Carolinafan
New member
I couldn't agree with you more. I think rather than fixing it I will just keep an eye on the trip odo. and not go past 280 miles, just to play it safe.
Unless it is a cheap and/or easy fix. Is it?
Ran out of gas with 1/4 tank?
- Thread starter Carolinafan
- Start date
I couldn't agree with you more. I think rather than fixing it I will just keep an eye on the trip odo. and not go past 280 miles, just to play it safe.
Unless it is a cheap and/or easy fix. Is it?
ChildrenOfBodom
Moderator
Honestly, I REALLY think you're all over reacting!
I can't tell you how many times I've parked my 4Runner with hardly anything left in the tank and the gauge reads full when I get back in.
It could have just been a one time thing. If you turn off your truck too fast after stopping, the gas gauge will be wayyy up when you turn it back on. Vice versa, if you stop really hard when reversing, the gas is all gone on the gauge!
It happens to me at least once a day. The gas gauge is usually off in la la land for a few minutes and adjusts, but there are certainly days where I don't know what the hell the thing is doing.
Just relax, watch your trip meter, and if it happens again and again, then you've got a problem. Don't let all these guys diagnose your truck for you.
I can't tell you how many times I've parked my 4Runner with hardly anything left in the tank and the gauge reads full when I get back in.
It could have just been a one time thing. If you turn off your truck too fast after stopping, the gas gauge will be wayyy up when you turn it back on. Vice versa, if you stop really hard when reversing, the gas is all gone on the gauge!
It happens to me at least once a day. The gas gauge is usually off in la la land for a few minutes and adjusts, but there are certainly days where I don't know what the hell the thing is doing.
Just relax, watch your trip meter, and if it happens again and again, then you've got a problem. Don't let all these guys diagnose your truck for you.
brian2sun
Elite Member
If talking about why his gas gauge is reading wrong is overreacting, then I guess we're all guilty. But, I've never had a single issue with my gas gauge in the 10 years I've owned mine. You might want to replace your sender or gauge if yours reads funky everyday. If I was the OP, I would be concerned about running out of gas and sputtering when my gauge reads 1/4 tank too. It shouldn't be like that.
ChildrenOfBodom
Moderator
IIRC, the 99 and 00 models have it especially bad. I would replace it, but it's not really the top priority ATM. It will be replaced, though, sooner or later.
brian2sun
Elite Member
My needle will move like that when I take off/stop and on hills too. Like any car, it's not accurate unless your sitting level so I wait till I'm on a flat road or parking lot to know more accurately how much I have.
All you guys getting 300+ miles/tank are lucky! I get about 235-240 before the light comes on if I'm doing 60-65 mph on the highway the whole time. Other than that, I get ~220 with normal driving. The most I've ever got was 290 when my junk was stock.
COB, now that you say it, I remember reading that the '99s and '00s do have a problem with their fuel senders/gauges.
All you guys getting 300+ miles/tank are lucky! I get about 235-240 before the light comes on if I'm doing 60-65 mph on the highway the whole time. Other than that, I get ~220 with normal driving. The most I've ever got was 290 when my junk was stock.
COB, now that you say it, I remember reading that the '99s and '00s do have a problem with their fuel senders/gauges.
cj80cruiser
Senior Member
My 96 isn't accurate when I get below half a tank. At full, it goes down at a normal constant rate per what I would think is normal while driving but once it gets to just under a half tank it will drop to 1/4 then back to almost half, drop down a little, back up, and so on and so forth til I fill up again. It still lets me know when I'm low enough that the fuel light comes on...its kind of a guessing game but I have a feel for when I'm running low. Now if I wasn't the only person driving my truck then I might be in trouble if the fuel light failed to come on.
It just started doing this one day about 4 or 5 months ago and progressively gotten worse.
It just started doing this one day about 4 or 5 months ago and progressively gotten worse.
t4r4life
Elite Member
same here im kinda jealous of the 300+ people
JohnsD90
New member
I bet i could get close to 400, cause 21mpg is like 380 miles, so at 55mph on the highway for 400 miles with ideal weather it could definetley be plausable, i think it is definetley do-able, but then again i can use all the fuel in my tank, ive filled up over 17 gallons on numerous occasions and once i got 18.6.
Carolinafan
New member
This was only the 2nd time I've gotten over 300. Both times were atleast 80% or more highway driving. Normal driving My light comes one at about 250-260. I guess from now on I'll fill up at that point no matter my driving style.
michael833
New member
when i put $40 dollars of gas in my 4runner... the needle stops at about 3/4 a tank. is this normal?!?!?!
:shrug: :shrug: :shrug: :shrug: :shrug: :shrug:
:shrug: :shrug: :shrug: :shrug: :shrug: :shrug:
cj80cruiser
Senior Member
Could be. My truck held over $50 the other day when I filled up
Maybe try running Redline Si-1, Chevron Techron, Gumout Regane High Mileage, or Toyota branded fuel system cleaner. If you haven't had your fuel filter replaced I'd do that ASAP.
From the midwest to the east coast on 18.5 gal. of gas I can cruise safely to 350 miles before filling up in eastern Ohio or western PA. And I drive like I stole my 4Runner when on the highway. Usually in the 80's to 90's and always behind several other speeders and putting my trust in the Valentine One radar and knowing my 1997 Limited 2WD 4Runner is maintained impeccably.
From the midwest to the east coast on 18.5 gal. of gas I can cruise safely to 350 miles before filling up in eastern Ohio or western PA. And I drive like I stole my 4Runner when on the highway. Usually in the 80's to 90's and always behind several other speeders and putting my trust in the Valentine One radar and knowing my 1997 Limited 2WD 4Runner is maintained impeccably.
notrayray
New member
I guess that depends on how much your fuel costs. I put $75 in mine to top it off, the other day.
michael833
New member
I think i can get 300 mile if road is flat, I'm from fresno CA, last week i when to gilroy garden in CA, 165 mile road trip and i fill up gas at 8.5 gallen and 85% highway mile and the rest is city driving so i getting 19.5 mpg and my 4runner 4x4 is lift and running 33x12.5-17 and get 16mpg city.
brian2sun
Elite Member
That's really good for being lifted w/ 33s. My truck is so weighted down with armor, I don't really see above 16 anymore.
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