Fuel Tank Capacity

Everything I read says my 2020 Tundra is supposed to have a 26 gal tank. But doing the gas pump math tells me it's actually something like 20 gals. What am I not getting?

 

the fact that Toyota is very conservative on the reserve capacity on these trucks. If I’m not mistaken, the reserve on my 38 gallon tank is around 8 gallons. So when I have 0 miles left means I still have 8 gallons to find a gas station, and with the mileage these trucks get it’s probably survival rather than overkill.

 

https://www.tundras.com/threads/38-gal-tank-experiences.22954/

Talked a lot about in here. Like previously said, the reserve in a tundra is 6-8 gallons.

 

I have the larger 38 gallon tank - however, if the 26 is the same as the 38, you'll get the yellow fuel light warning when you have 6-7 gallons remaining. If you're not towing that could mean another 80-100 miles potentially. Don't follow the miles to empty calc. It is not dynamic and just an estimate based on your past driving trends. The fuel light is to be trusted, not DTE calc.

 

26 gallon tank here

I fill up every time low fuel light comes on and it only takes 20-21 gallons. Never been able to put more than 21 in.

It keeps a 6 gallon reserve one because people are idiots and will push it as long as possible so they added a big “buffer” and two to help keep the fuel pump submerged for cooling/ to fight overheating it

 

You have a 26 gallon tank. I've never seen a vehicle that uses every gallon of fuel in the tank prior to the light coming on.

You gave very basic information but assuming you're putting 20 gallons when your fuel light is on, then you would have a 6 gallon reserve on a 26 gallon tank. @1UP shared the link to where this topic has been abused for a long time.

 

I thought only Crewmax had the larger gas tank? I ran my DC down to single digits and it took 31 to fill it up. Old 2015 didn't take nearly as much.

 

Without some extra the truck would run out of gas on an incline folks, Best to fill up between 1/2 and 1/4 and stop at about 3/4 to avoid check valve and evap issues.

 

I feel like stopping at 3/4 is a little excessive? And how exactly are you going to measure when to stop to make sure you're only at 3/4?

I stop when the pump stops. No extra clicks or top offs and never in my life have I had issues.

 

you have to have the SR5 upgrade package to get the 38 gallon tank. An SR5 truck, like mine, does not have it unless that specific package is selected. Note that you cannot get the larger tank combined with the bench seat as the SR5 upgrade package adds the big tank and the center console.

 

You can watch the guage or go by memory if you simply apply a little effort.

 

It's not that it's hard. It's unnecessary.

 

Thanks, my old 2015 DC had the SR5 upgrade package and it didn't have the larger tank, but my 2020 DC does.

 

The larger tank wasn't available until the 2016 model year.

 

The caveat is that the larger tank only became an option starting in 2016 or 2017 i beleive, someone can correct me.

Edit: ^ what he said

 

Ahhhhh...thanks.

 

Which requires you to fillup once you get to an exact level every time. Then you also have to stand by the driver door reaching in to watch the gauge then shut the pump off. It's overkill. If thats what you like to do, that's great. But it's a pretty excessive process for something as simple as just filling a tank. Based on your suggestion, you're telling people to only use a quarter to a half of their tank.

 

Run it down and fill it up. That process above is plain nonsense.

 

I think filling up at a 1/4 tank is a good idea to help extend fuel pump life. I have done that on most vehicles. You should be fine doing that.

 

and if you have a S/C, do it sooner than 1/4 tank.

because.

 

because a 1/4 tank will only last you until the next stop light when your boosting? lol......

 

Tell that to the folks who have to fill up there truck with a dribble or spend a fortune on a repair because the check valve is somehow damaged or stuck and it can't be replaced without replacing the entire tank. Like it or not, these trucks have a few design flaws. I'm sticking with the "unnecessary" route and hopefully will be able to avoid that headache altogether. Might work, might not, but at least I am making others aware of the check valve issue so they will know what likely occured when fuel won't easily flow into their nearly empty tanks at the pump.

 

That is caused by topping off, not filling to full.

 

I usually try to fill up at 1/2 tank... mostly because I live in CA and it's $-$-$hocking if I go any lower.

 

Curious here, do you have any info or done any research on other brands or models that have had this problem caused by frequently filling up to the rim?

 

I have seen somewhere on this forum that the tundra has an issue with the charcoal filter or evap cannister or something that when you top off or have an overspill it could cause an issue with one of those components. I always do the slow flow at the gas pump just in case it doesnt shut off or something it could mitigate any spills.

 

Yeah you never really get used to the price lol. Though with only a 20 gallon usable range, a half tank comes really fast lol

 

I have seen the same. However, in all my life I have filled several other vehicles to the rim numerous times and I have also personally watched others fill a couple of different company fleets to the rim without any problems. None of the above were Toyota products though, mostly Ford and Mopar with a handful being GM. Somewhat of a design flaw IMO on the Tundra.

 

Agreed. never heard this concern for my other cars but it seems like good caution regardless, for no other reason than gas probably messes up your paint lol

 

Type "why topping off gas is bad" into your preferred search engine. It's not vehicle or brand specific. It also isn't a "will cause damage" scenario, but rather a "may cause damage" scenario.