Running out of gas

[medicrn]

Does it do anything bad to your 4Runner other than making it not go anymore till it gets more gas?

I've always heard that it kills fuel filters or injectors because of the sediment in gas and the corrosion on the bottom of the gas tank but as far as I know gas doesn't have sediment and gas tanks for Toyotas made in 2005 do not have metal gas tanks.

That and I'd assume that fuel pumps are on the bottom of gas tanks and would regularly pump in gas from the bottom of the tank.

 

[Atlanta_man]

I don't know about the mechanical impact but running out of gas unexpectedly can get you in big trouble, and may be fatal in some cases, whether in the big city or out in the country.

 

[FRT]

Not sure about the sediment (we do have a self cleaning fuel filter), but it's recommended you not go below 1/4, as the fuel pump is cooled by the fuel itself.

 

[MikeInNH]

The biggest thing with running out of gas is that the fuel pump may over heat. Not a good idea. Shortens the life of the pump.

The self cleaning fuel pump/filter is one thing I never liked about the 4runner. Yes..you may never have to change the filter..but if you do it's expensive. I prefer the external filter that you have to change. With the 4runner setup you NEVER get rid of the dirt/sediment. With a filter you have to replace the dirt/sediment is removed from the system. My pathfinder had a 30k mile filter. I replaced it about every 20k miles and every time I did..it was FILTHY. I'd hate to see how much dirt/sediment is in my tank after 300k miles.

 

[TRDCal]

Not sure about the sediment (we do have a self cleaning fuel filter), but it's recommended you not go below 1/4, as the fuel pump is cooled by the fuel itself.

^This^....I never heard about the self cleaning fuel filter tho, that sounds pretty neat, can you explain more?

I've always heard that it kills fuel filters or injectors because of the sediment in gas and the corrosion on the bottom of the gas tank but as far as I know gas doesn't have sediment and gas tanks for Toyotas made in 2005 do not have metal gas tanks.

Even my 03 has a plastic gas tank. I love that, very smart idea on Toyota's part. I wouldn't worry too much about sediment as the pump as a small pre-screen around the inlet so it won't suck up any chunks of anything. I would say the lack of cooling from the fuel would be more an issue.

 

[FRT]

Ah Mike, it reminded me of this thread: http://www.toyota-4runner.org/4th-gen-t4rs/104874-fuel-filter-replacement.html

 

[FRT]

^This^....I never heard about the self cleaning fuel filter tho, that sounds pretty neat, can you explain more?

I was regurgitating info really, but basically it "backwashes" a bit, to clean the filter off. Something like that. =)
Someone else might have more technical info on it.

 

[MikeInNH]

Ah Mike, it reminded me of this thread: http://www.toyota-4runner.org/4th-gen-t4rs/104874-fuel-filter-replacement.html

Thanks for the reminder.

I still have that write-up and the info on the kit that moves the filter to OUTSIDE the tank.

 

[ChaosStarter]

You can get sediment from any gas station. I always tell people that come into my shop that if you see one of those big gas-tankers unloading into a gas station to just skip that station. Those hundreds or thousands of gallons will stir some **** up, and that'll go right into the pumps. I'm sure the pumps have some kind of initial filter on them, but it doesn't stop everything.