Filling gas shuts off with 2-3 gal additional

[wickncsu]

With my 2025 TRD pro, when I fill up the gas, it shuts off. And then I can dribble in an additional 2-3 gallons. When I fill, I set the lock on the slowest locked setting. That extra 40-60 miles makes a difference. Anyone else, any remedy?

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[NotApplicable]

Generally advise against topping off. 3 gallons sounds… unusual though. Are you sure it behaves this way at all pumps?

 

[DangItsDen]

The tank is 19 gallons. How much are you saying you are able to fit? Def not supposed to keep going beyond the auto stop. You will damage your EVAP system.

 

[127.0.0.1]

if you keep doing that you could flood the evap canister lines
and the canister itself and go beyond it's capabilities to flush itself out.

that will be a somewhat expensive malfunction indicator lamp
easily avoided by stopping at the first click

---it's testable---

bring a 5 gallon gas can, filled with gas
go on drive about and way past empty so it starts to stall,
you are critically low on gas.

put in 5 gallons and be somewhat close to a gas
pump and fill it up to first click. how much gas went in from bone-dry ?

 

[josiahg52]

I think the OP is talking two to three whole gallons because they mention 40-60 extra miles per tank.

 

[Nodak]

well if you ruin your evap canister thats about a $600 part. so is it worth the extra $10 of gas you are able to get in worth that cost? and thats the cheap part of the evap system if i remember correctly.

someone with better knowledge can probably correct me.

its also know as the charcoal canister and over filling will pour gas into it and ruin the charcoal activator if i remember correctly.

 

[L-2]

On a longer trip, ~265 miles between Silican Valley and Reno NV, I can put in ~1 gallon more after the initial shut off.
After fill up, my estimated range will initially say ~302 miles, but once on the freeway, the estimated max. range might be ~370 miles eastbound going uphill (sea level to a 7200 foot climb on I-80, then down to ~4000 feet for Reno).

I agree with Post 1, a 40-60 mile range increase is significant as I'd not want to run out somewhere 50 miles away unfamiliar with what gas stations are around or open, although I tend to like Costco gas stations for the relatively good price/gallon.

Occasionally, there's a traffic stoppage on the interstate due to fire, snow, or accident, which can result in being on the road an extra few hours, too.

 

[quadna71]

While I don't condone topping off as I too have learned it will saturate the charcoal canister, I do agree that it clicks off sooner that I would expect. That or the fuel gauge shows empty long before the tank truly is empty. I have filled up when the dash says I have 25 miles to empty and I was only able to get 15.7 gallons in. That supports what you were saying about able to add an additional 3 gallons. Fortunately I haven't taken any long road trips that really needed the distance per tank...but it sure is annoying have to top off so often.

 

[Nodak]

well on my last 4k trip, i was getting around 300 miles per fill up, going down to 1/4 tank.

but i think going 300-325 miles is about right, thats between 4 to 5 hrs of non stop driving. which for me is about as long as i want to drive without a break.

but thats just me. personally i no longer push myself or go for long stints behind the wheel anymore. what i use to do in 2 days now i do in 3 days and take my time and enjoy the drive. and i tend to go at most 3 mph over the speed limit.

if the limit posted is 70, i set the cruise to +5 speedometer reading (which actually comes out to 73 actual per the gps since toyota sand bags the actual speed vs display)

 

[jlostetter]

Completely agree on this, shuts off way too soon, at least another gallon or 1.5 after for my limited/max. HATE the small tank, they should of had a 22gal for sure. If the do it in the 6.5gen, I’m switching

 

[HVLA]

That seems extreme. I usually am able to get close to a gallon after first click off.

I do agree the tank is too small. Should be able to get 400-450 miles on a tank in every modern vehicle. I get that in my 26 Tundra.

 

[MikeD]

While I don't condone topping off as I too have learned it will saturate the charcoal canister, I do agree that it clicks off sooner that I would expect. That or the fuel gauge shows empty long before the tank truly is empty. I have filled up when the dash says I have 25 miles to empty and I was only able to get 15.7 gallons in. That supports what you were saying about able to add an additional 3 gallons. Fortunately I haven't taken any long road trips that really needed the distance per tank...but it sure is annoying have to top off so often.

Note that the owners manual specifies that the "Low fuel level warning light ... Indicates that remaining fuel is approximately 2.8 gal. or less." I have provided way to much detail on my experience (with tables of data) in other threads that show that for me this is spot on. (search "16.2" under user MikeD if you want to see all my TLR details.)

Usually this happens for me somewhere between 17 and 23 miles to empty on the dash. I always pump one additional "shut-off" click after the first shutoff and usually get about .3 to .8 gal more this way. This implies that if you used my technique (this is not topping off - just one additional click on the pump), your 15.7 would be close to the 16.3ish that should be needed to fill with DTE at 25 miles. (I believe I have verified that at 0 miles DTE, the tank will take about 17ish gallons - i.e., a bit less than 2 gallon reserve when dash switches to "refuel now'.)

I've got no strong opinion about the pump shut-off. But my one more click approach does result in a decent amount of fuel (and range) added.
FWIW

 

[sha66y]

I believe this is also happening to me (Limited) because I had less than 50 miles to go when I last filled up and it only added ~ 15gal. The gauge didn't look like it was totally filled. I told myself I would really pay attention the next time. But if this is a thing, why? It seems you should be able to fill a 19gal tank with 19gal without concern for the evap.

 

[mfoga]

I have never had it click off that early. I do normally give it one pull if I think it was not full but every time is clicks off immediately.

 

[Dr_Al]

Every Toyota I have owned has done that. The level sensor went in my wifes 2016 Rav4 so I dropped the gas tank to replace it and found out why. The vent hose isn't at the top of the tank. So it's very hard to get the air trapped at the top of the tank out. It sort of gurgles and shuts off the nozzle then drops down so you can put in another half gallon then repeat. I know wit my Tundra when the light comes on it'll take at least 19 gallons while the Rav4 will take at least 13. So I keep filling until I put at least that much into it. When it's close to full the fuel the amount of gas I can put into it before the nozzle shuts off is about 1/10th of a gallon.

On EVERY Toyota I own I spend the extra time to top the tank off. On the Rav4 it can take a little over 15 gallons. The light comes on with 2 1/2 gallons in the tank. I have NEVER replaced an evap canister even though I usually own my Toyotas until the surpass the 250k mark.

BTW, on the 2016 (and I'm sure all newer Toyotas) the fuel level warning light is no longer a separate level sensor in the tank. It just uses the same sensor and estimates the fuel level. I found that out the hard way when I ran out of gas. The fuel light came on as I was just about home. Since there's no close gas stations to me I figured I would fill it up. I didn't use the Rav4 for a week and forgot it was low. The low level light wasn't on and the needle said over a 1/4 tank. It wasn't until I died in a parking lot that I remembered that it was low and I didn't fill it up.

Do what works for you but the idea that the engine will misfire when you are close to running out of gas isn't true (it just goes from running fine to dead). I don't buy the evap canister argument as well.

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