[KenC]

... in liters I mean it seems obvious when the tank is 11.9 gallons or 45 liters, that it was made with liters in mind, since it was mfr'd in Japan. Why I ask is that I'm starting to suspect that the fuel gauge ¼ tank increments are 9 liters each, right? Split the tank into 5 parts of 9 liters. Of course, as I think in gallons, I had been calculating that the ¼ tank increments were a little over 2 gallons, which made the math a bit hard, so I've adjusted to thinking about the gauge increments in liters. I wonder if our Canadian and Brit owners were laughing at us Americans all this time?

Based upon that notion, then:
Full = 45 liters
¾ = 36 liters left or 9 liters used
½ = 27 liters left or 18 liters used
¼ = 18 liters left or 27 liters used
E = 9 liters left or 36 liters used

And the point is when the gauge hits Empty, that you have 9 liters or 2.4 gallons left. What's puzzling is the fuel range light. I'm wondering how that is calibrated. Is it 11 liters or 12 liters? I'm guessing 12, but I'll have to pay closer attention in the future.

I know many of you laugh about this fuel tank obsession, but I like to fill up as little as possible. I'm used to filling up with 1 or 2 gallons left in my old BMW's 16 gal tank, so it rankles if I've got 3+ gallons in the tank and 150 miles in range, when I fill up.

I mean look at the newest BMW i3 range-extender. It only has a 1.9 gallon tank! That's to eliminate range anxiety of EV-only. Our CTs signal for a refuel, 3+ gallons, which is 50% more than a full i3!

 

[KenC]

Do you guys understand that there are too many variables for exactitude? Which makes these stentorian pronouncements useless?

Like the time of day, the weather (heat in the atmosphere), the shut off calibration of the pump, how far into the ground the tanks are (ground temperature), etc etc.

Thanks Joe. Perhaps, the Lexus fuel meter is too inaccurate for us to try to understand what the Lexus engineers calibrated it to, but I do know my BMW fuel meter is incredibly precise. It doesn't matter the time of day, the weather, the shut off calibration, etc., etc., etc., the range estimate is exact.

My original post was to get some feedback on the experience of others. If there's any consistent bias, then we may be able to get a better understanding of what the gauge is SUPPOSED to be calibrated to. It seems ludicrous to me that I'm supposed to fill the tank, range equals zero, when I've only used about 9 gallons and have about 3 gallons or close to 150 miles in actual range left.

My BMW doesn't flash its fuel light until I have 50 miles in actual range left. The new BMW i3 only gives you 1.9 gallons for its range extender engine. If it were a Lexus, it'd tell you you were out of range even though the tank was full, with 1.9 gallons.

I honestly can't understand how a car could be built for fuel efficiency, be so inaccurate on fuel efficiency!

 

[KenC]

Apparently, everyone's tank reading is different. Here are some results from above on when the fuel light comes on:

I guessed it would come on with 12 liters left, or 3.17 gallons.
AspenCdn believes it also indicates 12 liters or less left.
bmoy88 refills with approx 35 liters, meaning about 10 liters left.
chroma refills with less than 33 liters, meaning more than 12 liters left, but drives almost 50km more, or about 30 miles, about 2.5 liters more. So, he might have about 14.5 liters left.
My latest tank, the fuel light came on with 13 liters left.

Some others have refilled when hitting Range is Zero:

Clutchless refueled with 9.6 gallons, meaning 2.3 gallons left, or 9 liters.
Lostchild's estimate is about 8.5 gallons, meaning 3.4 gallons left, or 13 liters.
My latest tank, the range hits zero at 33 liters, or 12 liters left.

 

[KenC]

Here's a question - why, with today's technology, can't the car makers create a display that shows the amount of fuel left in the tank numerically instead of the outdated needle system?

My 2001 BMW 330xi has a spot-on fuel range meter. When it says "0", it means zero. When it says 4 miles left, you've got 4 miles left.

 

[KenC]

Ok, I have read enough of these full tank rants to finally post "IMO" rant myself.

Most fuel pumps are located in the tank. These pumps are motors that get hot. The gas in the tank keeps the pump cool. If to run the tank completely empty, or really low, the pump has no liquid to cool it down, so it gets hotter than usual. This is ok if you let it cool down slowly. The main cause of fuel pump failures is putting gas in an empty car that has been running for some longer period of time. (Putting cold fuel on a hot fuel pump. Ever put hot water on a frozen glass. It breaks. )

So what the heck does this have to do with the CT200? Everything. Lexus want to trick you into thinking the car will die if you don't get gas within the next 20 miles. In reality, this makes for a longer lasting fuel pump. The last 2 gallons in the tank are going to keep the pump cool. Some people don't know that this tank is 11.9 gal. So the fuel light is normal to them.

My dad was a mechanic for 25 years. He always told me to keep my tank above 1/4 of a tank.

So unless you only fill up when your fuel pump is cool or keep at least 2 gal in the tank at all time, plan on replacing a fuel pump on you baby.

BTW. Lexus fuel pump at dealer will be somewhere around $1000. DIY for about $200.

