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Gas millage: filling up a little bit a time Vs. filling up full tank?

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Old 11-17-2009, 03:16 PM
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I keep her as full as I can, never let it go under 1/4.

Going low on gas is a great way to cook your fuel pump, it uses gas to cool it.

In addition, everytime you open the gas cap you loose fuel, a very small amount but it adds up if you are constantly putting in small amounts of gas.
Old 11-17-2009, 03:27 PM
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Originally Posted by SR5
well i fill up when the yellow light turns on, i drive 10 miles and it lights up again



because i recently lost my job, and im broke, and i get a few bucks here and there for driving my friends.

haha i used to be like that i stick in 10 bucks and after a few miles the low fuel light stays on. thats how i got money for gas giving ppl rides. i thought that i was worse sticking in 10 bucks at a time when i was running on low fuel light all day. now i keep my tank above a quarter tank puttin in 20 bucks at a time. it sucks being a poor teenager
Old 11-17-2009, 03:27 PM
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OK Generally you should not let the gas level go bellow 1/2-1/3 of a tank. Top it off with 20$ here and there. Your going to be buying a new fuel pump with in the year or two maybe sonner.... you will burn out your pump in time. If money is that tight then yea.... you can't afford that truck sell it. Theres an old saying with fuel guages. You run out of gas quicker from half to empty then full to half. Atleast with most old mechanical gauges. If you fill your truck up all the way for its 17 gals that it hold drive till nearly all gone and that should be to where the fuel light is staying on completely. Then you should be getting close to 190-250 miles to a tank. If not then you are driving crazy and or you truck is not running tip top.
Old 11-17-2009, 03:33 PM
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and lose the bigger tires if you can. i put my 33s back on and im like losing like 100km a tank
Old 11-17-2009, 03:58 PM
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Well Im running 31s and getting 215 miles to a tank but I dont run it till light comes on.Guess Im not doing to bad then compared to some other posts.I will keep in mind about the gas keeping the temp down on the fuel pump.Also dont know what shape the bottom of my tank is in and Im sure I dont want to know.
Old 11-17-2009, 04:00 PM
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On my 95 4Runner 3.0 Auto I was getting 14 mpg highway I believe with 31's and 4.88's
Old 11-17-2009, 04:15 PM
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Running on low fuel all the time is bad for your fuel pump.

If you're running it low to cut down on weight, don't bother. Your 4runner holds about 100 pounds of gas. Its total curb weight is around 3750 pounds.
Old 11-17-2009, 06:16 PM
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Originally Posted by Jay351
I keep her as full as I can, never let it go under 1/4.

Going low on gas is a great way to cook your fuel pump, it uses gas to cool it.

In addition, everytime you open the gas cap you loose fuel, a very small amount but it adds up if you are constantly putting in small amounts of gas.
word, mines always for 1/2 tank. sometimes she gets low to a 1/4. but then she gets a nice tank of 92
Old 11-17-2009, 06:30 PM
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Originally Posted by gary96360
haha i used to be like that i stick in 10 bucks and after a few miles the low fuel light stays on. thats how i got money for gas giving ppl rides. i thought that i was worse sticking in 10 bucks at a time when i was running on low fuel light all day. now i keep my tank above a quarter tank puttin in 20 bucks at a time. it sucks being a poor teenager
haha ill say id give a freind a ride (for money) they would get in and always ask me "does your gas gadge work?" lol id just say ya it works fine.
Old 11-18-2009, 10:19 AM
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Originally Posted by 4RunningColorado
well its 17 gallon tank I read what the gallons say on the gas pumps meter. That is how I know my gas millage MPG's its been better and cheaper to do it this way...
this only works if you fill it up to the top each time. otherwise you don't have a constant in your equation.
Old 11-18-2009, 10:25 AM
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Originally Posted by SR5
well i fill up when the yellow light turns on, i drive 10 miles and it lights up again
ok, if you're using the light as your constant, that's rough but works.

i'm just saying you can't compare mileage unless you're filling it to the same point each time. usually this is the full mark, where it won't take anymore. but the light turns on at a somewhat consistent level. of course, if you have a load of crap in the back, the light will come on later than if the bed was completely empty.

if you're going to do the $5 at a time thing I RECOMMEND THIS:

DISCONNECT YOUR FUEL METER, so it always looks on E. do it behind the cluster, so your light still works.

FILL THE TANK TO FULL, THEN RESET YOUR MILEAGE TO ZERO. this way you are keeping tracking of your gas with the odometer, not the gauge.

your friends will always think you're on E and give you money. meanwhile, you'll always have a tank over half full, so you're not sucking up crud from the bottom of your tank or burning out your pump.

just a suggestion. fuel pumps ain't cheap. and the fuel filter is a beyotch to get to.
Old 12-11-2009, 09:57 AM
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Well gents, I don't know if it's the cold or an other O2 sensor but i'm currently getting 8MPG, only 2 weeks ago i was in the 15-17MPG. average temp 14F.
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