Gas light to full only 13 gallons

Just bought a 07 Tacoma double cab long bed and replaced the motor. Now that I’m driving it I thought it just got horrible gas mileage but when I went to fill up it only took 13 gallons. It went from the gas light to full with only 13 gallons and gas gauge isn’t jerking or anything. Stuck float or what? Thanks in advance.

 

Mine gives me about 15.5 gallons from full to light on. You sure you filled it up all the way? They could also have made adjustments after 2007, so it might be helpful if somebody else with that year could chime in on this.

I've never looked in the fuel tank on a tacoma, but on other vehicles where I have, the low fuel sensor was separate from the float, so it couldn't be a stuck float impacting it. At least on those vehicles.

 

Tanks are barely over 21 gallons on these trucks. Gas light comes on with around 4 gallons left. So in theory based on my experience you should be able to put around 17 gallons in if you gas up right when the light comes on. Filling up at around 1/4 tank you should only be able to squeeze in around 13 gallons like you did.

 

What was the needle position when the gas light came on?

 

They're actually in *metric*, so 60 liters to the light, 80 liters to dry. At least in theory. The plastic does bulge a bit under the weight of fuel, so in practice, you can get more than 80 liters into it if its dry. I've pumped as much as 84 into it -- without running out.

 

Agreed. I've had scenarios where the pump has said I've pumped amounts just starting into 22 gallons but I know there are other factors at play like pump accuracy and like you said the plastic tank being able to expand slightly.

 

Does it matter?

 

If you want to get nice round numbers, yeah. But it also gives you a bit of insight into the numbers they picked.

 

Should come on around 17 +/-

If you've lifted the truck then you may have the front or back higher or lower which would cause the tank reading to be off.

 

Still have to convert it to gallons since we pump gas in gallons and that’s what this topic is about.

Anyway carry on. I just hate the metric system so that’s my own personal problem.

 

Since the truck comes with a rake new, does having the much acclaimed 'level lift' mess up the fuel gauge reading?

Is there a corrective mod for that?

Level lift and big tire aficionados need to know!

 

While I do have my own issues with metric units, liquid volume isn't one of them. Sure is nice not to have to guess between US, Imperial, and Chinese gallons.
Its also very funny when you try to interpret Chinese lengths, because their foot is the same (I think?), but they have 10 inches in a foot.

 

Well I can tell you this; sometimes when I start mine in the morning, the gas light will be on, but when I back it off my driveway, it goes off.

 

I have put 19 gallons in my 2013 before and the light was not on at the time I filled it.

 

Before you freak, this needs to happen on a few tanks before you worry.

If its just one tank it could be a number of flukes. If its consistent then start going down the list of things it could be starting from easiest to harder:
Engine air filter
Air up the tires or buy new ones if their bald
Spark plugs
Cleaning sensors
Checking your brakes
Buying a new gas cap

Also if you can find an ethanol free gas station run till you are on fumes abd then fill up. Run two to three tanks. If your mileage still blows... something is up.

Winter blends in gas may have started in a lot of areas and they have a higher ethanol content which ruins fuel economy.
I just got my first 17mpg tank... winter blend blues start

 

(It was a joke)

 

The OP's question is not about fuel economy. The question is about the "low fuel" light on the gauge, and the amount of fuel he can add to the tank at that point.

 

I have an 07 DCLB also and get around 13ish from light on to full also... truck does have a little rake so that off reading theory makes sense

 

There is nothing funny about metric/imperial conversions

When I fill my tank until the pump clicks off, I'm "theorizing"

When I convert gas volume from imperial to metric to Chinese I'm "using math"

 

13 seems very low. I pump in about 18-19 gallons and get about 200-220 per tank lol