Fuel gauge and distance to empty

[neilaction Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close neilaction]

I set off on an 800 kilometre round trip to Albany on Saturday and the range odometer indicated I could do it with what's in the tank with 60 kilometres to spare.
But, on the way back I could see the range number dropping slightly faster than the actual kilometres I was doing.
No big deal as its an estimate.

The fuel light came on with 92ks to go on the range odo.
And when it said I had only 26ks to go I filled up.
I was expecting it to take very close to 150 litres but it only took 125 litres.
(I tried to get more in but nope, she was full)
Mmmm, Is the range odo that far out on these things?
Did I really have 25 litres on board?
25 litres is good for about 240 kilometres not the indicated 26.

[MacroP Member Find all posts View Profile Close MacroP]

If you drain the tank, literally or by driving until it stops, you can get 150 litres into it. I get 130-135 litres back in when the fuel light comes on (maybe 80kms till empty on the trip computer) so I know there's 15-20 litres really left in the tank. The range is only an estimate, as you say, as driving conditions can change this dramatically though the car can't predict your future journey. My Prado tells me my range to empty of around 1200kms once I fill up and that's about right for me for my particular driving habits. If I'm doing anything different, like towing, then all all bets are off obviously. I never look at, or certainly rely, on my range to empty. I simply use my intuition of how much fuel I'll use.

Fuel frothing is an issue (for diesels) when filling up from empty depending on the fuel flow rate. If I use a high fuel flow bowser I might only get 125 litres in but waiting for the froth to settle down can get me another 5-10 litres in perhaps where you can actually see the liquid at the top of fuel inlet.

Please note, this has been discussed many times here so check out some other posts which may have so more info for you. Good luck.

[Rdae1981 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Rdae1981]

According to the manual the fuel light comes on with approx 22ltrs left which should be good for around 200kms

[Razorback81 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Razorback81]

According to the manual the fuel light comes on with approx 22ltrs left which should be good for around 200kms

the book is only a guide

you should get to know what your own car does for your own piece of mind
i have had 2 x 120 series prado's and both were very different
1st one i could fill it when the light came on 165L so still 15L left
2nd one fill when the light came on 179.8L WTF !!! i have a MFD in this car now and have driven till there was 6KM left twice and put 185.4L in both times ( when filled right up to the neck !)

with the first one the light came on when the guage showed just under 1/4 tank
the 2nd one the light came on when the needle hit the empty mark ( but this on also stays on the full mark til i hit 350km

but i also have the issue of when filling when it click's out i can still add 15L til i can see the fuel

when your travelling either long distance or with big gaps between fuel supply you need to know what your car is capable of and what you need to carry if necessary

i have a new fuel sender that i managed to get, so 1 day i will swap it out if i can

[Bobcrusader Member Find all posts View Profile Close Bobcrusader]

The MFD in the 150 VX shows it as 'Cruising Range'. I think the choice of words is about right - when I run out of 'Cruising Range' it is time to get to the nearest station as I will have about 15L left in the tank at that point. The light coming on at 22L seems heavily dependant on slope - I've seen it come on and off over a 50km range.

[neilaction Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close neilaction]

I had assumed that the range indicator was a simple calculation based on the remaining fuel in the tank and estimated or calculated fuel consumption.

Now given my experience on the weekend either it is underestimating how much I have left in the tank or it thinks I'm using fuel at nearly 90 litres per 100 kilometres.
Given there is no way it thought I was using 90 litres/100k, it is underestimating how much I have left in the tank. By a considerable amount.

Is this a common experience or am I back to the dealer?

The fuel light came on with what I estimate was 30 litres on board, and i's OK with that.
As I'm also OK with the fuel gauge.
Its the range indicator that I'm unhappy about.

I tried 3 or 4 times to put more fuel in and I could see fuel in the filler, so I'm pretty sure I had filled it right up.

My VW Passat was spot on BTW.
Run the DTE down to 0 and you took on board a full tank.
If the Prado's range indicator is so inaccurate, I'll go back to resetting my trip meter and pretend its 1995.

