Gas tank size?

[kayaker74]

I bought a used '99 4runner a couple months ago. The gas tank is supposed to be 18.5 gallons, but I've never been able to put more then 15 gallons in it even when I thought I was about to run out of gas. I contacted Toyota, and they said that every '99 4runner made came with an 18.5 gallon tank. I know that there is probably a fair amount of reserve in the tank, but I filled it up after driving with the gas light on for another 50 miles. I was only able to put 15 gallons in the tank. The seems a bit strange to me.

Has anybody else experienced this or know what the problem may be.

Thanks

 

[peter78]

The problem is not the gas tank, but your fuel guage. It reads a little too low when you might have 1/3 of a tank left. There is a TSB, but I don't think they will do it for free.

It was fixed in later models, my 2001 when the gas light comes on it has used around 16.5 gallons or about a two gallon resevre, with you being on empty it means you have 3.5 to 4 gallons left.

I guess the last owner learned to live with it.