Explain "Computer Controlled Fuel Gauge"

[Light_Mania]

This is listed as a feature for the 2006 T4R. Anyone know exactly what is happening with this fuel gauge, i.e. how is it better than the old way?

 

[jacal]

I think the "feature" is that when you are going up/down a really steep incline the guage still reads properly.

Personally, I think the 4Runner fuel meter is the most accurate out of anything I've driven. I'm used to the 1st half the tank taking 'longer' then the 2nd half.

In my previous truck, when you pointed yourself down a really really steep slope the fuel guage would jump to empty.



J

 

[Koz]

From the limited information available it looks like the fuel gauge is tied into several ECUs that make the gauge itself very accurate and is not affected by motion or the vehicle's angle/level. I'm trying to get more details.

Koz

 

[OUTRNNR]

From the limited information available it looks like the fuel gauge is tied into several ECUs that make the gauge itself very accurate and is not affected by motion or the vehicle's angle/level. I'm trying to get more details.

Koz

I'm not sure how the system works or is calibrated, but I'm guessing its probably programmed more toward accuracy related to pitch. I say this because when I park in my parking garage I am on a slanted surface side to side (about 5 degrees of roll toward the driver's side) but the car sits level front to rear. I notice that when I park and sit there for a little while the gas guage slowly goes down about the width of the needle. In the afternoon when I drive on level roads for 10-15 minutes, the level returns to where it was before I parked.

I haven't tried reversing into the spot, or parking on the opposite side to see if it has the same/opposite effect while tilted toward the passenger side.

 

[TechWrench]

I believe the ECU uses an averaging method to display the amount in the tank. It samples the float position at regular intervals, and displays an average of those readings. This way short fluctuations in the float reading because of pitch or surging are eliminated. I have noted that when I fill up, the gauge reads somewhat less than full until I have driven for a couple of minutes.

 

[RickyCRX]

I'm not sure how the system works or is calibrated, but I'm guessing its probably programmed more toward accuracy related to pitch. I say this because when I park in my parking garage I am on a slanted surface side to side (about 5 degrees of roll toward the driver's side) but the car sits level front to rear. I notice that when I park and sit there for a little while the gas guage slowly goes down about the width of the needle. In the afternoon when I drive on level roads for 10-15 minutes, the level returns to where it was before I parked.

I haven't tried reversing into the spot, or parking on the opposite side to see if it has the same/opposite effect while tilted toward the passenger side.

I've noticed the exact same thing on mine. I park in a parking garage at work in the exact same scenario you described and it does take a while to go back to the correct reading after I'm back on level ground. I think it's just 'dampened' so that it doesn't swing back and forth depending on acceleration, braking, and turning during normal driving.

Ricky