Running of out gas test

I'd like to test:
- How far my 2016 Taco will go after the low gas light comes on.
- How low the fuel gauge goes when the tank is really empty.
- How accurate is the Miles to Empty digital dash display.

I'll carry a gas can with 2.5 gal and run it to empty.
Is there any concerns with getting it restarted after running it to empty?
Anything to prime like a fuel pump, filter, etc.?
Is 2.5 gals enough to get restarted?
I know it's not a good thing to do on a regular basis and
can suck stuff off the bottom of the tank but
doing it once to really know what happens on a
Taco with only ~12k mi and 1 1/14 years old can't be too bad.

Anyone else do this on a newer Taco?
I couldn't find any posting about it.

 

It'll start fine. People run out of gas and get them restarted every day, just push the start button or turn the key once she's got some more gas in it.

Some will probably tell you you're going to soak up a bunch of sediment from the bottom of your fuel tank that will get into your fuel injection system which is basically just hogwash.

Give it a whirl, let's see what the results are.

 

A safer test would to be: read the manual and see when the light comes on.

Another safer test: look up the tank capacity, when the light comes on, fill it up. Calculate the difference you could also run it to 0 then fill it and calculate the difference.

Running it dry is asking for problems for no reason.make sure the fuel pump is primed if you do decide to do it. Otherwise it should start.

I don't know that I trust this particular engine to.

Edit: for the record I got it to "--" aka 0 and it had about 2 gallons left iirc.

 

I'll save you some time.

The fuel gauge will bury into the E when you're super empty.
You still have fuel left in your tank even when the miles to empty is at 0.
The miles to empty is not that accurate as per above. It is calibrated on the side of safety to get you to a gas station.

 

the light turns on when you have 3 gallons left in the tank.

Ask me how I know... 55k miles.

 

I've calculated about 25-30 miles left when at zero. I've never let it get below 40 miles remaining.

 

https://www.tacomaworld.com/search/...pty&t=post&o=date&c[title_only]=1&c[node]=186

 

You will know some specifics for your truck. Assuming the next time you get in that situation that you drive it exactly as you do this time.

How far you will go and how far it says you have left are filled with variables for each event. Speed, terrain, weather, etc etc, just like any fuel burn rate.

You'll have a good guess, but thats all. And the light on how much is left may, or may not apply to other trucks. Gauges can vary a bit.

It's actually easier to hit a station right when the light comes on, top it off on automatic shutoff. Subtract what you put in from tank capacity to know pretty close to what was left. Then apply your log book MPGs for your current driving conditions to know how far you could have gone.

You do already log each tank, do the math and note the conditions it was used under, right?

 

Your Truck is fairly new so I wouldn't worry about sediment.
Just watch out where you run out of gas.

 

Im surprised nobody mentioned the 1 and only thing that keeps the fuel pump cool is........

 

Tank is 21.9 gallons I think? Or 21.1? Anyhow, I let mine go to "--" miles remaining and i only put like 18 gallons in.

 

I ran my 16' T4R down to 1 MTE coming back from Chico. I only put 21 gallons in it. Capacity is 23 gallons.

 

I code-browned the hell out of a tank of gas once.



Capacity: 21.1 gallons.

Mine isn't fancy enough trim level for a "distance to empty" readout though. I was definitely on E and the light was on, but it wasn't flashing at me or sputtering or anything.

 

After it says zero miles remaining there are still about 2 gallons left of reserve which is another 30 to 40 miles of range depending how you drive.

The light comes on when there are still at least 4 gal. Remaining.

 

Fuel light came on and said this distance was remaining, after a day of playing in dirt and a road trip.. drove over 400 miles that day, but filled up at this point before I reached home.
The above photo was just before I shut off to fill up.
We know the tank is bigger than 18.6...
Sounds pretty much in line with what everyone else has said.

 

I have the same truck as you do. Does the needle go as far below the "E" line when empty as it goes above the "F" line when full?

My truck gets 140miles on the first quarter and the amt above the F line. The other 1/4 tanks are exactly 100miles down to the E line. When I fill it ends up being 18 gallons and change. Based on my mileage I should get 140miles from the first and last 1/4 tanks of gas.

 

Damn OP, you'll be fine. People run out of gas all the time. Like you said, a single time in a newer vehicle won't do anything particularly bad.

 

Not sure if mentioned above but....not a great idea to run it down til empty. But your truck, your money.

 

I have a little over 1 gallon remaining when it says 0 miles to empty....tested this a couple times now.