Fuel Gauge inop...ran outta gas

[Orygun]

Hey folks, I'm well aware of the fuel gauge issues with third gens. Mine specifically shows empty when I still have about 1/3 of a tank left. As such, I've been using my odometer to know when to fill up. I always fill up by the time I hit 300 miles to a tank and typically have 1.5 to 2 gallons left at the 300 mile marker. Today I ran out of gas at 294 miles on the odometer (must have been more city driving than usual). I got a gas can, put 1.5 gallon in and then filled up at a gas station about a mile away. It took 15.9 gallons to fill the tank. This means I was empty/runner wouldn't run with 1.1 gallons still in the tank. (1.5 gallon gas can+15.9 gallon fill up at station=17.4 gallons)
Not that its a good idea to do, but shouldn't I have run dry after using that last gallon?

 

[JRZEE2000TR4LTD]

not completely sure what you're asking but I do know that the runner usually holds about 2 gallons in reserve.

 

[JamesDean91]

The pickup isn't at the bottom of the tank so there is usually about 1 gallon that's unused period.

 

[the great him]

the pick up is less than a half in off the bottom of the tank. so there should be very little in the tank once you run out lol. your not gonna get much better than that, and you dont want to go any lower in the tank other wise you risk sucking up any junk thats at the very bottom of your tank and clogging the filter and damaging the pump.

our tanks are rated at 18 some gallons, but the fill tube does not come in at the top of the tank so without pumping more fuel in after the pump shuts off your only gonna get at best 16.5 gallons on a bone dry tank ie ran out of gas. your gauge probably isnt working correctly because your float reader had to much carbon build up on in... here look at my recent thread on replacing my pump... i cleaned up the circuit board reader/dial for the gauge with a rubber eraser http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/177970-fuel-tank-removal-step-step-diy-w-pics.html

 

[Orygun]

The pickup isn't at the bottom of the tank so there is usually about 1 gallon that's unused period.

Ahhh duh. I can't believe I didn't realize that. Ok makes sense now.

your gauge probably isnt working correctly because your float reader had to much carbon build up on in... here look at my recent thread on replacing my pump... i cleaned up the circuit board reader/dial for the gauge with a rubber eraser http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/177970-fuel-tank-removal-step-step-diy-w-pics.html

Awesome write up. Thanks for bringing that to my attention. Ive searched a little for a fix to the fuel gauge issue but didn't really find anything solid. Ill need to look into this more keeping in mind what you said.

Thanks all for the help.

 

[sportrunner2001]

I wish I got 300 miles out of a tank...

Apparently the gauges aren't that great. I ran out one time when the gauge still showed 1/4 tank, once it died and it started it back up again ( I didn't know it was actually out of gas) it was past the "E". also when it shows a half tank left I end up putting in around 10 or 11 gallons. Now I fill up before 230 miles per tank just to be extra safe!

 

[the great him]

The pickup isn't at the bottom of the tank so there is usually about 1 gallon that's unused period.

much less than that. the tank is 12" deep, the sending unit and hanger is 11.5", and the sock pickup for the pump sits below the hanger about .5" so you have maybe .5" left in the tank when you run out. id bet thats less than .5 gallons it was not even a 1/4 of a tank in my 2 gallon tank i dumped it into when i did my fuel pump last week.

 

[So Many Roads]

Get an ultragauge for $60. It will tell you how many gallons of gas are left in your tank. You set it up so that it knows you have an 18.5 gallon tank, and press a button each time you fill up. Works great, no fuel gauge needed.

It has lots of other cool features as well.

 

[Orygun]

Get an ultragauge for $60...

Yeah I've looked into an ultragauge. I have a scangauge II now and I know it has a similar function. I've just been too preoccupied with messing with the xgauge feature than the trip function.