Is my fuel gauge light retarded?

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c14/bravo101/fuelgauge_zps55e14bed.jpg?t=1366355767

So I have always been bothered by this, specifically on this truck less so on my car I drove before, the fuel gauge appears to be extremely far off??

I pulled into a gas station maybe... 10 minutes after snapping this picture (2/3mi later?) and proceeded to drop in only 16.75gal of fuel (OW) what is the light doing on when the 21 gallon tank should, in theory, get about another nearly 70 miles??

Is this normal? Do you all notice similar behavior on your truck too, at about 4/5 gallons remaining you're well under the last 1/4 tank mark? On a side note I religiously watch my fuel mileage and am aware per the manual the tank is 21 gallons so I know what my max per trip meter (I reset one every fill up to watch my mileage) I say that because I don't completely trust the fuel gauge and never have/will in any car as it'll move when you're on hills and things. It just makes me wonder if it's off or something?

 

Normal

If the light came on when the tank was empty , it wouldn't serve much purpose

 

So I'm guessing it comes on at +/- 20%, since that's what the math works out to...

 

Completely normal- the general rule is when the light comes on, there is about three gallons left with our trucks. (The Reserve) And, our tanks can take more then the 21 gals listed. Search the many threads on this subject...

 

I've gotten pretty complacent with the low fuel light because it does come on with so much gas still in the tank. Actually ran out of gas the other day! Doh! Luckily I was about 1/2 block from the neighborhood gas station when it happened and it was level or down hill, and there was no cars coming at me when I had to turn across traffic. Got pretty damn lucky.

 

It doesn't cost any more to fill up at 1/4 mark. Just a little more often. Much safer than waiting for the idiot light.

 

Light comes on at 4 gals left in tank.

Yes it is for retarded people.

I don't mind the light coming on like that what pisses me off is when its on a 1/4 tank there should be only a 5.25 gals in the tank and that part is way off.

 

i just purchased my tacoma about 2 weeks ago and have put 4 tanks in it so far.. if i fill it up when the light comes on i still have over 5 gallons left.. when i fill it up at the E mark, i still have 4 gallons left.. i really hate how far out of adjustment the gauge is.. today i drove across houston after it dipped below E and i still only put 18.6 gallons in it..

 

Don't rely on that light unless you carry a jerry can. I used to always drive to the light on my last Tacoma (almost always filled up >400mi). The last time I did it the truck ran out a measly 4.7 miles after the light came on and even then it only took 18.5 gallons. Didn't kill the fuel pump and it ran out within rolling distance of a gas station; I was lucky.

I won't push my new truck that far.

 

My other car has a miles left indicator. It showed 7 miles left and I was 15 miles from the next gas station. I drove for at least 6 miles with it sayin 0 miles left. I even called tow truck already...I pulled into gas station without it dying. Exciting times.

 

You can't rely on that percentage. The fuel tank is not perfectly shaped, and the fuel level sensor works on an arc, so the fuel gauge does NOT move linearly. That is why when you fill up all the way it takes a long time to come off "full", then seems to move pretty normal as it runs the peak of the arc, and then drops like a rock after 1/4 of a tank as it finishes the arc. So while a full tank IS still 21 gallons, 3/4 tank on the gauge is not right on the money at 15.75. 1/2 tank is reasonably close at 10.5 gallons, however still off due to tank shape, but again, due to the arc, 1/4 tank is not right at 5.25 gallons.

 

i thought we had 18G tanks?!

 

80 litres actually

 

that makes me feel dumb, my light came on after 16.5 gallons, and i was afraid to drive to work this morning (20 miles) tacomaworld is changing my views on life.

 

My 11' Double cab, that light would come up at 60L. My now 13' Access Cab comes up at 70L. So yeah it's normal.

 

our trucks have a fuel light? never seen it. . . . wierd

 

Im sure yours is there.

 

We have been to the damn moon! I can expect more damit!

 

As soon as the manufacturers decide to go with the more expensive linear sensors, we will be stuck with the arc sensors. Moon or no moon. lol.