acheron)
    Vehicle:
    07 TRD Off Road 4x4
    Borla Catback Exhaust, Snorkel, 33s on either 16's or 18's, ARB Bumper, All Pro LT w/Walker Evan Shocks front and back, All Pro expedition leaf pack, 10,000lb Superwinch, Intake Manifold Spacer, Bed Rack with ARB RTT, Rotopack and Hi Lift mounted, Husky Liner mats and an air freshener from 1995.
    Dropping gas gauge is just like that. It doesn't move for the first 130kms for me, and then from there to 1/8th of a tank it plummets faster than Exxon stock.

    And yes, you have to have the gauge past the empty line before you're well and truly on the last legs of your tank.

    PS - Don't try this.
     
  3. Feb 21, 2009 at 1:46 AM
    #3
    FoxySandChick

    FoxySandChick Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Sep 27, 2008
    Member:
    #9505
    Messages:
    2,956
    Gender:
    Female
    First Name:
    Kristin
    Henderson, NV
    Vehicle:
    07 DC 4x4 Base model V6 Impulse Red Pearl
    De-badged, limo tint, black wet okole's, weathertechs, extra d-rings, TSB bilsteins
    There was another thread about this awhile back and the consensus was that it takes about 100 miles or so before the gauge actually starts moving down then it goes pretty quickly, so completely normal.

    Also the 3-4 gallons is considered the reserve tank to prevent you from running out of gas. Those 3-4 gallons go rather quickly (about 30-40miles till you are stranded), also running it that low is not good for your truck.
     
  4. Feb 21, 2009 at 1:56 AM
    #4
    Krazie Sj

    Krazie Sj Resident Jackass

    Joined:
    Oct 9, 2008
    Member:
    #9849
    Messages:
    13,771
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Power Serge
    LV-426 (Acheron)
    Vehicle:
    07 TRD Off Road 4x4
    Borla Catback Exhaust, Snorkel, 33s on either 16's or 18's, ARB Bumper, All Pro LT w/Walker Evan Shocks front and back, All Pro expedition leaf pack, 10,000lb Superwinch, Intake Manifold Spacer, Bed Rack with ARB RTT, Rotopack and Hi Lift mounted, Husky Liner mats and an air freshener from 1995.
    I thought that was mostly for older cars cause when you get really low, you start to put through all the crap that sits in the bottom of the tank.
     
  5. Feb 21, 2009 at 3:00 AM
    #5
    sammy

    sammy Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Nov 22, 2008
    Member:
    #10940
    Messages:
    80
    Gender:
    Male
    Maryland
    Vehicle:
    '09 4X4 Reg. Cab, Debadged Barcelona Red
    seat belt chime inter. wipers debadged canvas top (Bestop)
    I haven't let my tank get to the point where the light comes on yet.
    My gauge seems to be very accurate. It doesn't drop like others and this is the first vehicle I've been in that does this. At 100 miles I'm down about 1/4. At about 200 miles I'm at half a tank and at 3/4 low at about 300 miles. I noticed this on the first tank and it has been the same since. Just another great thing I love about this truck.
     
  6. Feb 21, 2009 at 3:31 AM
    #6
    FoxySandChick

    FoxySandChick Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Sep 27, 2008
    Member:
    #9505
    Messages:
    2,956
    Gender:
    Female
    First Name:
    Kristin
    Henderson, NV
    Vehicle:
    07 DC 4x4 Base model V6 Impulse Red Pearl
    De-badged, limo tint, black wet okole's, weathertechs, extra d-rings, TSB bilsteins
    I'm not certain, but my bf is a service tech at a local dealership and says not to let it get that low. He replaces fuel pumps/filters all the time, but ours are non-servicable in the tank, so they are supposed to be better. I still wouldn't suggest it either way.

    Damn, at 300 miles my light is already on.
    When I had stock tires it was more like that and I got closer to 300 miles before I had to fill up. I usually fill up around 260-280 miles.

    While towing you can watch it drop real quickly ;).
     
  7. Feb 21, 2009 at 3:41 AM
    #7
    brianr

    brianr go shit in your hat

    Joined:
    Oct 27, 2008
    Member:
    #10289
    Messages:
    9,859
    Gender:
    Male
    Vehicle:
    2010 4x4
    BUILT, not bought...
    I don't go below a 1/8th of a tank...you dont want to heat up you fuel pump. I'd hate to kill a fuel pump because I highballed a petrol station when I had the chance.


    I killed a fuel pump in a GM (go figure) doing just that, driving it till it said E.
     
  8. Feb 21, 2009 at 4:24 AM
    #8
    FoxySandChick

    FoxySandChick Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Sep 27, 2008
    Member:
    #9505
    Messages:
    2,956
    Gender:
    Female
    First Name:
    Kristin
    Henderson, NV
    Vehicle:
    07 DC 4x4 Base model V6 Impulse Red Pearl
    De-badged, limo tint, black wet okole's, weathertechs, extra d-rings, TSB bilsteins
    I think I heard it is about $300 to replace an intank fuel filter system...could be wrong about that though, so if someone knows for sure.....:thumbsup:
     
  9. Feb 21, 2009 at 11:02 AM
    #9
    LRGonzo

    LRGonzo [OP] Member

    Joined:
    Jan 28, 2009
    Member:
    #13047
    Messages:
    6
    Gender:
    Male
    Socal
    Vehicle:
    Toco SR5 4X4
    Bone stock
    Sweet thanks for all the info.
     
