Only getting 15.5 gallons from my 2000 4Runner

[Ray.Klefstad]

Um... I am a Toyota mechanic. You chose to dismiss my advice, which if fine with me. But just in case you reconsider, I'll repeat what I said before----

I'm sorry. I'll take your advice and get the fuel pressure checked. It runs great until it quits running when the tank gets to 15.5 gallons and it does it consistently, so I didn't see how it could be a fuel pressure problem. The guy I bought it from said he had the fuel filter changed with the other maintenance just before I bought it, but he may have been mistaken.

After it stalls, I have been able to restart and gently make it to the nearest gas station which has never been further than 50 yards for the last three times it died. It never has any problems until the tank gets to 15.5 gallons from full.

Thanks for taking the time to re-explain.

Ray

 

[ToyTech99]

I'm sorry. I'll take your advice and get the fuel pressure checked. It runs great until it quits running when the tank gets to 15.5 gallons and it does it consistently, so I didn't see how it could be a fuel pressure problem. The guy I bought it from said he had the fuel filter changed with the other maintenance just before I bought it, but he may have been mistaken.

After it stalls, I have been able to restart and gently make it to the nearest gas station which has never been further than 50 yards for the last three times it died. It never has any problems until the tank gets to 15.5 gallons from full.

Thanks for taking the time to re-explain.

Ray

Yes, but that's exactly what bothers me about your problem. You shouldn't be able to restart the engine after it quits. Have you ever tried to restart it more than once, meaning drive it until it stalls and then restart it, then drive it again until it stalls and restart it again? That might tell you something if it actually does restart several times. That's why I said you should have a deadhead test peformed also when they check your fuel pressure. A deadhead test will tell you have much reserve pressure your fuel pump is capable of providing. My thoughts here are that if your fuel pump is marginal, it might work okay when there's plenty of fuel for it to pick up. But when the level gets low or the pickup isn't always submerged in fuel, it might be a sign that your fuel pump works, but is not putting out the high PSI that it should be putting out in the first place, causing the stalling issues (or maybe low fuel pressure) when the fuel tank is low. Again, this is just an assumption based up the problem as you described it. If you never mentioned anything about being able to restart the engine after it stall, I would not be thinking along the same lines as I am now.

 

[Ray.Klefstad]

Have you ever tried to restart it more than once, meaning drive it until it stalls and then restart it, then drive it again until it stalls and restart it again?

No, I had not tried that since the gas stations were so close each time. I might try that later, but I'm going to get those two tests you recommend first.

Thanks again!

By the way, I looked at the schematic for the pickup and there is a hose that comes down from the fuel pump to a seive that filters out large sediment. It also seems to me that hose could have come off, or could have developed a leak. At least that fit my mental model of what was happening.

I mentioned the problem to my mechanic friend over the phone and he said, "just fill it up after 250 miles and forget about it."

Ray

 

[Spencer]

Couldn't be a leak because you get 17mpg in city and when you fill up it's still only 15.5 gals. Somehow your not getting all the gas out your tank, your tank was changed to smaller or your tank was crushed baad.. But since it starts up after fuel loss then it's got to be pump

 

[Ray.Klefstad]

You still don't want the fuel pump sitting on the bottom even with a filter since if the filter was to filter that sedment that is on the bottom of the tank the filter would clog really quick and it's not like you can change it regularly.

I looked into the parts diagram, and there is a large seive, or prefilter (upper left) that covers the bottom end of the pick-up tube in the tank to prevent pick-up of sediment. You can see it here in this picture of a fuel pump replacement kit:

http://sd.autohausaz.com/autohausaz...eautopartscatalog.com/live/W01331601684ND.JPG

from this web site:

http://sd.autohausaz.com/autohausaz...ry=240737@Fuel Delivery&part=240770@Fuel Pump

Note also there is a tube that extends down from the pump to this pre-filter. I still suspet that might be the source of my problem. If it fell off or developed a leak, I would think that might cause the symptom of not picking up the last 3 gallons of fuel in my tank.

Ray

 

[Ray.Klefstad]

your tank was changed to smaller or your tank was crushed baad

Tank looks like the stock tank. Why would anyone change a tank to a smaller tank? This T4R was only used for commuting and has never been off road before I had it.

But since it starts up after fuel loss then it's got to be pump

What about the pump? Do you think it is not positioned properly? Or not functioning properly? Or the pickup tube to it is not functioning properly? Or the fuel filter or prefilter are clogged?

