Toyota RAV4 Forums banner

actual fuel tank capacity??

53K views 24 replies 18 participants last post by  FKHeath  
#1 ·
According to Toyota, my 2017 RAV4 Hybrid XLE has 14.8 gallons capacity in the fuel tank. Today I got it pretty close to empty with warning lights on, gauge slightly above the bottom line, and computer telling me I have 25 miles worth of gas left. I pulled into the gas station and was only able to add about 10.6 gallons worth of gas into the tank, meaning I still have at least 4 gallons of fuel in the tank before the fill up!

Is this a "safety" feature Toyota put in place so I don't run out of gas? 4 gallons left in the tank with my average real world 30 MPG should get me at least 100 miles before empty, why did the computer and all those warning started popping up and telling me I only have 25 miles left? Also, where the needle gauge was at does not look at all like there's still 4 gallons of fuel left. Is this normal, or should I have Toyota look into it?

Thanks
 
#6 ·
I personally think this is the wrong attitude - to accept the "company line" in absolute. I like Toyota, am on my 3rd one here in the USA; I lived in Toyota City (Koromo-cho), Itsutsugaoka for 7 years among design and other engineers and company executives; Did I say I like Toyota, I sure do, but that doesn't mean that everything they do is right.

This is not about WHO is right, but WHAT is right. 4 gallons out of 14 (nearly 30%) not used in the gauge measurement? That is ridiculous. A calibration of 15% max or less would be sufficient. KNOWING you have 4 gallons left at empty is more seducing to stretch the limits than knowing what the real truth is. "What" is right is more important than "Who" is right. Sure, we can do "search", but that doesn't mean that we should roll over and take everything without letting them know that some things need changing.

There have been enough complaints on this forum about this one issue (do a search) that Toyota probably needs to change their approach on the gas gauge on the RAV4.
 
#5 ·
I have to add to this. I did my fourth fill-up on my 2018 RAV4 hybrid this morning. Fuel light came on and mileage told me 30 miles until empty. It took 11.553 gallons on a 14.8-gallon tank.

Not only that, but the gas tank SPILLED OVER before the pump automatically clicked off! I don't know whether it was the pump or the car. Then, when I screwed the gas cap back on, it clicked once but appeared to be on crookedly. I took it back off to replace it properly and now it won't click at all. Ugh... at least I won't need gas anytime soon.
 
#8 ·
I noticed this "problem" also on my car. It says that I am low on fuel and that I can drive only 40 km more. When I refill, I am able to put only 42 liters. I don't think it takes the remaining 14 liters to drive 40 km. It seems that Toyota really wants us to not run out of gas with our cars. Anyway, my car consumes 6.5L/100km which is great for a 1.8 tones car with a petrol engine. Very pleased with this.
 
#16 ·
I'm sorry for reviving the old post, but wanted to get some additional details.

I have a RAV4 H 2017 XLE (since 2017). I never really paid attention to the amount of gas I usually refill. I remembered the number 720 kms of range after full refill and it was like this for some time. Just recently started noticing that the range is now 630kms instead of 720kms (I always use Costco gas 91). I decided to start checking how many liters I could get while refilling. The max number of liters I got was 45L which is 11L lower than the actual capacity.

Is it normal range and the amount of liters ?

Thanks
 
#18 ·
If you were like me that came from a 2003 Chevy Blazer, I am thankful for what I have. The Blazer had a 18 gal. tank. You hardly could get to 250 miles before you would get the I am running out of gas fear. If I were to do straight highway driving, I think I could about get it to 300 miles. I could at least be going well over 300 miles on the RAV4 hybrid. The one thing I had to get used to is that you don't get more range when you do straight highway driving.
 
#20 ·
@darula8; The fuel gauge/calculator in my 2018 R4H Limited does seem overly conservative.

With a full tank, it estimates 370-400 miles depending on the average mpg of my previous tank, and adjusting on the fly. As I drive, the "miles until refill" count tracks well with the actual consumption rate and mileage. (I get 30-32 mpg consistently with the types of driving I do.)

But... When the gauge reads "Empty", there's at least another gallon (so 30+ miles) in the tank. That fuel is apparently not included in the "miles until refill" calculation at all. I haven't yet driven to the out-of-gas point, but I have exceeded the "Empty" point by over 25 miles without worrying.

I easily get 400 miles on a tank, regardless of what the gauge/nanny reminder says. So the advertising would reflect my real-world experience correctly. YMMV 😅
 
#21 ·
This is for anyone on here that may not understand why you can't use all the fuel. Toyota does this on purpose, it is to prevent a costly repair or inconvenience of break down. The reason for this being to keep your fuel pump always submerged. So it doesn't fail, due to overheating. Yes you could drive out the rest of the fuel, but why risk damaging the car. When Toyota went through the effort of building in a system to prevent that. Do what you want but that will effect the reliability of your car or truck, and isn't that reliability why you purchased a Toyota in the first place?
 
#22 ·
I don't understand some people. This has never been about going empty or about costly repair. Why are you people who insist on 4 - 4 1/2 gallons left at empty - why are not NOT complaining thあt the Camry goes too far with 2 1/2 gallons left, or Toyota models for that matter. What is so majestic about declaring that the RAV4 is above all other vehicles and it alone needs defending for the 30% or 4 gallons plus left. It is not that way for other Toyota's models. So why are you defending this one vehicle model? Doesn't make sense. I "am" doing what I want with my Camry hybrid and it has 390,000+ miles and I have NEVER run out of gas, but it does NOT send a warning when it hits the 4 or 4.5 gallon left mark.

This 4.5 gallon left defense is just blowing smoke and showing ignorance of the engineering recommendations of the full Toyota Line.
豊田市五つヶ丘七年間住んでいました。
 
#23 ·
According to Toyota, my 2017 RAV4 Hybrid XLE has 14.8 gallons capacity in the fuel tank. Today I got it pretty close to empty with warning lights on, gauge slightly above the bottom line, and computer telling me I have 25 miles worth of gas left. I pulled into the gas station and was only able to add about 10.6 gallons worth of gas into the tank, meaning I still have at least 4 gallons of fuel in the tank before the fill up!

Is this a "safety" feature Toyota put in place so I don't run out of gas? 4 gallons left in the tank with my average real world 30 MPG should get me at least 100 miles before empty, why did the computer and all those warning started popping up and telling me I only have 25 miles left? Also, where the needle gauge was at does not look at all like there's still 4 gallons of fuel left. Is this normal, or should I have Toyota look into it?
Rav4 fuel tank capacity
Thanks
I've had my 2019 RAV4 Hybrid for about 5 months and have encountered a major issue with the gas tank capacity. Shortly after purchasing the new vehicle, I realized that any fill up of the tank was incomplete. Fuel capacity is 14+ gallons and I'm seldom able to squeeze in 8-9 gallons when nearly empty. The dealer has replaced the tank, which has not fixed the issue. Toyota is aware of the problem, but they do not have a solution yet. Anyone else encountering this issue of having only 2/3 the fuel capacity and thus shorter distances to empty? Any luck with getting it resolved?
 
#25 ·
This topic has been discussed ad nauseam in the forum. Suggest you use the search function to find them.

The owners manual is right; dimentionally the RAV4 fuel tank will hold what it states. But there is a reserve space at the . top that you can't get fuel into.

The early 5th gen RAV4 had a fill problem and there was a T-SB that replaced the fuel tank, and sometimes the fuel pump. Look it up.