18.5 gallons. . . The Book Lies!!!!!!!! - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

73sport · 09-16-2010, 11:41 AM

18.5 gallons. . . The Book Lies!!!!!!!!

Ran the V6 out of gas last night for the first time in 6 years of ownership. I was less than 1/2 mile from fuel and she said enoughs enough and shut down. I felt it stumble a once around a corner and made it about 1/2 mile after that. Yes, i knew i was rolling the dice but the numbers said it'd make it. . .

The burn; I added 1/2 gallon and drove the 1/2 mile and filled it to the rim with 16.5 gallons!!!! WTF? Everything I've read says it holds 18.5g! In April of this year I had the fuel pump and sock out, there are no holes in the sock. So at best it holds 17g????

The most I've ever put in it is 16.5g.

So my question is, what is the MOST fuel in Gallons you've pumped into your 1995 J-vin 4 door sedan V6?

Thanks

FWIW; No - the fuel tank is not crushed. . .

***projektvertx*** · 09-16-2010, 11:58 AM

Yeah, I've always had my doubts about that number. Most I've been able to fill is 17 gallons and some change with the light on. I'd assume tank capacity is ~ 17.5 gallons, as opposed to 18.5. And this is to the brim of the fuel filler neck.

I'm thinking out loud here, but maybe the fuel pump takes up that extra gallon of room in the tank? Anyone?

***fenixus*** · 09-16-2010, 12:26 PM

just shooting some ideas ... maybe the bottom center of tank is a little pushed up (e.g. someone tried jacking car up by bump in center of tank?), so it's not crushed and not even visible, but still the bottom is uneven and that missing fuel stays around the center (and fuel pump cannot use it) ?

... or maybe fuel tank has some gunk on bottom (but a gallon of gunk sounds scary...) ...

SilverSoarer · 09-16-2010, 12:34 PM

The remainder 1.5 gallons is in the gooseneck (cylidrical volume calculus).

73sport · 09-16-2010, 12:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fenixus

just shooting some ideas ... maybe the bottom center of tank is a little pushed up (e.g. someone tried jacking car up by bump in center of tank?), so it's not crushed and not even visible, but still the bottom is uneven and that missing fuel stays around the center (and fuel pump cannot use it) ?

... or maybe fuel tank has some gunk on bottom (but a gallon of gunk sounds scary...) ...

No No No No NOOOOOOO! Its perfect. . . .

As for the junk in the trunk (the tank in this case) I think not. I turned the key, let it sit for a few seconds and then started it. It fired off instantly idling just fine so my added capacity is unlikely a blob of water or goose poop ect. . .

So we have the fuel neck, the fuel line, fuel filter, and the fuel rail??? If it was "Dry" capacity I think they would have specified that and I doubt the fill neck holds 1.5gallons.

I think what is probable is that it A) may hold 18g but you just can use it at low RPM. At a high RPM under high consumption rates its possible the sock stays wet allowing consumption of all fuel. BUT - BUT, this year recirculates so that blows that theory out the window as the pump likely pumps near the same rate all the time.

Just looking to see what is the MOST anyone has pumped into their car. . .

eevee11 · 09-16-2010, 01:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SilverSoarer

The remainder 1.5 gallons is in the gooseneck (cylidrical volume calculus).

negative

filling the tank includes filling the gooseneck. he filled it, and only added 17 gal.

and it sounds cool but calculating volume of a cylinder does not require calculus, it is just multiplication!

rusty9 · 09-16-2010, 01:48 PM

the most ive put in is a hair over 18 after i fixed my leaking tank. wish i saved the receipt, i was shocked that it took 18 after 10 years of filling up at 16ish driving with the light on for days lol

***projektvertx*** · 09-16-2010, 01:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 73sport

So we have the fuel neck, the fuel line, fuel filter, and the fuel rail??? If it was "Dry" capacity I think they would have specified that and I doubt the fill neck holds 1.5gallons.

.

In my experience, the fuel filler neck is about 1.3-1.4 gallons. From the click to when I reach to top of the neck is about that much usually... I mean consider the size of the fuel filter, even if it fits 500cc's, that's about 0.12 gallons. Factor in the fuel rails, the lines and the fuel pump, and you could easily be looking at a gallon.

Quote:

Originally Posted by fenixus

just shooting some ideas ... maybe the bottom center of tank is a little pushed up (e.g. someone tried jacking car up by bump in center of tank?), so it's not crushed and not even visible, but still the bottom is uneven and that missing fuel stays around the center (and fuel pump cannot use it) ?

... or maybe fuel tank has some gunk on bottom (but a gallon of gunk sounds scary...) ...

I doubt me and Randy have 1 gallon of gunk in our tanks

But it's an idea! I like the dry capacity idea though, it would make sense.Considering the size of the fuel pump, the fuel filter, and fuel rail it just might be possible....

***Gothmog3VZ*** · 09-16-2010, 02:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fenixus

or maybe fuel tank has some gunk on bottom (but a gallon of gunk sounds scary...) ...

That's more than likely (I think I messed up my fuel filter earlier this week from a combination of that & filling right after the tanker left the gas station

).

I mean, let's face it, gasoline is always going to have some impurities in it (otherwise we wouldn't need fuel filters). over the course of 12-18 years... It builds up

***fenixus*** · 09-16-2010, 02:05 PM

well, hehe, i'm not sure how different fuel tanks are between generations, but i Believe it happened to me once or twice to pour in slightly above 18 gallons into the tank (until first click, soemthing like 18.1 and 18.3 other time on my 5s-fe gen4), so ... i don't know ...

I thought that tank capacity is the tank ONLY capacity, not including all the rest of the fuel system... I guess you won't know for sure until someone drops the tank and fills it off car to check

73sport · 09-16-2010, 02:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fenixus

... or maybe fuel tank has some gunk on bottom (but a gallon of gunk sounds scary...) ...

Less than 6 months ago I looked for gunk when the pump was out. Hmm . . . gunk that doesn't get sucked up and doesn't burn but just hides taking precious volume in my tank. eek:

Its reserve capacity that we can't use there to create this thread. . . .

***LynchburgCSI*** · 09-16-2010, 02:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SilverSoarer

cylidrical volume calculus.

Riiiiiiiiight. Calculus for an algebraic equation? Nah.

Anyways, The most I ever put in my 5s-fe was about 17 gallons. This was on an EMPTY tank. IE- coasting into the gas station, engine sputtering at the last second. I always felt like they lied to me.

My Expedition takes 26.5 gallons for it's 28 gallon tank, too. Oh well.

Jason.MZW20 · 09-16-2010, 02:30 PM

Sure it just wasn't a fuel pickup problem? My Mitsubishi Diamante would do the same thing when rounding a corner low on gas, but it still had gas in the tank. Did you restart it at all before adding 1/2 gallon?

And with the newer EVAP systems, filling to the brim is just asking for EVAP codes (98+ 5SFE or 99+ 1MZ).

***fenixus*** · 09-16-2010, 02:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jason.MZW20

And with the newer EVAP systems, filling to the brim is just asking for EVAP codes (98+ 5SFE or 99+ 1MZ).

yeah, that's what i read too, filling past the overfill valve simply floods it and i think eventually destroys it.

***Eye8Pussies*** · 09-16-2010, 02:49 PM

the most I've ever put in my gen3 is 64L (16.5) I think it was....

the gen4/solara has a bigger tank though....I have filled up over 70L with that (18.5L)

so I'm not the only one who's been wondering about this all these years.....lol....