Fuel Tank capacity, MPG, Total Distance

That is the whole point of this thread.. the gauge is unreliable.

 

Only if 21 mpg is accurate. Which is the whole point of this topic.

 

Could Toyota include a disclaimer if it's just the shallow tank? Sounds like it's more than just the tank design.

 

Depends on what "it" you're referring to.

My 3rd gen does similar - reports zero distance-to-empty with three gallons left in the tank.

Since buying it in 2016 I don't remember seeing anyone complaining about that?

Are there any current trucks which don't have 2-3 gallons in the tank when reporting 0 DTE?

And looking at my Fuelly logs, I'm typically filling up at 280-320 miles, so I don't anticipate issues with the reduced tank size in my usage.

 

It’s year two and we seem to be endlessly debating the shape and size of the fuel tank, and distance-to-empty calibration. And when we get bored, we lean on discussing mud flap width. Or plugs for the lower control arms…Some legit gripes do exist, but we are not discussing cracked coolant pipes, front timing cover leaks, hunting gears, and driveline vibration.

Apparently, mission accomplished, Toyota.

 

Mine gets 18mpg stock. It reads empty after 250 miles. It goes at least 50 miles after the light comes on.

 

Why can't folks read their manual?

Page 76
Running out of fuel
When the vehicle has run out of fuel and cannot be started, refuel the vehicle with at least enough gasoline to make the low fuel level warning light (P.546) go off. (The standard amount of fuel is about 3.4 gal. (13.0 L, 2.8 Imp. gal.) when the vehicle is on a level surface. This value may vary when the vehicle is
on a slope. Add extra fuel when the vehicle is inclined)

Page 546
Low Fuel Warning Light Details/Actions
Indicates that remaining fuel is approximately 2.7 gal. (10.4 L, 2.3 lmp. gal.) or less

Put these together and you initial low indication happens at 3.4gal remaining and your MTE/"out"/reserve is 2.7gal.

If you like to gamble or are in a place you must gamble, then if you calculate 3x your *current* (not average) mpg when the light first comes on, that's likely your upper limit of extra distance before you are fully tapped out.

 

what is reading a manual

 

I think I know why nobody understands anymore how to operate a 4 way stop sign.

 

not sure if you’re reading this thread correctly or not but we were discussing how the gauge is reading incorrectly or wasn’t accurate to the mpg or mte. At least I was.

 

My 2g PreRunner averaged 21mpg driving a mix of rural low traffic roads at 45mph and stop and go city. Better than the 19mpg combined it was supposed to get.

Now I'm getting 22.6-22.8 doing the same driving (computer and calculated mpg is within a few tenths with the computer being more conservative). That's just under the 23 combined it's supposed to get, but only 3k miles so far. I'm sure with a few more break in miles it will improve.

With the 2g, if I filled up within a few miles of the light coming on, I would get about 360 miles and could only get about 17 gallons in (where did my other 4 gallons go!)

Now I'm getting 350 a tank and only putting 15 gallons in it. My range is 10 miles less, but I'm buying 2 less gallons of gas, I now have 4wd, 33s, and a bunch of other options. I call that a win.

Even though I have been getting 350/tank for my last several fill ups, my DTE doesn't start at 350. It will start around 315 and then as I continue to average 22-23mpg, the trip miles and DTE miles combined will continue to increase until trip miles are 350 and DTE is 5-7 miles (light comes on around 15 DTE).

No complaints with mpg, range, or gauge accuracy. As they say, YMMV...

 

And I'm explaining how it reads very accurately. MTE is based on 2.7g remaining at the point of "zero miles". That's why it's the 'reserve'. At an 18.2g tank, minus 2.7g reserve, you get... Drumroll... 15.5gallons, which happens to be the most common number cited here and on T4G when filling up at "zero".

Expand that to when the icon changes color and you're first warned, you're now at 14.8gal... another number generally cited.

For the rest of our friends outside the USA, that's a 69L tank, with reserve/KTE set at 10.4L (58.6L consumed) and low fuel light at 13L (56L consumed)

 

Toyota could tell you how much is in the reserve and why it needs to be there. That way owners can easily understand what's going on. The majority of people are probably more dumb than some of the dumbest things you might read on here. If people aren't satisfied with the MPG they think they are getting that will earn Toyota a reputation that their are not fuel efficient. It don't even have to be true.

 

They literally do this in writing within the manual. People need to stop being lazy? arrogant? And read the manual for the machine they purchased. Sure it has gaps of information, but so many questions posted here are answered by the manuals.

 

Well, it's kind of right there in the Owners Manual...

Granted, they don't explain the technical details of why, but in reality practically nobody cares. They see the light, they get gas, they continue on with their life. It's just (some of) the enthusiasts who frequent sites like Tacomaworld who lean towards overanalyzing stuff that even notice they're filling up with 15.5 gal instead of 18.2gal

MPG is unrelated to fuel tank capacity.

If I were to get @Snakepilot's 22.6MPG on a 4th gen I'd be quite happy - that'd be a 27% improvement over my 3rd gen's lifetime 17.7 MPG average.

 

Try this:
Fill your tank.
When it reaches 1/4 tank,
Fill your tank.

If you are really worried about it:
1. Spend money on the skinniest, smallest diameter wheels and tires you can find that fit. Inflate the shit out of them.
2. Lose 50 lbs.
3. Never put anything in the bed, leave your spare tire and tools in the garage. If you get a flat, just call roadside assistance.
4. Dont let anyone ride in it. Ever.
5. Check the weather before leaving and alway pick the route with most downhill and tailwind.
6. Drop daily deuce before departure. (ye olde "3BD")
7. Finish all your crying about mileage before you leave. Water is heavy.

 

Or just get a prius

 

No one reads the manual these days. Most info is common knowledge except for technical info specific for the car. I’m certainly not going to waste my time reading hundreds of pages especially common knowledge about miles to empty and mpg. You can.

 

Let's not change context. Referring to the owners manual was in response to "Toyota could tell you how much is in the reserve"

Toyota does tell us how much is in the reserve.

 

It's good that Toyota puts that information in the owner's manual for people who would want to research the numbers.

I'm talking about people who submit feed back to consumer reports they'll say a vehicles is unreliable because the infotainment interface is difficult. I'f they thibk they are getting bad gas milage they are going to report that they are getting bad mileage. When it's do to the tank size and the reserve.