When does your "low fuel" light come on?

[Martinjmpr]

On my 04 Taco, I was used to the low fuel light coming on when I had ~ 2 gallons left in the 18.5 gallon tank.

According to Edmunds, the 4runner also has an 18.5 gallon tank but last Sunday my low fuel light came on and when I filled the tank I put in 15 gallons meaning that I still had over 3 gallons in the tank when the light came on!

Interested in hearing what others experiences are with the low fuel light. I can understand them wanting it to come on early because it's less likely you'll run the tank dry but IMO a low fuel light that comes on when you can still go 45+ miles (even at 15mpg!) is a little bit much.

My concern is that if it's a "cry wolf" kind of light then I'm more likely to ignore it.

 

[ChildrenOfBodom]

Yup, pretty much all 4Runners do that I'm sure.

I have tested it to see what happens. I got a red carton of gas and drove til the tank was dry.

I ended up way past the E. I was used to 200mi a tank, I got all the way to 279.9 miles. I put a gallon from the red carton and went to the gas station.

I always heed the warning though, and fill up soon. It's nice knowing theres extra, in case, but even though I know theres more in the tank, I scare myself.


Something was wrong with my 4Runner at the time so now if I were to try the test, I'm absolutely sure I could break 300-320 miles.

 

[RonMAIDEN]

mine seems to always come on in the 200 mile range and I always easily go another 50-60 miles and I still only fillup with about 15.5 gallons.

 

[Qyota]

When my light turns on, I have at least 4.5 gallons left. Usually closer to 5. I have no idea why! But, I don't mind. It's nice having ~100 miles of buffer.

 

[AK Kilted Guy]

I just got my 96 T4R but took a road trip last week. Drove 305 miles, and the light came on. Got gas and topped off shortly thereafter and still had about 4 gallons in the tank.

 

[ChildrenOfBodom]

Heres a screenshot of my gas mileage app on my iPhone.

As you can see, amount filled (directly underneath the miles on the odo) barely gets to 16gal. I usually run the gas down to the bottom line of the gas gauge.

 

[peter78]

The gas light coming on early was a common problem in the 3rd gen. There is a TSB about it. They finally fixed the problem in 2001. When my gas light comes on, it takes 16.5 gallons.

 

[Qyota]

Wow, Children of Bodom...that's some craptastic fuel efficiency! What kind of driving do you do? Can't believe I'm getting on average 6 more MPG than you, and I have the V6.

 

[ChildrenOfBodom]

Wow, Children of Bodom...that's some craptastic fuel efficiency! What kind of driving do you do? Can't believe I'm getting on average 6 more MPG than you, and I have the V6.

lol

craptastic indeed.

Well the 18 on there was strictly highway the whole time...

I think ts because I have two exhaust leaks and old diff oil... wanna give me some advice? haha. when I did my 2nd synthetic oil change, 2 mpg instantly.

What do you think could be the issue? I might even post a thread if i can't get an answer here.

 

[004Gunner]

The headers are definitely not going to help your fuel economy.

 

[nquaint]

lol

craptastic indeed.

Well the 18 on there was strictly highway the whole time...

I think ts because I have two exhaust leaks and old diff oil... wanna give me some advice? haha. when I did my 2nd synthetic oil change, 2 mpg instantly.

What do you think could be the issue? I might even post a thread if i can't get an answer here.

I'm getting similar mileage, but I don't have any problems that I'm aware off, maybe I should take mine in for a tune up and have someone certified look at it...

 

[43242code1]

my light comes on usually when the computer reads 40-50 miles remaining on range.
I drive with the light on until it reads around 12 miles remaining on range.
55,610 : fill up @ 19.149 gallons
55,937 : fill up @ 19.957 gallons (327 miles driven/20 gallon tank =16.35 mi/gl.)

i will be filling up again by friday. :beer:

 

[aTALLasian]

Somewhat related to this thread, but can someone tell me if there's a chime that sounds when the low fuel light comes on? So far I haven't noticed one on my truck.

My finacee is taking the truck on a bit of a road trip and I want to make sure there's no chance of her running out of gas because she isn't paying attention to the gas gauge or mileage.

 

[Hepar]

Somewhat related to this thread, but can someone tell me if there's a chime that sounds when the low fuel light comes on? So far I haven't noticed one on my truck.

My finacee is taking the truck on a bit of a road trip and I want to make sure there's no chance of her running out of gas because she isn't paying attention to the gas gauge or mileage.

No chime. You have to just pay attention.

 

[3bears]

when mine kicks on I have about 4 gallons left. But how many miles till "empty" depends on what I'm doing and weather and what tires I have on.
Ive never run it empty (meaning till the truck stops running), but have one time in the middle of no place thought, man I hope this thing makes it.
It did, and took 17+ gallons.

That said I don't want it to malfunction, so I start looking for gas before it even kicks the light on, and watch my odometer as much as the gauge it self. Guess it comes from driving so many back roads with gas stations few and far between.

 

[Horsethief]

Somewhat related to this thread, but can someone tell me if there's a chime that sounds when the low fuel light comes on? So far I haven't noticed one on my truck.

My finacee is taking the truck on a bit of a road trip and I want to make sure there's no chance of her running out of gas because she isn't paying attention to the gas gauge or mileage.

Just have her look at the gauge every once in a while, like in any other car. Have a rule of thumb that when it hits the 1/4 mark, stop at the next station (unless you're traveling across the desert or something).

I generally fill my cars at the 1/4 mark, I don't wait for the light to come on.

 

[aTALLasian]

No chime. You have to just pay attention.

Just have her look at the gauge every once in a while, like in any other car. Have a rule of thumb that when it hits the 1/4 mark, stop at the next station (unless you're traveling across the desert or something).

I generally fill my cars at the 1/4 mark, I don't wait for the light to come on.

:cheers:

 

[BamaDrewski]

On my 04 Taco, I was used to the low fuel light coming on when I had ~ 2 gallons left in the 18.5 gallon tank.

According to Edmunds, the 4runner also has an 18.5 gallon tank but last Sunday my low fuel light came on and when I filled the tank I put in 15 gallons meaning that I still had over 3 gallons in the tank when the light came on!

Interested in hearing what others experiences are with the low fuel light. I can understand them wanting it to come on early because it's less likely you'll run the tank dry but IMO a low fuel light that comes on when you can still go 45+ miles (even at 15mpg!) is a little bit much.

My concern is that if it's a "cry wolf" kind of light then I'm more likely to ignore it.

When my rig shows 1/8th of a tank left (Needle splitting the last quarter on the gauge) I fill her up and more times than not, I have five to seven gallons left in the tank and reserve.