What's the Size of My Gas Tank?

[kcmo]

Guys/Gals,

Perhaps a weird question since I suppose I could look in my manual or pay more attention during fill-ups, but how many gallons does my HL SE take for a full tank?


TIA

[TrailDust]

Last I read, all 2011 models have a 19.2 gallon capacity. Would have been nice if they'd offered a slightly bigger tank, but that's just me.

[kcmo]

Thanks Kevin. I'm surprised....figured it would be between 20 and 25.

[TrailDust]

De nada.

[AXMACD]

I measure in liters and the conversion works out to roughly 73 liters. From my experience, my gas light comes on when the range on the MFD says 25 KM, I've pulled into the gas station when the gas light had literally just came on and my Highlander took 63 liters to fill. I've ran it till the range said 0 KM and beyond and it still only took 65 liters to fill. I've never had to put more than 65 liters in the Highlander to fill it so it's got a pretty big reserve..

[sweeneyp]

Originally Posted by AXMACD

I measure in liters and the conversion works out to roughly 73 liters. From my experience, my gas light comes on when the range on the MFD says 25 KM, I've pulled into the gas station when the gas light had literally just came on and my Highlander took 63 liters to fill. I've ran it till the range said 0 KM and beyond and it still only took 65 liters to fill. I've never had to put more than 65 liters in the Highlander to fill it so it's got a pretty big reserve..

I almost always run my tank down to when the trip computer says 0 miles left, and usually go 5-10 miles more on it. When I fill it up, I put the gas in till its at the neck of the filler, to get that extra range. Doing that I've never put in more than 18.5 gal, if left to the normal fill up (that stops when tank is full not filler line) it usually stops around 16.5-17.This is rather frustrating that Toyota put such a buffer in it, especially when trying to get the most highway range as possible on road trips.

[nick1sp]

Originally Posted by sweeneyp

I almost always run my tank down to when the trip computer says 0 miles left, and usually go 5-10 miles more on it. When I fill it up, I put the gas in till its at the neck of the filler, to get that extra range. Doing that I've never put in more than 18.5 gal, if left to the normal fill up (that stops when tank is full not filler line) it usually stops around 16.5-17.This is rather frustrating that Toyota put such a buffer in it, especially when trying to get the most highway range as possible on road trips.

18.5? damn, I've run the car 30-40 past the 0 mark and I could only fill it to 16-17 before it stops. overfilling it, 18 one time. I try to keep it at whole numbers as I get money back per gallon at the pump. Didn't know our tank is much larger than it looks.

Oh wait, maybe the hybrid thingy is helping these numbers.

[05Moose]

Originally Posted by sweeneyp

I almost always run my tank down to when the trip computer says 0 miles left, and usually go 5-10 miles more on it. When I fill it up, I put the gas in till its at the neck of the filler, to get that extra range. Doing that I've never put in more than 18.5 gal, if left to the normal fill up (that stops when tank is full not filler line) it usually stops around 16.5-17.This is rather frustrating that Toyota put such a buffer in it, especially when trying to get the most highway range as possible on road trips.

That right there is a bad idea. If you get fuel in the vapor lines for the emissions equipment, you risk ruining some very expensive parts. The carbon filters alone are usually expensive.

Then there's the issue of the pump for the person filling up after you. Not sure if they're still designed this way, but it used to be that if you plugged the pump's return line with fuel from topping off that it could cause one of two things to happen: It'll either constantly click off on the next person/people using it or it might not click off at all when their tank is full spilling fuel down the side of their vehicle (and hopefully they aren't sitting in their vehicle waiting for it to click off).

[sweeneyp]

Originally Posted by 05Moose

That right there is a bad idea. If you get fuel in the vapor lines for the emissions equipment, you risk ruining some very expensive parts. The carbon filters alone are usually expensive.

Then there's the issue of the pump for the person filling up after you. Not sure if they're still designed this way, but it used to be that if you plugged the pump's return line with fuel from topping off that it could cause one of two things to happen: It'll either constantly click off on the next person/people using it or it might not click off at all when their tank is full spilling fuel down the side of their vehicle (and hopefully they aren't sitting in their vehicle waiting for it to click off).

well dang... I didn't realize there was than many issues with doing that. I guess I'll stop doing it, thanks for the heads up.

[Dman1]

The puny size of the gas tank really comes into play when you are hauling a high sided trailer. At 200-250km (120-150 miles) per tank, you spend more time at gas stations than you do driving.

[TrailDust]

Originally Posted by Dman1

The puny size of the gas tank really comes into play when you are hauling a high sided trailer. At 200-250km (120-150 miles) per tank, you spend more time at gas stations than you do driving.

I've noticed over the years that virtually every vehicle I've ever driven has plenty of room available for a larger gas tank. What I don't get is we live in the age of choices for the consumer, so why don't they offer larger capacity gas tanks? Is that really asking too much?

[summerwind]

There is a school of thought that believes you should not run your tank down to near empty as the gas in the tank cools the fuel pump that is located in the gas tank.

I don't know how many fuel pump failures are contributed to over heating but it seems to make sense to fill the tank around a 1/4 full and keep the puppy cool and happy

[becks]

I suspect that having a larger fuel tank would result in fewer MPG's becasue of the added weight. And, that would not sit well with folks comparing the MPG's against other similar vehicles when they are shopping.

An unleaded U.S. gallon of gas weighs approx 6.14 lbs at 60 degrees. Of course ethanol would cause that to vary, as would ambient temps..

[TrailDust]

Originally Posted by becks

I suspect that having a larger fuel tank would result in fewer MPG's becasue of the added weight. And, that would not sit well with folks comparing the MPG's against other similar vehicles when they are shopping.

An unleaded U.S. gallon of gas weighs approx 6.14 lbs at 60 degrees. Of course ethanol would cause that to vary, as would ambient temps..

I was thinking in the neighborhood of a 24 gallon tank. At five more gallons of fuel that's an extra 31 pounds of fuel and...what...ten pounds max for the extra material in the fuel tank, etc. So for a nominal 40 pound increase in weight (the 3rd row seat itself weighs 55 pounds and the 2nd row seat/console weighs almost 20 pounds), the extra 125 miles freeway range would more than compensate me for any minor weight penalty.

[05Moose]

Originally Posted by summerwind

There is a school of thought that believes you should not run your tank down to near empty as the gas in the tank cools the fuel pump that is located in the gas tank.

I don't know how many fuel pump failures are contributed to over heating but it seems to make sense to fill the tank around a 1/4 full and keep the puppy cool and happy

And then there's those that point out that the cooling of the fuel pump comes from the fuel passing through it, not the fuel it's sitting in. Either way, even at 1/4 there's still plenty of fuel in the tank. There's even 4 gallons left in there when the low fuel light comes on.