Fuel tank fills up 2-3 gallons short

[kendra23]

Hey all!

I have a '96 SR5 with 225k on it. I've only had it for about three months. When I first got it, I noticed that it wasn't filling up above the full line, like most cars. But it wasn't my daily driver yet, so I hadn't put a lot of effort in to it.

I bought an UltraGauge to more accurately measure how many gallons I've used. After a couple of weeks, I decided to keep going just a bit further than normal based on miles.

At about 2.7 gallons left (according to the gauge), I ran out of gas. NO low fuel light ever came on and when I filled it up it would have been accurate to that I was filling it up to 16-16.5 gallons.

Any one have any info on this? Not sure if the bottom of the tank could just be grubby or if it's something else.

Feedback appreciated!

 

[nc-grayson]

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/219733-ran-out-gas-scangauge-ii.html

 

[JayRolla]

Hey all!

I have a '96 SR5 with 225k on it. I've only had it for about three months. When I first got it, I noticed that it wasn't filling up above the full line, like most cars. But it wasn't my daily driver yet, so I hadn't put a lot of effort in to it.

I bought an UltraGauge to more accurately measure how many gallons I've used. After a couple of weeks, I decided to keep going just a bit further than normal based on miles.

At about 2.7 gallons left (according to the gauge), I ran out of gas. NO low fuel light ever came on and when I filled it up it would have been accurate to that I was filling it up to 16-16.5 gallons.

Any one have any info on this? Not sure if the bottom of the tank could just be grubby or if it's something else.

Feedback appreciated!

Its a known issue. I can only fit 14-16g on full up. Tank is 18.5g I believe. There is a good 2 or more gallon of reserve.

I ran out of gas the other day on start up. Gas light on but was over E. I thought my motor was toast because in knew I had gas but I actually didn't. Come to find out the gauge or float was sticking. Needless to say when at E or light is coming on. Get gas. Don't trust the gauge completely.

 

[4'running'26]

In my experience, I add about 1.5-2 gallons after the pump clicks off. It takes a bit of patience, especially if you're using a new pump/nozzle that some of the gas stations have, but after quite a few years and a lot of miles of driving I also have a good idea how much gas I have left based on where the gauge needle sits after x amount of miles. The most I've ever put in is 15.4 gallons and that was after it sitting below E for 20 miles or so. A lot of that has to due with me knowing for sure I have it filled up nearly completely.

If you live in Oregon or New Jersey, you're screwed anyways since they pump your gas for you!

 

[JayRolla]

In my experience, I add about 1.5-2 gallons after the pump clicks off. It takes a bit of patience, especially if you're using a new pump/nozzle that some of the gas stations have, but after quite a few years and a lot of miles of driving I also have a good idea how much gas I have left based on where the gauge needle sits after x amount of miles. The most I've ever put in is 15.4 gallons and that was after it sitting below E for 20 miles or so. A lot of that has to due with me knowing for sure I have it filled up nearly completely.

If you live in Oregon or New Jersey, you're screwed anyways since they pump your gas for you!

You do realize newer pumps after it clicks it cycles that fuel back through the pump and your paying for gas your not getting. It also feels the evap canister with gas and can destroy it. Also gas tanks are supposed to have space for expansion.

 

[4'running'26]

You do realize newer pumps after it clicks it cycles that fuel back through the pump and your paying for gas your not getting. It also feels the evap canister with gas and can destroy it. Also gas tanks are supposed to have space for expansion.

Thanks.

I've had decent success doing what I've been doing. I don't top it off 100% but I don't think our gas tanks, or any gas tanks for that matter, need 15% of the tank for expansion.

 

[SpidermanGeek]

2 gallons after the click seems pretty excessive to me.

Rounding to the nearest dollar after a click is one thing, but 2 gallons worth?

 

[4'running'26]

2 gallons after the click seems pretty excessive to me.

Rounding to the nearest dollar after a click is one thing, but 2 gallons worth?

