ok so its late and I may have insomnia.. because I cant sleep so.. I'll post some things.
Today I was driving (Finally got the 4runner back from the shop.) The Rhinoplasty is complete.. got the hood.. will post pictures tomorrow,,
At any rate.. before I hijack my own thread..

I was Driving around. my Fuel gage was low, below the last 1/4 of a tank. I had about 240 miles since I last refueled. and the LOW FUEL light comes on.. So I go get some gas... and it only take 12.5 gallons of unleded to fill up! So I had 6 gallons left? WTF? if I got 240 mile on 12.5 gallons.. that means I could get 120 miles on 6.25 gallons? So I still had an extra 120 miles or so left driving? does my logic make sense? Why was my gage so low then? and why did it only take 12.5 gallons of gas to fillup..
the Specs on my 4Runner says it should have an 18.5Gal tank what am I missing here? should I take it in and have it looked at?
thanks

 

I don't know what year your 4Runner is but with my '92 sometimes the low fuel light comes on with 1/4 tank left if you are traveling up a steep hill for an entended time. Then you get to the top and it goes off. Also, I always get more mileage in the first half of the tank than the second half and the last eight of a tank can go REALLY quick (I know because I have run out of gas a couple of times). I doesn't help that I have a big dent in the bottom of my tank but I know that even before the dent if I got 175 miles to the first half of the tank I only got maybe 125 miles to the second half. Go figure. I'd say there's nothing wrong with your gauge.

 

Oh yea, you must have a newer truck with a 18.5 gallon tank. I bet you'll NEVER be able to put 18.5 gallons in the tank. I think mine is 17 gallons and the most I have ever got in there is maybe 16.5 gallons and that was when I was coasting the truck into the gas station on fumes.

 

Is it a 4th gen truck cause I think the 3rd gen's is only 16gallons and even getting about 260-270 a tank I can usually only refill about 13.5 to just over 14 gallons.

 

Its a 3rd gen I think
2000 4Runner..

 

3rd gens have a faulty fuel gauge for certain years.
There is a fix for it, and the info should be on the forum somewhere, or someone will know where the info is for it.

 

Also, the fuel gauge is usually offset by 1-2 gallons. This means that even although it says empty at zero, you still can drive around for 20-30 miles. I believe Toyota decided to do that so people don't run out of gas too often

-- Andrey

 

you got 19.2mpg. pretty good imo. i try and fuel up right about where you did, i dont want my new injectors to drink off the bottom i guess. most gas i ever took was 17.6, i coasted into the station. very bad in fuel injection, and fuel pumps!!

 

My fuel gauge is whacked! I usually fill up with the needle well below the 'E' line, without the low-fuel light on, and usually put 12-13 gallons in my 17.5 gallon tank.

 

There used to be a link to the "FUEL GAUGE HORIZONTAL CALIBRATION PROCEDURE" at 4x4Wire but it is not there anymore.

Anyone have the file or link so they can post it here??

 

You have an 18 gallon tank. 1999 and 2000 4Runners have defective gauges and or tank pick up tubes. TSB EL010 describes the problems, but most likely you are going to get charged $400 to fix it. I'm doing my tank tube tomorrow morning, will let you know how it goes.

The bigger problem is that you paid a premium for a Toyota expecting it to be made properly. It ain't.

 

Oooops, so I was wrong. Glad someone else could steer you in the right direction.:pat:

 

My 2K model was back to the dealer on 4 different occasions to have this TSB done. It's still not right but I got tired of taking it in. The low fuel lamp seems to be fine now, but it has a new annoyng tendancy. It takes about 1/2 hour before the guage will show full after filing the tank.

At least it was done on warranty...