Need help with Fuel Pump “gurgling” noise that I start hearing during my last camping\hunting with my family (truck currently has 82K on it)

Noise can be heard next to the rear left tire (engine idling), and definitely coming from the gas thank around fuel pump area. The noise can be described as gurgling, fluid with air bubbles moving through the pipe. I got under the truck and put my ear next to skid plate of gas tank-confirmed noise is coming from the fuel pump (at that point I had about ¾ of gas in the tank)

After coming home, I have pulled the gas tank skid plate, without skid plate the noise is essentially gone and only can be heard if I put my ear directly on the gas tank, and it is louder where the fuel pump is. (At that point I have about ¼ of the gas left). I have also open access panel (under rear left set) to fuel pump and I cannot hear any noise there, pump actually running very quiet there… and there is no noise from the gas tank fill-up neck with gas cap removed.

My question does anyone have any thoughts\idea if the noise I am hearing is normal or fuel pump is falling..? I know I may be asking too much… but can anyone get under the truck and put the ear on the skid plate next to fuel pump area and let me know what you are hearing?

I was planning long family trip real soon and that is why I am concerned.

Sorry for a long post and Thank you in advance!

So the skid is amplifying the sound?



(BTW, You can amplify with a Styrofoam cup on your kitchen sink, and some transmissions, especially manuals and various other vibrating objects)

That is definitely correct, without skid plate I can only hear it if I put my ear directly against the tank and the loudest part is where fuel pump is...
The sound doesn't sound normal to me, but maybe it was there for a very long time and I can hear it now because I did remove and reinstalled the skid (about month ago) after removing a small dent in it... so maybe the skid now is touching the tank amplifying the sound... and that is why I have asked if anyone can listen to their fuel pump... maybe I am lucky and it is "normal" sound for 4Runner fuel pump...?

Have you checked to see if your VIN was included in the 5th Gen fuel pump recall from earlier this year? Could be related, or not but figured I would put it out there in case you hadn’t checked or were not aware.

I did check and since my 4Runner is 2013 it is not included... thx.

All modern cars recirculate the gas, that is, more gas is pumped to the engine compartment than is used. Any excess is returned to the gas tank by a return line. They do that to keep from having vapor lock. What you are hearing is probably the return fuel as it comes back to the gas tank. That would be normal.

Yep probably the EPA evap. I heard mine making a noise in the garage last week when I was going to mailbox. Never heard it before in the 2 years since new.

I believe you are referring to EVAP check (pressurizing parts of EVAP system) that 4Runner does occasionally after 5-6 hours being off…
What I am hearing is not that, the noise in my case is there all the time (when engine and fuel pump are running).

Thank you, I understand and was hoping that return fuel could be the culprit and would made that noise, just not sure why it is so loud now, do you hear it on your truck?

I would appreciate if anyone else can reply with their thoughts\experience on the noise I hear from the gas tank.

I have not heard it on my 4Runner, but then I have not been under the gas tank with the engine running. I have heard it on other cars, though.

Thank you for reply!

At this point, I am assuming (and hoping) that what I am hearing is normal… I have re-adjusted skid plate and now noise can only be heard under the truck with the ear next to the tank around the fuel pump area… and no noise next to truck.

Just as another detail on that noise: the “gurgling” starts a second or two after engine is started, so that delay makes the idea that the noise is generated by the fuel return line is even more plausible IMHO.

I will update this thread if anything changes on my end.

I’ve heard this too, 2019 TRDORP, usually on hotter days for some reason. It’s sporatic though, not sure why. Everything else seems fine, doesn’t seem to be the fuel pump either.

Thank you for your input.

IMHO: Based on my case (and my current conclusion\experience) I would say it may be because your 4Runner skid plate is touching the tank on the hot days (since materials are expanded)-thus noise propagate itself sporadically and on hot day(s).

Did you ever figure out if this noise was normal or not?

I just purchased a 2016 4runner a week ago and noticed a rapid bubbling/boiling sound coming from the gas tank.