I have a 2000 SR5 4WD V-6. I have never pump more than about 13 gallons (when the gas light is on) into the tank. I read a different post and noticed that the tank sizes were 18 gal. I looked on the edmounds site

http://www.edmunds.com/used/2000/toy...113/specs.html

and they say it should be a 18.5 gallon tank. I bought this from toyota as certified used and Im wondering if its possible that some 4runners came with a about 13 gallon tank?

I believe all 3rd gens have 18.5 gal tanks. They also come with a very conservative low fuel warning light - I rarely pump more than 15 gallons.

this is a common theme among us 3rd generation owners. The fuel light comes on quite early, there is a Technical Service bulletin regarding the float level and sending unit mounted in the tank.

See other posts in this area, "how many miles on a tank of gas" and the like....

I've never squeezed more than 16.1 into my tank and the guage was below empty.

In most gas tanks there will be a gallon or so of unuseable fuel since fuel pump pickups rarely sit on the very bottom.

We'll thank you all for the info. 1 more question though......

Since I bought this certified used back in '03, dont you think they would've change the parts under that TSB, or do you think toyota said screw it, it works ok but not perfectly and no ones gonna notice.

That makes a lot of sense 4runmak-I would double check your paperwork on the purchase and see if they have a checklist on what they did to certify your vehicle. I would guess they have record that the Tech Svc Bulletin repair was completed, I have seen mixed reports on whether or not that solved the problem of the fuel gauge light coming on way too early. If you don't have a checklist then certainly I would think it may be worth your time to explore that with the Sales or Service Manager at the dealership.
Remember that the Previous Owner (PO) may have found out about the TSB and had the work done before selling it back to the dealership, but again that should be in the computer records I would think.

I got 17.5 gallons into my 1998 last Friday. And it cost me an arm and a leg...

Old thread revival but i was a little shocked at the pump for the first time the other day:

I'd call the city/state and have the gas stations meter checked. I believe its someone who works for the governors office (in ohio) who checks them and stamps the "seal of approval" on them, since it says approved by Ted Strickland.

Because correct me if i'm wrong, the above pic is physically impossible. I doubt there is a half gallon in the tank spout, and even then it would mean you had zero gas. There is usually a gallon of unuseable gas in the third gens also. I smell the gas station ripping people off.

I agree, the pump is probably wrong. I've sputtered into the station once and still didn't even put 17 in the tank.

Good info here, thought I would bump. Went months never putting more than 13 gals in the tank, 2000 Lmtd.

I have actually driven over 100 miles after the low light came on. (with fuel can in back) I can't remember how much gas it took but I do remember thinking that I had another gallon or so.

I sputtered into the gas station just the other day. It took 18.3 gal

I've never put more than 14.5 in. Most of the time I'm in the 13-14 range with the fuel light on solid.

Of course we all know that the fuel pump, that is mounted inside the tank, is cooled by the gas. Running your tank dry can cause your pump to burn out. Try to keep some gas in the tank.