[Prado_Dave Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Prado_Dave]

Gday Neil

I had the fuel light con last week with an indicated 25km on the DTE. I filled the tank super slowly to see how much fuel I had left and it took 125 litres, avoiding as much frothing as humanly possible before falling asleep. I took think the DTE is pretty naff. If you have a DTE, make it accurate, not 200 km + out of wack.

[neilaction Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close neilaction]

Hi Dave,

I've come to the conclusion the DTE gauge on the Prado is not much use.
I've filled it a few times and estimate that there's somewhere between 20 and 25 litres still in the tank when the DTE says 0.
A bit dissapointing given my last 3 cars the DTE has been very accurate.
Oh well.

[Symo Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Symo]

Hi Dave,

I've come to the conclusion the DTE gauge on the Prado is not much use.
I've filled it a few times and estimate that there's somewhere between 20 and 25 litres still in the tank when the DTE says 0.
A bit dissapointing given my last 3 cars the DTE has been very accurate.
Oh well.

I bet you $100 if you drove around the block and back to the pump you'd get another 15L in.

I can easily get 140L with DTE zero, but some diesels are frothy and it needs a jiggle to let the air trapped in the froth out.

I had 50km DTE today and got 136L in.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[MacroP Member Find all posts View Profile Close MacroP]

Honestly I wouldn't expect the DTE to be accurate for a 4WD where it's consumption can vary by such a large amount from one day to the next. One day I can average 9L/100km and the next I could average 21L/100km. And everywhere in between.

In regards to the fuel left in there when the lights comes on. Toyota have to be conservative here too because of the varied scenarios the vehicle can be put through as opposed to a regular car. The main tank is very large and driving the vehicle up or down a steep incline with only 20 litres left onboard perhaps should not really be attempted as there is only one fuel pickup. The DTE maybe correct here and you still may run out of fuel with 20litres actually still in there. No different to parking a regular car, low on fuel, on a steep driveway only to find it konks out when idling after a while and you have to roll to the bottom and start it up again.

Think of the Prado as having a 130litre tank with a 20 litre reserve for emergency use. The DTE estimate calculates the number this way otherwise mine would show a 1500km range after a refuel instead of 1200km not that I rely on this number anyway. Intuition works best.

[Black 150 Member Find all posts View Profile Close Black 150]

I can never get my DTE to show 1200, it usually shows somewhere around 1,100km DTE after a fill up. Then again my L/100km usually displays around 12 for my driving which is mostly city.

[neilaction Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close neilaction]

I bet you $100 if you drove around the block and back to the pump you'd get another 15L in.
I can easily get 140L with DTE zero, but some diesels are frothy and it needs a jiggle to let the air trapped in the froth out.
I had 50km DTE today and got 136L in.

I'm going to try that and see what happens.
I've been slow and cautious when filling but i'll try it.
Youre suggesting the the DTE is accurate but i'm not putting enough fuel in?
We shall see.

Its almost due for its first service and I'm going to rasie it with the dealer just to see what they says.

[neilaction Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close neilaction]

I bet you $100 if you drove around the block and back to the pump you'd get another 15L in.
I can easily get 140L with DTE zero, but some diesels are frothy and it needs a jiggle to let the air trapped in the froth out.
I had 50km DTE today and got 136L in.
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Well you were 1/2 right.
I filled it up and as usual after 3 clicks of the pump, the DTE was about 20 litres out.
So I drove just on 9 kilometers and filled up again.
It tool anothr 8 litres instead of the 1 litre you'd expect after 9 kilometers.
So yeh the fuel did settle a bit.

But, that is still 13 litres or so away from the 20 litres.

I asked the dealer when I took it in for its service and he said its quite normal.
He said it's normal the when DTE is 0 there's between 15 and 20 litres still in the tank.

[peter_mcc Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close peter_mcc]

I put in 140l earlier this week when DTE was "--" (ie less than zero). I too my time and the liquid was up to the top.

[cuda Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close cuda]

I put in 140l earlier this week when DTE was "--" (ie less than zero). I too my time and the liquid was up to the top.

I pushed mine to 142l. Surprised though due to it just going to -- a couple of km's before filling to the top. Usually only get about 130l in.