Ran out of gas with 1/4 tank?

[Carolinafan]

I ran out of gas yesterday for the first time ever. Lets just say, its not fun! And its hard to figure out whats wrong when the gas guage is showing a 1/4 of a tank. I know the gauges are off, usually to the good, correct? Mileage wise it was at 319.4 miles (75-80% highway). Is this a common issue or just a fluke? What do you guys average to a tank?

 

[Baja Runner]

never have i ran out of gas, but I go till about 275!

 

[ChildrenOfBodom]

Must have been reading off... I usually get 320 only if I run it dry

 

[bitchaaz]

I usually run it till 295 before I start getting nervous. Obviously something is keeping your float from going down any further.

 

[attitudeofgratitud]

Don't know if this will help. But here it is. Not sure what your year is and if it applies.

 

[fightman80]

It's never happened to me....yet. But have noticed once just leaving it iddle, and then taking off, the needle went from half to 3/4 full once??? WTF???

 

[MAD 69]

I get well over 300 miles to the tank but I usually fill up when I get to 300.
You should invest in a gauge - Ultra Gauge or a Scan Gauge, this will take the guesswork out and it sure is a lot cheaper than replacing your fuel injectors(when you burn them out when you run out of gas).

 

[Martinjmpr]

Damn, I never make it to 300 unless I'm on the highway. Around town I typically fill up around 220 - 250 miles.

Don't count on the gas gauge. Reset your trip meter each time and fill up when you know you need it - in your case, I'd say 300 miles max.

 

[michael833]

It's never happened to me....yet. But have noticed once just leaving it iddle, and then taking off, the needle went from half to 3/4 full once??? WTF???

weird. i've noticed that if i drive with a lead foot for a while and then tone it down to about 35 for a long stretch (not much stop and go) that the needle will "add some gas," but not much.

 

[JohnsD90]

With highway i can do 340-360 (estimated) if i ran it dry, my gas light turns on at 315-320 (then 2 or 3 gallons remain).

 

[JohnsD90]

i notice on uphill section the gauge reads higher, and downhill sections the tank drops, i can get it to move like 1/4 tank on steep hills.

 

[Carolinafan]

never have i ran out of gas, but I go till about 275!

I usually get about 275 when I do mostly city driving, but since I did so much highway driving I figured I could get much more.:bash:

Don't count on the gas gauge. Reset your trip meter each time and fill up when you know you need it - in your case, I'd say 300 miles max.

:iagree:

 

[Stick Figure]

I ran out of gas yesterday for the first time ever. Lets just say, its not fun! And its hard to figure out whats wrong when the gas guage is showing a 1/4 of a tank. I know the gauges are off, usually to the good, correct? Mileage wise it was at 319.4 miles (75-80% highway). Is this a common issue or just a fluke? What do you guys average to a tank?

Mine has actually had this issue twice usually after hitting a large pot hole or similar. I'm not sure what happens because its happened on trips and corrected itself with in a fill up or two and is fine by the time i get it back home. Eventually i'm sure it will stay broken long enough for me to figure out the cause, until then i just keep an eye on the millage especially on trips!

 

[Carolinafan]

Since I ran it completly dry, is there anything I should check before it turns into a major issue?

 

[RonMAIDEN]

You can't really run the tank dry since the pump doesn't sit on the bottom of the tank and you usually have a gallon or two of unuseable gas and there should be no issues,just fill it back up and go.

 

[calimobber]

You can't really run the tank dry since the pump doesn't sit on the bottom of the tank and you usually have a gallon or two of unuseable gas and there should be no issues,just fill it back up and go.

The pump may not be on the very bottom sucking up every last drop but there is no way an extra 1 to 2 gallons not being used. We have a 18.5 gal tank and If my light turns on ill fill up 16.5. So that means the light turns on giving me about 2 gal to use after the light turns on.



I would never go over 300miles thats pushing it but I know what you mean about trying to figure out whats wrong when the gas gauge still shows gas. Dont worry nothing was damaged just keep an eye on your miles though.

My old bronco 2 I went off the trip meter and one time I was doing donuts in a mud put for like 30 mins. I was burning gas but my front tires werent moving the trip meter ! doh!! lol

 

[JT3HN86R]

I just filled up at 269 miles. The gauge was at 1/8 of a tank, no light on yet.

18.69 mpg combined city and highway driving.

 

[Carolinafan]

I understand there was still some left in the tank and when it cut off I was facing down hill so that made it a little worse. But my buddy brought me 3 gallons in a gas can to get me to the store and then I put just under 15 gallons in it so roughly I had a little over 1/2 a gallon left. Thats pretty much dry in my book!
Oh well. :happens: I guess I know my limit now!

 

[Carolinafan]

I would never go over 300miles thats pushing it but I know what you mean about trying to figure out whats wrong when the gas gauge still shows gas. Dont worry nothing was damaged just keep an eye on your miles though.

I wont be going over 300 ever again. I learned my lesson!

My old bronco 2 I went off the trip meter and one time I was doing donuts in a mud put for like 30 mins. I was burning gas but my front tires werent moving the trip meter ! doh!! lol

OUCH! That sucks!

 

[brian2sun]

You can't really run the tank dry since the pump doesn't sit on the bottom of the tank and you usually have a gallon or two of unuseable gas and there should be no issues,just fill it back up and go.

I agree, the pump doesn't go all the way down so it won't suck up tank debris. I will put in about 14.5 gallons if I fill up as soon as my light goes on. The most I can remember ever putting in was still <17 gallons, and I had driven a couple of days with the fuel light glowing.

OP, if you went 320 miles and still had a 1/4 tank (regardless of whether you ran out of gas or not), there is something wrong with your gauge or sending unit! No 4runners get 400 miles to a tank (a HiluxSurf with a diesel maybe, but definitely not a 4runner).