  10. Feb 21, 2009 at 11:54 AM
    #10
    Punisher

    Punisher Billy Reuben

    Joined:
    Mar 30, 2008
    Member:
    #5601
    Messages:
    79
    Massachusetts
    Vehicle:
    2008 Access Cab TRD Off-Road
    Are you saying we only get 10 miles per gallon on these last 3-4 gallons?
     
  11. Mar 9, 2009 at 5:50 AM
    #11
    OBJMS33

    OBJMS33 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Feb 14, 2009
    Member:
    #13621
    Messages:
    69
    Gender:
    Male
    san diego
    Vehicle:
    05-4cyl-4x4
    none
    Sorry just started another thread on this.
     
  12. Mar 9, 2009 at 8:38 AM
    #12
    white91formula

    white91formula Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jan 25, 2009
    Member:
    #12973
    Messages:
    622
    Gender:
    Male
    Boston, MA
    Vehicle:
    05 6speed TRD OR

    kinda what i was thinking.... the MPG of the truck isnt goign drop just because there is less gas in the tank... if anything it should get slightly better then normal beacuse there is less weight due to no gas being there.
     
  13. Mar 9, 2009 at 9:01 AM
    #13
    chris4x4

    chris4x4 With sufficient thrust, pigs fly just fine. Moderator

    Joined:
    May 8, 2008
    Member:
    #6497
    Messages:
    112,751,503
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    FlimFlubberJAM
    Tenoe, AZ
    Vehicle:
    2019 Rubicon 4 Door,
    4.10 gears, sliders, and lots of buttons.
    Like Brianr said. Dont wait to fill up. I fill at /4 all the time. The fuel pumps are cooled by the gasoline in the tank, and running them when the truck is empty, can cause them to overheat, and die. The $300.00 cost for replacement is more than likely, just the cost of the pump. Changeing one out isnt that hard, but, you have to Drop the tank, or remove the bed.
     
  14. Mar 10, 2009 at 1:22 AM
    #14
    FoxySandChick

    FoxySandChick Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Sep 27, 2008
    Member:
    #9505
    Messages:
    2,956
    Gender:
    Female
    First Name:
    Kristin
    Henderson, NV
    Vehicle:
    07 DC 4x4 Base model V6 Impulse Red Pearl
    De-badged, limo tint, black wet okole's, weathertechs, extra d-rings, TSB bilsteins
    Are you going to chance running completely empty?
    I get roughly 17-18mpg on a normal week, highway/city. The most I have ever put in was 17.8 gallons with the light on, I got 17.6mpg on that tank. So I had 3.2 gallons left, but I wasn't going to drive another 54.4 miles to test it. Of course some people get over 20mpg and some only get 15mpg, there are a lot of variables.
    17-18mpg is just an average of all the driving conditions, it does not mean that I drove 17-18mpg for each and every gallon. If I was driving on the highway I would be using less than if I was sitting in rush hour traffic. So if I thought I had 54.4 miles left and I got stuck in traffic, drove around the city, lead footed on the freeway, anything that reduces your best mpg, I might really be stuck with no gas at 30-40 miles. So 30-40 miles is a conservative estimate based on the different mpg per driving conditions. If you have a scanguage you might be more willing to test it out, but I don't and still don't think it is a good idea.
    The weight difference is not enough to have a significant impact on your mpg.

    :D...yeah $300 is just the replacement, not the labor costs. My BF is a service tech, he replaces fuel pumps pretty much daily. I forget how many hours of labor he gets, 2 or 3 at almost $90/hr.
     
  15. Mar 10, 2009 at 12:57 PM
    #15
    jpmorrisvb

    jpmorrisvb Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Feb 20, 2008
    Member:
    #4840
    Messages:
    2,511
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Jimmy
    Virginia Beach
    Vehicle:
    2014 Barcelona Red TRD Off-Road PreRunner
    Clazzio seat covers, KB Voodoo Powder Coated Tailgate Cap, OEM running boards, ImMrYo Rear-View Mirror Lift Bracket, 35% Tinted windows, EGR window vents, color matched door handles and tail gate lift, WeatherTech FloorLiners, OEM bed mat, sound dampening on rear wall and rear doors, on anytime foglight mod
    AAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH .... another gas tank post ....... make the voices in my head go away.:lalala:
     
  16. Mar 10, 2009 at 12:58 PM
    #16
    jpmorrisvb

    jpmorrisvb Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Feb 20, 2008
    Member:
    #4840
    Messages:
    2,511
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Jimmy
    Virginia Beach
    Vehicle:
    2014 Barcelona Red TRD Off-Road PreRunner
    Clazzio seat covers, KB Voodoo Powder Coated Tailgate Cap, OEM running boards, ImMrYo Rear-View Mirror Lift Bracket, 35% Tinted windows, EGR window vents, color matched door handles and tail gate lift, WeatherTech FloorLiners, OEM bed mat, sound dampening on rear wall and rear doors, on anytime foglight mod

    So, what are you trying to tell us?
     
  17. Mar 10, 2009 at 1:02 PM
    #17
    Krazie Sj

    Krazie Sj Resident Jackass

    Joined:
    Oct 9, 2008
    Member:
    #9849
    Messages:
    13,771
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Power Serge
    LV-426 (Acheron)
    Vehicle:
    07 TRD Off Road 4x4
    Borla Catback Exhaust, Snorkel, 33s on either 16's or 18's, ARB Bumper, All Pro LT w/Walker Evan Shocks front and back, All Pro expedition leaf pack, 10,000lb Superwinch, Intake Manifold Spacer, Bed Rack with ARB RTT, Rotopack and Hi Lift mounted, Husky Liner mats and an air freshener from 1995.
    That when the gas light goes off you still have about 4-5 gallons left in the vehicle.
     

Products Discussed in

To Top