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Fuel Tank reading issue

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Old Nov 24, 2019 | 10:52 PM
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Default Fuel Tank reading issue

Just picked up a 2011 LX570 beautiful with only 60,000 miles. At the moment my gauge is showing almost empty with about 24 miles left on the tank per the computer. When I go to fill it I can only get 17-18 gallons in even if I shake it out and try to shake out any bubbles. I understand the fuel tank capacity to be 24.6 gallons so I am a bit confused.

Has anyone gone through this before?
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Old Nov 24, 2019 | 11:01 PM
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No, I am clueless about this seek help from others who have gone through this.
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Old Nov 25, 2019 | 12:12 AM
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That's pretty normal almost on every Lexus/Toyota. If tank is empty according the gauge and computer displays zero, you still can drive more than 50 miles.
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Old Nov 25, 2019 | 06:08 AM
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Originally Posted by ClaytonW
That's pretty normal almost on every Lexus/Toyota. If tank is empty according the gauge and computer displays zero, you still can drive more than 50 miles.
Been driving them my whole life I feel like 6 gallons is excessive. I will get to the bottom of it was just hoping for a bit of a head start
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Old Nov 25, 2019 | 06:44 AM
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5 gallon buffer......since its a guzzler, they want to be conservative in the heads up
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Old Nov 25, 2019 | 07:56 AM
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Originally Posted by Lolrax
Been driving them my whole life I feel like 6 gallons is excessive. I will get to the bottom of it was just hoping for a bit of a head start
There's nothing that will "get to the bottom"...that's the way the gas gauge works. Apparently, Toyota is attempting to idiot-proof trucks driven by those who don't look at the gas gauge until the "almost out" light turns on.

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Old Nov 25, 2019 | 02:18 PM
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This topic has been much discussed on this LX forum. Some of us have even run our vehicles on a low fuel light and zero reported range to seen how far we can go from that point, carrying a can of fuel along, of course. It seems that when the display reports zero range remaining, there are still several gallons in the tank.

My theory is that the Toyota engineers did this by design, to ensure that there would always be enough fuel in the tank to cool the in-tank fuel pump and thereby minimize the risk of fuel pump failure. Maintaining the high Toyota/Lexus reliability ratings are more important than owners having to buy gasoline more often than necessary.

If so, I cannot disagree. I'd rather purchase gasoline 16 gallons at a time instead of 24 gallons, and avoid being stranded by fuel pump failure.
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Old Nov 25, 2019 | 08:24 PM
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Originally Posted by Reggie1
This topic has been much discussed on this LX forum. Some of us have even run our vehicles on a low fuel light and zero reported range to seen how far we can go from that point, carrying a can of fuel along, of course. It seems that when the display reports zero range remaining, there are still several gallons in the tank.

My theory is that the Toyota engineers did this by design, to ensure that there would always be enough fuel in the tank to cool the in-tank fuel pump and thereby minimize the risk of fuel pump failure. Maintaining the high Toyota/Lexus reliability ratings are more important than owners having to buy gasoline more often than necessary.

If so, I cannot disagree. I'd rather purchase gasoline 16 gallons at a time instead of 24 gallons, and avoid being stranded by fuel pump failure.
Very helpful thank you for the insight!
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Old Nov 26, 2019 | 10:42 AM
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Originally Posted by Reggie1
If so, I cannot disagree. I'd rather purchase gasoline 16 gallons at a time instead of 24 gallons, and avoid being stranded by fuel pump failure.
I tend to fill when I'm down to half a tank or so.
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Old Nov 27, 2019 | 01:52 PM
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[QUOTE=hankinid;10668221]I tend to fill when I'm down to half a tank or so.[/QUOT

I leave my Range function displayed constantly, and I'll admit I pay almost no attention to the fuel gauge. I start to get uncomfortable when the range drops closer and closer to being in double digits, so I fill back up well before that happens.

Maybe this uneasiness with less than half a tank has to do with me learning to drive during the Cuban missile crisis era of the cold war. The Civil Defense Agency recommended keeping a full gas tank to be able to evacuate when Russia launched missiles at us.

Anyone else fixated on the Range function like me?


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Old Dec 9, 2019 | 02:43 AM
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Hi all.
I just posted this info in a new thread. Might explain why?
My 300h hybrid GS stopped in an uphill just some hundred meters from my home this moring on my way to work.
When I parked it the day before the range meter said 2 km (1 mile), so this was a surprise.

I decided to walk home and collect whatever gas was left for the lawn mover and outboard, approx 1/2 gallon, 2.5 litres.
After filling this on the tank it started and I drove to the gas station.

When I filled it up, it took 57.5 litres out of the stated 66 litres capacity.
And I had already filled approx 2.5 litres so the tank had to be at about 6 out of 66 litres when it stopped.

Pictures from google show the tank as as a saddle with two halves, how is this actually working?! How does it pick
up fuel?
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Old Dec 9, 2019 | 02:44 AM
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Here is the tank. It is used for many common models, IS GS etc.

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Old Dec 10, 2019 | 10:16 PM
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Originally Posted by arosnes
Here is the tank. It is used for many common models, IS GS etc.
But not on a 200 series, not even close.

Try this...or maybe get under your truck and look??


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