How much fuel is in the tank when the last bar blinks?

I got the triangle of death of death with 1 bar left on a high speed 360 degree on ramp to a freeway and it wouldn't reset so I took it to the dealer but the tech was booked for the day so on the way home I stopped at a gas station when the last bar started blinking and filled up and the triangle went out. With a bladder I don't think it's really a good idea to push it very far after the last bar starts to blink.

 

There should be at least two gallons left in the tank after the last bar starts blinking, but I don't drive more than 30 miles before refueling.

 

I got 55 miles mixed driving, out of my blinking last block, then I ran out of fuel. oops. i had 43 miles out of the one before that, with 1.5 gal left in the tank. and that was in 20ºF weather.

 

I don't quite know the answer to that question but with the last bar blinking I thought that I'd better fill-up. All I could squeeze in was 7.1 gallons. It was 26F outside. I wish they would add a miles to empty function. It couldn't be that hard to update the computer with a new function.

 

In my experience I've been going 1 gallon past the blinking light - I just figure whatever my most current mileage is. So I usually go about 45-50 miles past the blinking light.

However, if I know I'm going someplace important or will on the highway in the rain or something, I will not attempt this and I will fill early. I have never run out of gas in my life and I don't plan on starting now.

I still only put between 7-9 gallons in when I refuel. I'm quite hesitant to try to travel further than the amount of gas I've put into the car. Luckily I find that a 400 mile range is adequate for me - certainly less refueling in my old car that only went 200-220 miles on a tank.

 

i often wonder if Toyota made a mistake by giving us some much detailed information on our mpg's without a comparable increase in the information regarding other aspects of the car.

i still cant figure out why we dont have a separate screen for engine diagnosis and monitoring. what Frank can see on his scanner is something i think i should have the right to see if i choose to go to that screen (if it were there)

weight sensors on the bladder would give us a very comparable reading no matter what the time of year. i am anxious to see what the new model improvements will be and whether Toyota will see fit to include this kind of data. with all the uproar over the fuel gauge inaccuracies, i find it hard to believe that they will not do something about it in the upcoming model change.

 

Before the TSB, we averaged about 8 gallon fill ups with the "add Fuel" light going off once and the bar blinking.


After the TSB for the fuel guage and tank filler tube done, the most I have been able to get in is 6.6 gallons. REALLY really bad - the TSB really messed up.

 

the last bar usually starts blinking on mine between 9.5-10.5 gallons.

I'm able to have it do this though because I drive as far as possible on each tank. Car MPG x previous fillup gallons = how far you know you can safely travel. Since I've been making sure the car regularly gets 10-11+ gallons of gas in the tank (sometimes taking 5 minutes or more to fill, mind you), and then I regularly do not consider filling up until my car is in the range of Consumption MPG x previous fill - which of course figures out to 10 - 11 x my MPG.

My car hasn't changed too much since the fuel TSB, though it does seem to be a little more stable as to when the last bar starts to blink.

Its each individual's decision on how far they want to travel and possibly risking running out of fuel - but I suggest if you do decide to 'risk' it, to have a backup plan available (gas can in car, AAA, etc.)

-m.

 

I've encountered the blinking bar one time thus far. When I finally reached a gas station I was able to put in 9.5 gallons. Before this I was filling up at three bars every time.

Regardless, I find that when I fill up slowly I can get more gas into the bladder. I guess this is normal?

 

For what it's worth.....my 2005 has been filled twice since delivery, both times taking about 10 gallons after 450-475 miles. In both cases there was only bar showing, but it was not blinking in either case. Does anyone know if the fuel guage algorithm was changed for the 2005s?

Slightly off the subject, but still concerning the fuel bladder...each time the tank was filled, the nozzle clicked off around 7.5 gallons. Then I was able to add about 2.5 gallons more before fuel showed at the neck. About 2-3 seconds after the nozzle had been removed and replaced on the pump, there was a "burp" and a good pint of fuel spewed out the neck and down the side of the car. Is this normal for the fuel bladder? I've only had cars with metal fuel tanks and vent pipes, and the tanks always needed to be topped.

Thanks for any info, Hank

 

Don't overfill the tank - it's dangerous, it's not good for the tank and it's terrible for the environment.

Yes, the bladder is what's causing this and it's not a defect, the manual clearly states that you shouldn't overfill the tank. Cramming more gas in there is just a waste - in fact, in some states with vapor recovery systems in place, that extra gas you think is going in there is actually going back into the recovery system tank.

Just get used to the smaller fills and slightly shorter range, we can all breathe easier for it - and so will you - it takes less time and there's little chance of you arriving at the office stinking of gasoline.

 

That happened to me........once. After numerous fillups, I have developed a pretty good sense of when to stop squeezing the nozzle.

Today, the pump clicked off at around 6.5 gallons. I managed to squeeze in another 2.6 for a total of 9.1 gallons. I'm sure I could have squeezed another half gallon or more in there but I would have risked the "burp".

 

Supposedly some proprietary information I learned yesterday from a Toyota person.

Toyota knows about the "gauge problem"...I'm not referring to the TSB recall. It's not a gauge problem per my Toyota contact. It has to do with the bladder. The fuel pump pulls the fuel AND the bladder at the same time pulling one side of the bladder up before the other side. This leaves several gallons of gas on the low side of the bladder that cannot be accessed.

This isn't per me so I cannot give you any other information nor can I substantiate it. Just passing on the info. I'm in the same boat as all of you. I go down to the last bar, drive 40 miles then fill up (before the light blinks) and I max out at 8.3 to 8.5 gallons. It's all the same MPG but it would be great to be able to access the 3 plus gallons!!

 

I just filled up when the last bar started blinking and 10.13 gallons fit in the tank. That was when the pump clicked off the first time. Only the second full fill up so I'll keep track to see if 10.13 is the norm.

 

July 4, 2004. drove 73.0 miles after the add fuel warning, and filled up with 10.85 gallons. 51.3 MPG (MFD).

Next tank, July 10, I traveled 73.0 miles after the add fuel warning. I figured I had a little over a gallon left, another 50 miles at least based on the previous fill and the current 52.1 MPG (MFD). I passed a gas station at 73.1. Ran out of gas at 73.3.

To be safe, I no longer go more than 20-30 miles after the warning. I rarely get more than 8 gallons in when I fill up. The extra gallon or 2 would get me another trip to work and back.

That makes sense about the bladder trapping gas. Sounds like they need to redesign the steel tank more like a funnel-shape to allow the gas to move to the pump and let the bladder collapse from the top.