Gas Warning Light Coming on Relatively Early

I have a 2011 Reg Cab, 4x4, 2.7L I4 Tacoma and I believe my warning light may be coming on too early. What I mean is I hardly ever fill it up past 18 Gallons after I wait for the warning light to turn on. I keep checking and everything says I should have a 21 Gallon (21.1 exactly) tank and I have been getting about 18-20 mpg which should mean I have at the very least 36 miles (since it is typically after 17.5 has been used) after the warning light turns on till I would have about 1 gallon to fill up. Is this abnormal or do most tacomas warning light come on then? Thanks.

 

Comes on with 3-4 gallons left

 

17.5-18 gallons if you gas up when the light comes on.

Don't know a vehicle that comes on with less than 3 gallons to go.

 

always fill up with 17 gallons, its a tacoma thing i guess.

 

common on all vehicles... its a warning light, not a empty light.

 

My light comes on between 10-12 litres remaining.

 

Same same

 

Yeah. You won't need a warning light for an empty tank.

 

Two 2nd Gen Tacomas and 1 5th Gen 4Runner same, same, same.

Normal

 

Most Auto Manufactures set the low fuel light to give a vehicle around 80 miles of fuel to give you reserves to find a station.

 

When it's empty, you know it's empty. You don't need any light for that.

 

I would personally rather have an early light than a late one! Wouldn't you?

 

Mine only comes on when I've accidentally left the house without my wallet.

 

I always fill up at 1/4 of a tank. Your pump needs to remain in the fuel to help remain cool to help prolong fuel pump life.

 

True on some vehicles, not Tacoma. Fuel pump is cooled by fuel passing thru the pump, not from pump sitting in the fuel.

 

^ +1

 

All (that I've seen) in tank pumps are cooled by the fuel passing through them and the fuel around them. This isn't by individual design or intent but by nature; they all sit in the fuel, they all pump fuel through their body. More fuel also means more contact with the tank to dissipate heat and a larger volume of fuel to heat and cool softening temperature fluctuations. That said I've replaced hundreds of pumps in american cars and not one Japanese that I recall.

 

Good one there!

Spot on there Donzi. All of the pumps are basically cooled by the fuel flowing through them, but being immersed in fuel also adds to the heat dissipation. This prolongs fuel life.

Like many others, I try to not let the tank get below 1/4. Not to keep pump cool, or prolong fuel pump life, but simply because I don't ever want to be lower than that on fuel period.