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This is likely the gas tank issue where the pump stops at 9 gallons (I fill when the display says fuel low). Then the range is only like 440+ miles. I have this issue with my 2023 LE Hybrid. So the tank is apparently 14.5 gallons capacity. What I discovered is if I take a rest at the 8 gallon mark for like 10 seconds. Then fill very slowly I could get 11.3 gallons in the tank. The range was like 580 miles. Took a long time to fill but it works. Then today I was able to get 13 gallons in the tank using the same method. The range showed almost 600 miles. So apparently they still have a gas tank issue. I have my little work around that doesn't bother me since I only fill once every two weeks now. I hate going to dealerships since they like to leave little gifts for you when you pick it up (damaged interior, paint scratched, etc). My 2019 Corvette has a similar issue where I have to rotate the filling gun 90 degrees to keep it from shutting off every two seconds. At 90 degrees it will only auto-shut off once and the tank is always 100% full. Why they still have this issue in 2023 is an absolute mystery. Same with corvette. 2019 was the last production year of the C7 series and it was never fixed. Google this issue with the RAV4. There's a thread somewhere on it. Maybe here, I don't remember.
 
There is a 9.8 gallon difference between the low fuel warning and the pump shut off point. This is described as the usable capacity. Go too low and you risk being stranded. Fill too much and you can be responsible for damage to the fuel fumes evaporative system. Why the discrepancy? That is the way the standards bodies say that tank size should be specified/advertised and where the various fuel gauge readings should be displayed.
 
Discussion starter · #4 ·
I was able to only fill up 7.9 gallons from quarter to full. Shouldn't the tank range be calculated by 48.5 mpg that I am getting x 14.5 gallons? ~703 miles. What it is reporting seems like it is being calculated with a 10 gallon tank.
 
You could always fill up the tank until the pump auto stops, and then zero your trip 'A' odometer. Drive as you normally would, and the next time you get gas, fill again at the same station (same pump if you're being extra detail oriented) until the pump auto stops. Calculate out the average by comparing your odometer reading against the amount of gas you've replaced. That's a much more accurate way of measuring your MPG, and it's safer than overfilling your tank.
 
Our 2020 takes about 40 litres +- 1 L (10.5 G) when low fuel light comes on. Every vehicle we have ever owned have had a generous amount of fuel left when warning light comes on. After all, it is just a low fuel (not empty) warning light. Our previous Honda had a 58 L tank and low fuel light would also come on at about 40 L. DTE is same idea. Our 2013 Highlander listed it as Cruising Range which seems to make more sense than Distance To Empty. If DTE utilized the full 55 L (14.5 G) there would always be the risk of over heating the fuel pump or starvation if descending/ ascending a hill or accelerating/deaccelerating under low fuel conditions. Auto fuel tanks are low profile and always a good idea to have some fuel in tank to keep pump primed when fuel is sloshing around.
 
As JeoRav4_2008 and mikefocke have alluded to this issue has been around since at least 2019 with several threads and hundreds of posts hitting it from all angles. Car review sites refer to it as the RAV4's "drinking problem" meaning it won't drink enough gas.

The crux of the problem as I recall started when some engineer said the range would be nearly 600 miles, with 580 miles somehow being advertised as THE number, possibly to help sell Toyota Hybrids.

Simply "adjusting" that number to 500 would've avoided likely thousands of complaints and maybe nearly that many fuel tank and gauge replacements. If you could beat THAT number you'd feel great and pat yourself on the back. But with 580 there's definitely some problem for Toyota since it can't be my fault it didn't easily happen.

After discussing this ad nauseam previously with fuel tank diagrams, dire "overfilling" or running too low warnings, neither of which IMO are valid, it comes down to stretching both ends. That is by coaxing it to drink a little more after the first few click-offs and running miles past the low fuel light and DTE=0.

For instance, I filled my 2018 Accord Hybrid to about 4-6 click-offs and now almost 500 miles later its RANGE=28 miles. (I agree with RobertB, Range is better than DTE.) From previous testing I've gone 54.3 miles past RANGE=0 before running out (in my driveway, that was nice!) so I'll set an odometer when RANGE=0 and temp fate for 40 more miles or so.

So my advice is either get comfy with one or both of these two techniques or use 480, 500 or whatever works for you as THE number.
 
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Everyone is saying "low fuel light", but that is still showing there is fuel in the tank. There is a "hidden" reserve that is about 2-2.5gallons. So, if you take the 11.5-12 gallons that the computer probably calculates for that DTE, it should show between 557 miles and 582 miles. The DTE also takes in account for more than just the last tank for MPG, I think it takes a average on who that you have always gotten, or it could just be factoring in a safety margin on top of the reserve, I'm not sure. The best thing to do is just drive it and when you fill up, take the miles on that tank divided by the gallons you put in and you will get the actual MPG. If you get 48.5mpg every tank for the next few tanks, I bet the DTE will start to get closer to that 580 miles.
 
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This from the inaccurate fuel reading letter Toyota sent to owners while there were defective sensors/tanks. This is consistant with the way SAE and NIST say the various levels are to be displayed. Further reading google Fuel Tank Capacity and Gas Pump Accuracy By Juana Williams

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This from NIST.

As to overfilling, Consumer Reports had an article and said don't.

Personally, I fill at speed to the click. Then fill slowly to the next click. I never go beyond that. I guarantee I need a bio-break long before gas runs out.
 
If you are holding the pump nozzle at full flow, try backing off a little when you feel you are getting close to full. That should allow you to get a little more gas into the vehicle before the first click off. That way you can get a little more gas and still follow the guidelines to just go with the auto shut off.
 
If you are holding the pump nozzle at full flow, try backing off a little when you feel you are getting close to full. That should allow you to get a little more gas into the vehicle before the first click off. That way you can get a little more gas and still follow the guidelines to just go with the auto shut off.
I agree. Do whatever it takes to delay that dreaded (to others anyway) show stopping first click-off.
 
If you are holding the pump nozzle at full flow, try backing off a little when you feel you are getting close to full. That should allow you to get a little more gas into the vehicle before the first click off. That way you can get a little more gas and still follow the guidelines to just go with the auto shut off.
This is exactly what I am doing. I do 8 gallons at full flow then I slow it down so the auto shutoff still works, it just doesn't happen prematurely. I got 2 more gallons the first time I did it. 3 more gallons the second time. You can hear the level coming to the top and it shuts off just like normal. It happens only once. My range is showing almost 600 miles and finally the fuel gauge shows just over the F mark like it should. So for me, this is resolved. I don't want to go the dealership and waste my time.
 
Yes, I did my second fill up from quarter tank, but now with 1 click after the auto click it shows on Full, however the tank range reads about 480 while getting total average mpg ~48.5mpg.
Sounds about right. If you were to run tank to "0" DTE and filled up, the amount of fuel added would be approximately 10 gallons times previous MPG ( ~48.5)= ~485. DTE is based on ~10 gallons (40 liters). If DTE was based on full tank capacity of 14.5 gal X 48.5 mpg = 700 miles and owner ran tank down to say DTE 50 miles there would a high possibility of losing fuel pump suction and engine cutting out due to starvation of fuel sloshing around. Old cars with carburetors were fairly tolerant of air in fuel but modern high and low pressure injection pumps are not.
 
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