Gallons in the tank when needle at 1/4 line.

I thought it was interesting that there is some science to the gauge readings and E-Light activation. Gives us something to do ... E-Light comes on with 17 gallons used up or 4 gallons still in the tank (+/- 0.5 gallon).

How many miles are on your odometer when the light comes on or how many miles you have before you run out will depend on your mileage.

For me (if at 16.7 mpg) the light comes on around 280 miles and I could go about 70 more miles before running out... This jives right with your going 50 miles beyond the E-Light and being a gallon or so shy of empty!

 

NP dude. Oh and IDK about the TRD but my 4x4 only has an 18.5gal. I did see in the manual where some have a 20gal but not all of them. I wish mine ws a little bigger because I am pushing it to get 300 miles to a tank.

 

2nd Gens have a 21 gallon tank .

 

mine was on 1/4 just now......filled up held 15.9 gallons

 

My 2010 TRD Sport tops at 21.5 gallons when I TOP it off. At 1/4 tank I'm at 5.25 gallons +or- .25 gallons. Hard to be exact with an analogue gauge.

 

Thanks for your input....

How did you empty your tank and then get it to a gas pump on empty? hat would make an interesting read!

You are the only one (I think) that has only 5.25 gallons at at the 1/4 tank line... The rest of us have around 8 (or can put 13 gallons in when the gauge needle is over the 1/4 line).

I filled up at the half tank line the other day, and put in 9.2 gallons, just as the chart said I would... topped off, too.

Again, here are the typical findings:

So far, the 21 gallon tank has (+/- 0.5 gallon):
16 gallons at the 3/4 full gauge line (down 5 gallons)
12 gallons at the 1/2 full gauge line (down 9)
8 gallons at the 1/4 tank line. (down 13)
4 gallons at the E-LIGHT (down 17)
3 gallons at the E LINE (down 18)

E line to an empty tank is 3 gallons ('reserve').

 

Yes... although I usually buy at Costco or another inexpensive (?) source like ARCO or independent dealers... $3.09 yesterday for regular at Costco in Carlsbad, CA.

The best gas mileage comes from using Mexican gas (Pemex) because it has no ethynol or other useless 'green' additives and I have a long highway drive when going to or from Baja... I get over 19 mpg in Baja on the highway.

Keep in mind (for this thread) that one's mileage has nothing to do with the fuel gauge reading of gallons in the tank... You just get to the different levels faster if you get fewer miles per gallon... but the gallons that fill up from those levels are what we are comparing.

Thank you!

 

My needle was over, but not yet below the 1/4 tank line today when I pulled into Costco gas station... $3.119/ gallon...

I topped the tank with 13.1 gallons at 215.8 miles on the odometer (16.5 mpg).

The important number for all Tacomas with the 21 gallon tank is that I continue to find that at the 1/4 tank gauge line I put in 13 gallons (+/- 0.5).

21-13 = 8 gallons in the tank.

When the gauge is on Empty, we still have that 3 gallons in reserve.

At 16.5 mpg, I could go 49 miles after the needle is over the E line before running out... in theory! (kids, don't try this at home)

 

David ,

I average 18 - 19 mpg in the cold up here , with no highway driving at all . I wonder why you wouldn't be getting better mileage .

 

I am in California, and the libs in power here have some weird idea that if you dilute gasoline with ethynol and other stuff that doesn't produce as much power as pure gasoline... (so you burn more), it is good for the enviroment!

Since the government makes more money per gallon (on taxes) than do the oil companies (on profit), it benefits them that we buy more. Stinks, don't it?

 

I have recently gone down to the E Line a couple of times... and have found the quantity of fuel between the E LIGHT and E LINE is closer to just 1 gallon, not the 1.5 (I had figured before). I do say +/- 0.5 gallons on these numbers, so I was within that... but two times in a row, I went from E LIGHT (17 gallons out of tank) to E LINE in just 15-16 miles (1 gallon at 16 mpg, I was getting).

Here is the updated chart:

So far, the 21 gallon tank has (+/- 0.5 gallon):
16 gallons at the 3/4 full gauge line (down 5 gallons)
12 gallons at the 1/2 full gauge line (down 9)
8 gallons at the 1/4 tank line. (down 13)
4 gallons at the E-LIGHT (down 17)
3 gallons at the E LINE (down 18)

E line to an empty tank is 3 gallons ('reserve').

 

I discovered a very rough rule of thumb that I have been using lately, and it seems to be pretty consistent:

Whatever the trip odometer reads when the gas needle reaches the half tank mark turns out to be approximately 10 times the average mpg for that particular tank, if you add an extra 0.5 mpg to the estimate.

For example, if the trip odometer reads 160 miles when the needle reaches the half tank mark, 160/10 = 16 + the extra 0.5 = 16.5 mpg.

It, of course, assumes that the fuel burn is consistent over the entire tank, so if the first half of a tank is all highway driving and the second half is stomping on the gas up steep hills, its probably not going to give you an accurate estimate.

But overall it has been a useful and relatively reliable and consistent rule of thumb for me. Just thought I'd share.

 

Now that is interesting! A new odometer/ fuel gauge game to play!

 

Today, my E light came on and I was under 1/2 mile from an ARCO station...

The truck took 16.98 gallons! (I think we can round that to 17.0?)
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The odometer was on 271.1 miles = 16.0 MPG and the price for 87 octane was $4.079/ gallon in Vista, CA

Here is the chart again:

So far, the 21 gallon tank has (+/- 0.5 gallon):

16 gallons at the 3/4 full gauge line (down 5 gallons)
12 gallons at the 1/2 full gauge line (down 9)
8 gallons at the 1/4 tank line. (down 13)
4 gallons at the E-LIGHT (down 17)
3 gallons at the E LINE (down 18)

E line to an empty tank is 3 gallons ('reserve').

 

I have been testing how far I could go after the warning light comes on. I have been getting 22.5 to 23.0 mpg avg., with the 2.7L. Most agree there are approx. 3.0 gals of "reserve" with our trucks. So based on that, I should be able to go at least 66 miles once the light comes on. I went 45-55 several times, then keeped creeping up to 61 miles, but then I got nervous and was worried about running so low. I feel confident I can count on at least 50 miles once the light comes on based on my tests, without running too low. Also, I pumped 22.0 gals in my truck once, it was real low.

 

Before you start getting beat up by meanies, let me just say that is not a wise thing to do, on purpose! The bottom of the tank is where any junk, water, dirt will settle and then there is the issue of the cooling of the fuel pump that has come up.

Down to the E Line (3 gallons in tank) is no doubt safe, but you may want to avoid seeing when you run out...

 

And you risk burning up your fuel pump!

 

Thats not true, Mine has a 18.5 gallon tank as well.
If i tried to put in 21 gallons in there would be gas all over the ground.

Edit: Wait, so you mean to tell me that i actually have a 21 gallon tank, and when the light comes on there is roughly 4 gallons left in the tank?
I am gonna try to run mine another 50 miles after the light this week. I'll let you know if run out!!

 

Shannon, when the light comes on or when the needle is on the E line, fill it up... don't run out. You should have about 4 gallons (or add 17 to fill) when the light comes on or 3 gallons (or add 18) when the needle is over the E Line.

If it matters, I also had an '05 Double Cab... and it had a 21 gallon tank, as well.

Another key to indicate you have an 80 liter (21.1 gallon) tank is your OWNER'S MANUAL!