Fuel tank capacity issue for MY16/17/18 Land Cruiser

[liwenyu15492]

I just bought a 2018 Land Cruiser a month ago, I'm so confused about the Range miles and fuel tank capacity. I got about 15 mpg average, and I reset the avg. mpg after I filled the tank up every time the tank is almost empty, in other word, I filled up when the Range showed about 5-10 miles. Based on my 15 mpg, I should have less than 1 gal gas left in tank, but I can just fill up to 20 gal to the tank every time. Does it mean I have up to 20+1.0=21 gal tank capacity? I know the pump nozzle will shut off when the tank isn't totally full to prevent people from overfilling. However, I think there is a big gap between 21 and the number 24.6 Toyota claims. Also, my low fuel light comes on when the Range shows 10-20 miles, it means just <1 gal. in tank? The Owner's Manual says there is approximate 4 gal or less left when the fuel light comes on. Anyone has same issue? Hope someone can help? Thanks

 

[indycole]

Doubt there’s an issue. The tank is 24.6 gal and there’s usually still 4-5 gal in the tank when the DTE reads 0 and the fuel is on E.

 

[liwenyu15492]

Doubt there’s an issue. The tank is 24.6 gal and there’s usually still 4-5 gal in the tank when the DTE reads 0 and the fuel is on E.

Thanks for your input! Have to send it to dealer for checking up.

 

[Union]

Yes, this is normal. I'm pretty sure the reserve is around 5 gal. I wish we had the dual tank option from the factory like the guys down under do.

 

[liwenyu15492]

Yes, this is normal. I'm pretty sure the reserve is around 5 gal. I wish we had the dual tank option from the factory like the guys down under do.

Thank you for your input! If the reserve is around 5 gal, I can still drive around 70 miles even though the fuel warning light comes on? Usually my fuel light comes on when the Range shows only 15-20 miles. In other word, I can still drive around 50 miles even though the Range count down to 0? Is that normal? I never seen a car had such design.

 

[Union]

Thank you for your input! If the reserve is around 5 gal, I can still drive around 70 miles even though the fuel warning light comes on? Usually my fuel light comes on when the Range shows only 15-20 miles. In other word, I can still drive around 50 miles even though the Range count down to 0? Is that normal? I never seen a car had such design.

Yea I drove another 10 miles before i got to the gas station with range 0. Most vehicles should have a reserve built in for various reasons.

 

[liwenyu15492]

Yea I drove another 10 miles before i got to the gas station with range 0. Most vehicles should have a reserve built in for various reasons.

Thank you! It's getting really stressed with Range 0...

 

[TeCKis300]

It's a known "feature" of the LC. The guys that just did the LDLC off-road trip, had several guys at 0, yet had to go 40 miles more for a fill-up.

Just know there's usually a good margin of reserve. But that reserve is not always consistently 50+ miles. I tow, yet sometimes when it shows zero, I've filled over 22 gallons. But yes, the guauge and range estimate is very conservative.

 

[liwenyu15492]

It's a known "feature" of the LC. The guys that just did the LDLC off-road trip, had several guys at 0, yet had to go 40 miles more for a fill-up.

Just know there's usually a good margin of reserve. But that reserve is not always consistently 50+ miles. I tow, yet sometimes when it shows zero, I've filled over 22 gallons. But yes, the guauge and range estimate is very conservative.

Thanks for your input. Just asked dealer they said it's normal, just like you said that's the conservative estimate.

 

[Bendcruiser]

There are other threads on this. I had the exact same question when I got my 2015 in January. May have something to do with keeping the fuel pump submerged and cool? They don't want you to run it low on fuel too long. If pump runs hot all the time may decrease its life?

 

[liwenyu15492]

There are other threads on this. I had the exact same question when I got my 2015 in January. May have something to do with keeping the fuel pump submerged and cool? They don't want you to run it low on fuel too long. If pumps runs hotter all the time may decrease its life?

Yes, completely agree with it, for longer life of fuel pump I'll fill up asap after warning light on.

 

[LALC]

There are other threads on this. I had the exact same question when I got my 2015 in January. May have something to do with keeping the fuel pump submerged and cool? They don't want you to run it low on fuel too long. If pumps runs hotter all the time may decrease its life?

This seems to be the consensus, but would be a good question to ask next time folks are around a Toyota LC expert.

 

[Markuson]

One big fat benefit of adding an LRA sub tank?

-Almost never give that annoying yellow light the slightest thought except that it might soon be time to refill my main tank as I'm driving.

 

[Taco2Cruiser]

Ehh, I carry a 4 gallon Rotopax on trips. I go 40 miles after E all the time, and still have 2 gallons in the tank. And I have that extra fuel should things get weird.

Also, the fuel pump sits in a small ”bucket” that stays filled with fuel, even when the tank is super low. It pulls from the tank, into the bucket, then up through the line.

And they don’t get very hot anymore. For kicks, I ran one on a bench, cycling fuel around for an hour. It barely got to 20° above ambient temperature.

The thought of fuel pumps burning out with low fuel is another antiquated idea. Things have changed. Honestly, unless in West Texas, when I’m on the interstates, I don’t even start looking for fuel till my range says 0.

 

[Markuson]

I try not to look at the range estimate...partly because I think it’s pretty useless...and partly bc it reminds me of my horrible mpg.

And yet I DO tend to keep the display on my current tank’s estimated MPG... Go figure.

 

[liwenyu15492]

Thank you guys! At least I'm pretty sure this is not an issue from your input.

 

[Union]

Just to add one more thing, The Tundra has the same ~5 Gallon Reserve built into the software and my 2016 Tacoma had a 3 gallon one.

 

[Taco2Cruiser]

Just to add one more thing, The Tundra has the same ~5 Gallon Reserve built into the software and my 2016 Tacoma had a 3 gallon one.

Maybe the idea is the Tundra will most likely run out of fuel towing on roads. Where the 200 will run out of fuel driving in some remote region? I’m being serious, I really feel Toyota has a vision, and they stretch the vision even into when a fuel light goes off.

@Markuson im with you, I don’t look at the range. I keep mine on tire pressures.

 

[cc1999]

It's not exclusive to the LC/LX or even Toyota.
I have seen the same thing with my business trucks at least on the Tundra's as well as our Nissan's we have 2017/18 Titan's, 2017 Armada's and Qx80s all seem to have a hidden 5 gallon reserve at 0 miles to empty .
I am without a doubt not a fan of this feature or flaw whatever you prefer to call it, I do know it is normal. I would simply prefer the gauges/info screens only show me accurate info not intentionally misleading info.
Nor to buy the whole keeping the fuel pump cool theory so often sited on this topic, that one has always seemed a little far fetched to me.

 

[M1911]

I'm very familiar with the 4-5 gallon reserve.

And yet, on my trip back from Colorado, I began to get very antsy as the fuel gauge neared empty and the range counted down to 50 miles. It's silly, as I knew that I had another 60 miles of range. But I always ended up getting off the interstate and getting gas before it got below 30 mile range.