In every other car I've had that's what I've done. The first few times I did that with my 4runner I noticed the needle wasn't even getting to F. With some experimentation I found that it will take quite a bit more. Just relaying my experience. It's probably not the same for everyone.

 

[Coward]

In every other car I've had that's what I've done. The first few times I did that with my 4runner I noticed the needle wasn't even getting to F. With some experimentation I found that it will take quite a bit more. Just relaying my experience. It's probably not the same for everyone.

How many miles do you typically get on a tank of gas?

 

[gamefreakgc]

Uhh something's wrong with your gas tanks.

The one time I ran out of gas and rolled into the gas station in neutral I put in exactly 18.5 gallons. I've put in 17+ in a few other scenarios.

Somethings wrong with either the tank (is it dented?) or the filler neck making the pump shut off early.

 

[4'running'26]

How many miles do you typically get on a tank of gas?

No real headwind, on the highway, and keeping the cruise set around 68-70 MPH I can easily go over 300 miles. I think the furthest I've ever gone was 328 or so.

If my light comes on and I fill it up immediately I usually put about 13-13.5 gallons in. That's an EARLY light!

 

[kendra23]

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/219733-ran-out-gas-scangauge-ii.html

I did that with an UltraGauge

 

[kendra23]

Its a known issue. I can only fit 14-16g on full up. Tank is 18.5g I believe. There is a good 2 or more gallon of reserve.

I ran out of gas the other day on start up. Gas light on but was over E. I thought my motor was toast because in knew I had gas but I actually didn't. Come to find out the gauge or float was sticking. Needless to say when at E or light is coming on. Get gas. Don't trust the gauge completely.

Yeah I've been watching the miles and it's a little easier now since I know where the UltraGauge was at when I ran out. But my E light never even comes on. It's just frustrating

 

[kendra23]

Uhh something's wrong with your gas tanks.

The one time I ran out of gas and rolled into the gas station in neutral I put in exactly 18.5 gallons. I've put in 17+ in a few other scenarios.

Somethings wrong with either the tank (is it dented?) or the filler neck making the pump shut off early.

I looked at it from underneath once and didn't notice any dents; I should maybe look again. But I was wondering if it was shutting off early or if something else was just making it not fill up all the way

 

[phattyduck]

I have read on some other threads that maybe the fuel filler vent is different lengths for the different years. When the vent gets covered in fuel, the filler stops.

See notes and pictures here (from a fuel tank swap) here:
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/194378-ford-f150-gas-tank-swap-into-2000-4runner-2.html

I have a feeling that cutting the vent tube shorter will get a good amount extra fuel into the tank...

-Charlie

 

[kendra23]

I did pump more gas after it clicked once just to see if it shut off early, but it only added like .2 gallons and then shut off again, so it seems like it should be filling up to capacity

 

[gamefreakgc]

I did pump more gas after it clicked once just to see if it shut off early, but it only added like .2 gallons and then shut off again, so it seems like it should be filling up to capacity

Well... there's one messy way to find out. Force fuel into it until it spills on the ground and the attendant comes out and yells at you for getting gas all over the place

P.S. don't do that.

 

[phattyduck]

Well... there's one messy way to find out. Force fuel into it until it spills on the ground and the attendant comes out and yells at you for getting gas all over the place

P.S. don't do that.

I did that once when the auto-shutoff didn't work. Pumped about 2 gallons onto the ground before I came back outside after getting some snacks.

-Charlie

 

[KojiKP]

On mine once the pump clicks off, I let it gurgle back down the filler spout and can usually put in quite a bit more. Maybe 1-2 gallons depending on my patience.
On all my other cars I'm done once it clicks off but the 4runner seems to be less than Full if I do that.

 

[kendra23]

On mine once the pump clicks off, I let it gurgle back down the filler spout and can usually put in quite a bit more. Maybe 1-2 gallons depending on my patience.
On all my other cars I'm done once it clicks off but the 4runner seems to be less than Full if I do that.

Mine does make some pretty intense gurgling and whooshing like noises