Gas light on - Toyota 4Runner Forum

TheShowtime · 04-30-2020, 05:15 PM

Hey I was wondering how many miles you can drive when the gas light comes on? While driving on back country roads. So not a lot of stop and go driving. I own a 01 3.4

jgue467 · 04-30-2020, 05:54 PM

Well that number will vary due to lots of factors. Mine goes about 250 but some closer to 300 and others down by 200....

Tucson4runner · 04-30-2020, 06:43 PM

Also depends if your runner had the gas gauge replaced as it may have been part of the recall. I did not own mine during the recall and it was not taken in. I can get 250 before the light comes on but I think the furthest I've gone over that is maybe 50. But when I fill the tank I find that I still had 2 or 3 gallons left.

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brillo_76 · 04-30-2020, 07:00 PM

Mostly all Toyotas have between 2 to 3 gallons of gas in the tank when the gas light comes on.

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gamefreakgc · 04-30-2020, 08:00 PM

I have a 98, and my light comes on around 225 ish miles at 15-16 combined MPG's. I normally have 4+ gallons left in the tank. We have 18.5g capacity, so if you know your MPG's and reset the trip odometer each time you fill up you can figure out how far your range is. Just simple math at that point.

I can push 300 miles on one tank, but I am only confident enough to do that when it's all highway driving. I can get up to 20 MPG's highway so that means it's roughly a 360 mile range if I were to run it dry.

TheShowtime · 05-01-2020, 05:53 PM

So it’s safe to say you’ll get about 50 miles after the gas light comes on. Thanks for the help guys!

CWccw · 05-01-2020, 07:30 PM

Yours comes on? Lucky

19963.4lsr5 · 05-01-2020, 09:05 PM

I don’t like running the fuel to the light. It exposes the fuel pump and to me it can cause pump failure from heat.

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Thebeastlives · 05-01-2020, 09:31 PM

Yea you will need to fill up and reset your trip odometer and then drive it until it comes on. Do it when you are on your normal driving routine because different driving conditions can have different results. This way you can get an understanding of your avg mpg for your vehicle. Don't be surprised if it changes drastically if you drive under windy conditions or up lots of mtn roads.

brillo_76 · 05-01-2020, 09:32 PM

I wouldn't run it down to the light alot as you can overheat the pump. Down to a 1/4 is enough.

If your rig gets 15 mpg you only have 30 to 45miles of gas. Your light comes on immediately fill your tank.

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TheShowtime · 05-01-2020, 11:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brillo_76

I wouldn't run it down to the light alot as you can overheat the pump. Down to a 1/4 is enough.

If your rig gets 15 mpg you only have 30 to 45miles of gas. Your light comes on immediately fill your tank.

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Sometimes it’s that way because I live out in the country. Not a lot of gas stations around me sadly.

brillo_76 · 05-04-2020, 11:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheShowtime

Sometimes it’s that way because I live out in the country. Not a lot of gas stations around me sadly.

So do I. However, you can mostly run by a station around 1/2 or 1/4 tank. Its up to the owner though. Changing the fuel pump is not a fun job and if in the rust belt, can be very costly.. :-( I have pulled 2 3rd gen Tanks thus far.

phattyduck · 05-04-2020, 01:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brillo_76

I wouldn't run it down to the light alot as you can overheat the pump. Down to a 1/4 is enough.

The gas flowing through the inside of the pump cools it off, not so much the fuel on the outside - No need to worry too much about it as long as you don't run it dry.

Filling up around 1/4 tank is good for other reasons though - like always being prepared to drive a reasonable distance without needing to get gas first (say, for an emergency).

-Charlie

brillo_76 · 05-04-2020, 02:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by phattyduck

The gas flowing through the inside of the pump cools it off, not so much the fuel on the outside - No need to worry too much about it as long as you don't run it dry.

Filling up around 1/4 tank is good for other reasons though - like always being prepared to drive a reasonable distance without needing to get gas first (say, for an emergency).

-Charlie

It's never recommend on any vehicle out there to constantly run it down to the gas light. Granted there is some fuel there to cool the pump down. I just dont advise doing this to a 20 plus old fuel pump. However, it's a up the the rigs owner. I just dont like pressing my luck..;)

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ElectroBoy · 05-04-2020, 02:40 PM

There were a couple of times while driving my 3rd Gen on CA Rt 5, with long straight boring miles, when I spaced out and didn’t plan my fill ups. The fuel light comes on and I didn’t know how far the next gas station was. Keeping speed down and anxiety high I drove about 50 miles to the next station. Not a comfortable situation but after the fillup I figured I still had almost two gallons left in the tank.

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