Anyone elses gas gauge horribly inaccurate?

If I really top off the truck, it runs on full about 80 miles before going down. When the light goes on, I have gone as far as 50 miles before filling up without running out. Sounds normal....
(with a 3 gal reserve, @ 20 mpg your at 60 miles)

 

Nothing to add to what Oz and Blueberry have said, except that a Scangauge is the best answer. Mine is well calibrated and is never off more than a couple of tenths of a gallon in a tank full. It also reads accurate water temp and other things. The factory gauges are all just ballpark indicators. I've had a couple of unplanned instances where the Scangauge has given me confidence to reach a station with just a few tenths to spare. I would never be without one again.

The key though is to spend the time to thoroughly calibrate it.

 

I've noticed that as well. My old 74 Monte Carlo was a big block car (454) and when I would stand on the gas to pass someone, I could just watch that fuel gauge drop a little closer to "E"!

 

What's the other starting tsb other than the cold start? Cause it was def not cold out when I tried starting it...

 

EG011-07 : Engine Controls - Intermittent No Start Condition

EG043-05 : Fuel System - MIL ON/DTC's/No Start in Extreme Cold

 

Thanks for the info! Since this was the first time it has ever happened, I think i'll just let it slide for now. But it'll def be in the back of my mind.

 

My pleasure sir. Hope it was just a one time deal for ya.

 

Any gas gauge is just an approximate reading, doesn't matter what brand you drive.

 

And shorten the life of the fuel pump from lack of fuel to keep it cool. The best practice is to fill up when you hit a quarter of a tank. Besides the manufacturers purposely setting the low fuel light to come on and/or the needle hitting "E" so that people don't suddenly freak out it serves a mechanical purpose as well since fuel pumps are located inside the tank nowadays.

 

This is the # 1 answer. I have never seen my low fuel light come on. I fill at 1/2 to 1/4 tank. It doesn't cost anything more to keep it full than it does to keep it empty.

 

FWIW - I've run my cars down to E for years - never replaced a fuel pump.

 

luck is on your side or your not quite running it low enough.

 

Gotta love our 4 bangers eh? I have gone close to 100 miles before mine moves, only once though.

 

Old wive's tale. Only actual documented cases of this happening, that I've found, is on the last generation Chebby trucks. Since then "everyone" seems to think this will happen on all makes/manufacturers.

Just as a subjective experience, I had my last truck (02 Dakota) for 8 years and almost always ran the fuel down to a gallon or so before fill up. Lotsa Internet banter on "that's a guaranteed way" to ruin the fuel pump there too. Never an issue.

Had the Tacoma for over 3 years now, still use the same fuelup method, I'll let you know if it fails

As far as the accuracy of the fuel guage,,, it's as accurate as the fuel guages in any other vehicle I've ever owned or driven long enough to fill up.

 

With every auto I've had, when it filled full takes several miles before it moves down. That's because there is a float in the tank that stops when it hits the top of the tank and you then fill past the float. Then on the reverse it can so the same. IOW; gauges are approximate. Therefore, keep track of your mileage to know when your low instead of the gauge.

 

I have a problem with my gauge being at an eighth of a tank and I ran out of gas. Believe it or not I coasted to right in front of my house. However, is that a symptom of a problem with the sensor, aka float, or the gauge? Anyone know?

 

Reserve fuel for dummies (not you ) that keep driving there truck till the light comes on,a saftey measure if you ask me.

 

Definitely a problem and not right... sounds like a good dealership visit question to me.

 

Engineers design the fuel gauge like this on purpose. People love seeing the marker at full for as long as possible, so they've been instructed to calibrate the gauge as such.