Fuel Gauge Reading Inaccurately

[004runnerLtd]

I tried searching through the forums, but only came across people having fuel pump issues, not necessarily fuel gauge issues.

So as the title says, my fuel gauge reads inaccurately.

After 15-25 miles, I'll already be at 3/4 tank after a fill up.
When I get to a quarter tank of gas, that's when I like to fill up. But I'm only putting 9-10 gallons in, out of a 18.5 gallon tank. To me, it should be reading more like 1/3 of gas left.

I talked to my mechanic, and he said a new fuel pump would cost me $700-800.


Any suggestions?
Is a new fuel pump what's needed?
I've done some research, and it seems some aftermarket ones make buzzing noises?

 

[shadow247]

I'm having the same issue. I was on E but when I filled up I was only able to put 12 or so gallons in. I know that's not right! I don't drive the truck that much but having an accurate gas gauge is pretty important on long trips.

 

[Mano1124]

There's a bulletin about inaccuracy fuel gauge.

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&sour...orWcCw&usg=AFQjCNGXREjsOL4oXVh1HXygstKNMGI7rw

 

[LittleCaesar]

It is the gauge. Welcome to the party.

The pump replacement sounds a little steep, but for a dealer fix for the gauge, the number is about the norm.

I'd suggest investing in a Scangauge II for $160 for a true gas reading and much more.

 

[PitbullRescuer]

You didn't search hard enough. There are numerous threads about how notoriously bad the gas gauges are in 3rd Gens. Just figure out your average MPG and then reset the trip at every fill up.

 

[Full_Throttle]

It is the gauge. Welcome to the party.

The pump replacement sounds a little steep, but for a dealer fix for the gauge, the number is about the norm.

I'd suggest investing in a Scangauge II for $160 for a true gas reading and much more.

can the scangauge really give fuel level? COOL! I will have to go check it out. is it a built in code or do you have to add it in?

 

[Martinjmpr]

can the scangauge really give fuel level? COOL! I will have to go check it out. is it a built in code or do you have to add it in?

It doesn't give you the fuel level but it can estimate the amount of fuel remaining and calculate a Distance-to-Empty (DTE.) I run an ultra-gauge for now (Scangague will be here this week) and it does the same thing.

The way it works is like this: Your OBD computer can monitor fuel flow. Once you input a bunch of data into your Scangauge (calibrate distance using a GPS, calibrate fuel consumption based on a couple of tanks, input tank size) the gauge can then give you an estimate of how much fuel remains given your current MPG and thus your approximate DTE.

You can re-calibrate at every fill up but I have found that mine is pretty accurate. For example, yesterday after a weekend trip pulling the teardrop trailer in heavy winds, my average MPG calculated at 15.1. The DTE showed 78 miles to empty. Doing basic math would mean that at that point I had almost exactly 5 gallons left in the tank (78 miles / 15.1 MPG = 5.16 gallons left in the tank) which would mean that I should fill up with right at 13.5 gallons.

Filled up the tank and it took 13.56 gallons. So pretty darn accurate, I'd say. I normally never let it get below 30 miles DTE and really I like to fill up when it's around 50 miles DTE. At 17.5 mpg average that means I'm filling up with roughly 2.5 gallons in the tank, putting in about 15.8 to 16.1.