I've already considered all these things, but wanted to get some advice before I remove the tank to see what's going on inside.

I'm going to have the deadhead test and fuel line pressure test done first.

Ray

 

[bak3rme]

i have 1999 4runner 4x2 sr5, i am very light on the gas pedal, do mostly highway driving, just replaced new spark plugs, air filter and fuel filter and run all tires on 35 psi and somehow i still get only about 220-230 miles for every tank i fill up

whats with this nonsense?

 

[Qyota]

Obviously you haven't read through all the threads bootown gave you.

You CAN'T compare miles-per-tank. Instead, fill up the tank, set your trip meter and drive until the fuel light comes on. Then, fill up again. Divide the number of miles on the trip meter by the gallons of gas you put in the tank. That will give you miles per gallon.

The reason you can't rely on miles per tank is because we all have different experiences with the fuel gauge, and when the low fuel light comes on.

You say mostly highway driving, but at what speed? Anything over 65mph, and the fuel efficiency starts to drop pretty fast. Got a roof rack full of stuff, or a back end full of subs? That hurts too. Get a scangaugeII and hook it up. It will give you by-the-second readings of your MPG, as well as a bunch of other useful stuff (I currently have it set to read MPG, ATF temp, Throttle Position, and Water Temp). You will learn how to drive conservatively with this tool.

 

[bak3rme]

Obviously you haven't read through all the threads bootown gave you.

You CAN'T compare miles-per-tank. Instead, fill up the tank, set your trip meter and drive until the fuel light comes on. Then, fill up again. Divide the number of miles on the trip meter by the gallons of gas you put in the tank. That will give you miles per gallon.

The reason you can't rely on miles per tank is because we all have different experiences with the fuel gauge, and when the low fuel light comes on.

You say mostly highway driving, but at what speed? Anything over 65mph, and the fuel efficiency starts to drop pretty fast. Got a roof rack full of stuff, or a back end full of subs? That hurts too. Get a scangaugeII and hook it up. It will give you by-the-second readings of your MPG, as well as a bunch of other useful stuff (I currently have it set to read MPG, ATF temp, Throttle Position, and Water Temp). You will learn how to drive conservatively with this tool.

i've read alot so far, however when u say i can't read it by miles per tank, is that because of how much gas left in each car when the light comes on depends on every 4runner? so basically 100 mpg could be alright (theoretically) it just depends on when the light wants to come on (even though i could still have plenty of gas when the light turns on?)
i donno if that made sense.

but next time i will fill up the tank ,record the amount of gallons required to fill up, then reset trip A meter. drive until the light comes on. then figure out my mileages by dividing miles driven on that tank by gallons of gas added

correct me if i'm wrong, also im running everything stock except for a brush guard, tire sizes are 265/70r16 inflated to 35 psi, light on the gas, mostly highway at about 70-75 mph, just changed fuel filter, air filter spark plugs and cleaned my TB and added some STP fuel injection cleaner last fillup

 

[Fireball]

Ray, did you ever find a resolution to this problem? Just read through this thread and it sounded like a pretty unique situation. Inquiring minds...

 

[bak3rme]

I think you have your calculation method screwed up. Fill up you tank, reset your trip odometer, when your tank is empty fill back up and divide your trip distance by the amount of gas you just put in.

This is still not that accurate but if you can use the exact same pump and not top off on either fill ups it could be close to actual. The best way is do this a few times in a row and then combine all your numbers.

will do and post results, thanks

 

[mcolliga]

I have a stock '99 sr5 3.4L. I always set the trip every fill up and the light comes on at 240 miles with 4 gallons left. That means I'm getting 17.15 city mpg's. Yesterday, I ran it to 276 miles and ran out of gas somehow, and I'm sure I filled it up previously. I was able to restart it twice getting another mile and then it was completely out. 276 miles/18.5 gallons is 14.9 mpg. Something must be wrong because I should be able to go over 300 if I really have to. This was a rare occurance, I usually fill up at 240. Not sure if I'm picking up the bottom two gallons either, that would make sense according to these numbers.

 

[jackofwa]

me too!

i have a 96' sr5 v6 4x4, 155k. as soon as the empty light went on i refueled,(within 1/4 mile.) 13.5 gals. was what went in the tank. triple checked the gas pump handle( pulled for more gas,stopped on its own.) a 5 gal. reserve indicator?
ps. an 18.5 gal tank is an 18.5 gal tank. mpg is irrelevant.