Gas Gauge Question

[kendra23]

Hey! I've had my '96 for about a month, but it's not my daily driver yet so I've only gone through a few tanks of gas.

This is the only vehicle I've had that when filling it up, it doesn't go above the full line. When I get down to about 1/8th and I fill it up, it only puts 13 gallons in. I would assume that at this point it would be more like 15-16 gallons going in. I've never had my gas light come on either.

I guess I'm wondering if this is normal behavior for the gas gauge or if something's off. It does seem like the needle will move up and down slightly at times, or move fast and then hang out in one spot for a while (not as common).

Thoughts? Opinions? Experience? Thanks!

 

[diverscale]

not the same year, but I would try this

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/112088-gas-gauge-issues-calibration.html#post1028415

 

[gamefreakgc]

The sender unit in the tank goes bad over time. Most of of just deal with it.

The trip odometer becomes your best friend, not the needle.

 

[pluton]

Those instructions *sound* as if they are for one of the later models that had electronic odometers.
I can't imagine my mechanical odo performing those cool electronic tasks!
I can tell you this about my '97, which should be similar to your '96:
The gas gauge action is non-linear; most cars' gauges are, to some extent... but this is worse than most cars. It moves quickly off of full, then slows down, then plummets faster so you start to worry.
The gauge will show the tank as fuller when the nose of the car is pointed up and emptier when the nose is pointed down. My Land Cruiser FJ 60 was the opposite.
These vehicles are notorious for showing very low fuel, but having several gallons left. I once ran mine down to gauge empty, the low fuel light came on, and it took about 15 gallons to fill it.
You know it's bad to often run these modern cars near empty because the fuel pump is cooled by being immersed in the gas in the tank, right?

 

[marmot]

Yeah, something's not right. You should still be able to get 18 gallons in it.

You might enter the VIN into the recall database to see if it had the gas tank sensor/gas gauge recall done on it. Based on a web search, it looks like that link is here: https://vinrcl.safercar.gov/vin/

That recall should have been done many years ago (like 2002 or so). The gas gauge was very inaccurate prior to that recall fix. But I still remember I was able to get 18+ gallons into it. Prior to the recall, you could go another 100 miles AFTER the low fuel light came on. I know that recall changed out the level sensor in the tank as well as the gauge.

Is the bottom of your gas tank dented or damaged which may have rearranged the pump/level sensor that hangs down into it?

 

[19963.4lsr5]

My 97 will hit the full mark at fill up and 1/4 tank is 12 gallons. Our 97 limited is the same way. Except the limited at times won't touch the full mark


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[kendra23]

Those instructions *sound* as if they are for one of the later models that had electronic odometers.
I can't imagine my mechanical odo performing those cool electronic tasks!
I can tell you this about my '97, which should be similar to your '96:
The gas gauge action is non-linear; most cars' gauges are, to some extent... but this is worse than most cars. It moves quickly off of full, then slows down, then plummets faster so you start to worry.
The gauge will show the tank as fuller when the nose of the car is pointed up and emptier when the nose is pointed down. My Land Cruiser FJ 60 was the opposite.
These vehicles are notorious for showing very low fuel, but having several gallons left. I once ran mine down to gauge empty, the low fuel light came on, and it took about 15 gallons to fill it.
You know it's bad to often run these modern cars near empty because the fuel pump is cooled by being immersed in the gas in the tank, right?

Yeah, that's why I've been filling up in about the same spot each time. I just wanted to check and see if it was "normal"

Thanks!

 

[kendra23]

Thanks for all the input!