Take care of your baby. I do.
Sent from AutoGuide.com Free App

Thanks for that. I wonder why you never read about keeping your fuel pump cool in the manual, or driving tips on the internet, instead you have to read it from helpful people?

Back to the fuel pump, what do people with the new BMW i3 range extender do, since they only get a 1.9 gallon fuel tank? They probably have some other way to keep that fuel pump cool, and if they do, why don't other car mfrs do something similar? Is it too much to ask, since they don't tell us why they do the things they do, like why does the fuel range light come on when there's about 3.5 gallons left? I'd love it if it came on with 2 gallons left, since that's exactly what my 2001 BMW does. 2 gallons and bingo, the light comes on.

 

[KenC]

Just filled up today a bit after the tank hit 0 miles, filled up 8.8 gallons, which makes me believe that when you do see the 0 mile sign, you have ATLEAST 3 gallons left.

Then your tank is very similar to mine where when range hits 0 miles, you have 12 liters left, or 3.17 gallons.

 

[KenC]

Your info is good. I do think the 2XR-XFE fuel pump is cooled via internal fuel flow mostly. These fuel threads have been going on since 2011 and I suppose will continue. What we do have is a fairly accurate indication CURRENT AVG MPG. Most people seem to get a few miles less that is indicated. We know the light comes on at about 8.5 gallons of fuel used. So about 3.4 gallons left. Take your current avg mpg, subtract 2mpg and multiply by 3.4 gallons. This will let you know almost EXACTLY when you will run out of fuel. I could really CARE LESS when that light comes on, and I NEVER look at the miles to go number. If one wants to stretch it, drive about 100 or miles after the light comes on (120 or more if you like risk ). I usually fill up shortly after the light comes on unless I'm short of time.

Great vid.

Interestingly, your post fits my thesis, just like DarkPhantom's.

You state that when the light comes on, you have 3.4 gallons left. That's actually 13 liters. That matches my measurements with my car. The fuel light comes on with 3.4 gallons or 13 liters left. The range hits zero, with 12 liters left.

Likewise, my mileage adjustment is the same. I take off 2 to 2.5 mpg to get my actual Fuelly result.

As for Joe's comment, I think it MUST mean something if so many people are unhappy with the way the current fuel gauge functions. Presumably, they are coming from cars where the fuel light does NOT come on with 3.4 gallons remaining, but something far more reasonable like 2 gallons as all my old cars have. While most have made adjustments to their driving behavior in order to compensate, the problem is, no one likes to drive around for 100 miles without any feedback from the car on how much fuel is ACTUALLY remaining. No other car I have ever had has been that lacking in feedback. It may not be broken, but it is massively dumb as it seems to be contrary to how most other mfrs deal with fuel calculations. Can anyone name any other mfr that does similarly to Lexus? Do the other Lexus models do similarly? Does the Prius?

 

[KenC]

If some of you who have contributed "don't care", why do you care that some people "do care"? It's nonsensical. You've made your choice, why can't you let others make theirs?

Why should people "pretend" to have a 9 gallon tank? Why can't Lexus "pretend" to actually care about its customers?

Let me make this simple. People have bought a hybrid. One that is focussed on fuel mileage. One of the benefits of better fuel mileage is fewer trips to the gas station. Why would you want to go more often when you can go less often? Doesn't cost me a thing, but saves me time. Why should people give up one of the benefits of owning a hybrid?

This is not about hypermiling or sport mode vs eco mode. It's about understanding the car. Understanding leads to satisfaction. Look at how many people have wasted time going to the dealer complaining about their fuel gauge. Does anyone do that for any other vehicle? If Lexus had put the info in their manual, no one would be confused. My BMW manual tells me that the fuel light comes on with 2 gallons left, and that's exactly what it does. Lexus could eliminate a lot of customer dissatisfaction if it only explained what was happening with the fuel gauge. Look at the latest thread someone started. He's worried his car is only getting 25mpg, because he's driven 100 miles and the gauge is almost down to ½. Hasn't that happened to every new owner?

 

[KenC]

I don't think so, and I sure hope not. If it did, I would wonder about who is buying these cars. Just as you think this is a perfectly normal thing to "worry" about, some of us think "ENOUGH". It has been talked to death! It is not going to change. File a class action lawsuit for everyone who has been "damaged" by this insidious plot by the wily Toyota engineers for some as yet undisclosed reason.

Let us know how it turns out, please.

No one is forcing you to read this thread. I have never complained about the fuel gauge, I started this thread to better understand it. You've posted in this thread to constantly badger people to stop asking questions. I've never proposed a lawsuit, so why are you bringing it up? Why don't you sue me for annoying you with threads you hate?

 

[KenC]

First, I would never sue anyone that has led me to believe that there is little or no likelihood of being able to collect, but you have me all wrong! I think this is a wonderful subject and merits a couple of more new threads. We need to get to the bottom of this sinister conspiracy by the engineers at Toyota. Post on!


The only more interesting posts are the spam ones offering tremendous bargains on unlocked phones and other electronic devices. I live for those!

Thanks, you're brilliantly funny. You keep on reading all those posts you love so much, even though no one is forcing you to do so.