Small Fuel Tank??

Hello Tacomaworld,

I wasnt sure exactly where to start this thread, and I did my best to search the forum before posting...But here it goes.

I picked up my 2012 DC short bed Prerunner (2wd V6) on May 15th. Im now at about 1850 miles, and have filled my tank a good amount of times. Last work week, I filled my tank the Saturday prior to Monday the 18th. I drove that tank dry by Friday night (got about 320 to the tank, meh). But when I went to fill it (with the light on) It topped off at 16.something gallons. I didnt really think much of it, until my tank was empty today and I went to the pumps. With the gas needle perfectly lined up with Empty and my gas light on, I charged my credit card and began to fill up. It stopped at 61$ (gas is 3.65 in LA now, woo) at just under 17 gallons...I put a little bit more in just so it would be at 17 gallons exactly, and it sounded like the gas was about to come pouring out..

NOW FOR MY QUESTION....

I read ALL OVER THE INTERNET that my tank is 21 or so gallons..Why is it that it will only take 17? Is there some sort of reserve in my tank that holds an extra 4 and a half gallons?? I am so confused...

THANKS!!

 

Yup pretty much that's usually what mine fills up to. Cali sux, gas is $2.98 a gal here. I remember buying some gas there on a trip one time. Damn! lol

 

Lol it was $4.30 not even a month ago. Im pretty stoked that 60 fills my tank. Its expensive to live in Cali, gotta hustle hard to enjoy it

 

Tank is 21.1 gallons, approximately 1/2 gallon not usable.
The low fuel light generally comes on at about 17 gallons.
Needle hits empty at about 18 gallons.

It is not a small tank. Most vehicles have tanks that are sized for roughly 300 miles.
Even at only 18mpg, a Tacoma can get at least 350 miles on a tank.

 

It's the reserve as you so noted. Cause there's always one idiot who forgets to fill up after passing the last gas station that's 50 miles before the next gas station.

 

I decided to see how far I could go on a tank last winter. I knew when the light came on I still had over 4 gallons left.
I got 429.2 miles on a tank of winter gas. It took 20.851 gallons to refill (20.584 mpg), so I wont be breaking that record until they switch to summer gas (when I get 23.5 to 24.5 mpg). The light came on at 353.7 and I figured I could make 1 more trip, and I did with 0.249 gallons to spare (5 gallons of just in case gas always in the back). Cruise control set at 70 to 75 mph most of the time.

 

You ballsy fuck.