Fuel Gauge Firmware Update 2016 Hilux

[Primal_Demon]

I had mine serviced Fri 28 Oct, 20,000km, I pulled in with the trip saying only 9km left, usage at 9.2L/100, for 694km. I pointed this out and even the service person was shocked, in theory an 80L tank using 10L/100 should get 800km, so I should've been well past 800.

I asked about the update and there's nothing yet and no confirmed date.

Also I've noticed I get significantly different economy from the two brands of fuel i use, lease vehicle with fuel cards, BP or Caltex, at least 0.3 - 0.5L/100 better with Caltex!!!! Don't know about other brands, I've filled with BP 3 - 4 times and always worse economy.

[creaky]

Interesting with the BP. I tend to get BP and my economy is shite - albeit in stop start city driving unless I can escape somewhere

[Craig_Syd]

Stock standard SR5 Auto, pretty much full time city traffic driving. 5300 on the clock.

580km on the trip meter when it got to 0km range left. Eco says I average 10.3. She took 65ltr to fill.

[JHSR5]

Same as Craig_Syd.

[JHSR5]

Any one heard when this software update is meant to become available?

[180degrees]

I had mine serviced Fri 28 Oct, 20,000km, I pulled in with the trip saying only 9km left, usage at 9.2L/100, for 694km. I pointed this out and even the service person was shocked, in theory an 80L tank using 10L/100 should get 800km, so I should've been well past 800.

I asked about the update and there's nothing yet and no confirmed date.

Also I've noticed I get significantly different economy from the two brands of fuel i use, lease vehicle with fuel cards, BP or Caltex, at least 0.3 - 0.5L/100 better with Caltex!!!! Don't know about other brands, I've filled with BP 3 - 4 times and always worse economy.

0.3-0.5L is not significant, that disparity could be anything, more aircon use, more traffic lights, less stop start etc

[ih8ubarney]

thought i'd share my findings as i've complained about my gauge accuracy with my dealer and they are apparently ordering a new sender for when i eventually get a new tailshaft....
i reset my trip meter when my range got to "zero", then drove an additional 90ks.... refueled this morning and squeesed 75.9L back in. car said i averaged 9.8 for the tank.... and after i filled up my range was 717k's.

my dealer also said the range is not capable of "learning" based on the actual k's travel on individual tanks of fuel... which is sucks a bit.

this time I've started a trip meter so see how far i actually get on the tank.

but the range to zero seems way too conservative!

[berniecam]

Hi. Well here is another one, last time I filled up my range to empty was 703km, set my trip meter & did 715 km low fuel light came on at 595km kept driving, refuel warning came on at 650 km kept driving, got up to 715 km then filled up took 71.45 litres average fuel economy said 9.9 litres/100 km so I could easily do 150 km after low fuel light comes on with about 4 to 5 litres left in tank new range to empty now says 710km not sure about learning but it seems to get better each time. CHEERS.

[SP1]

I emailed Toyota about the fuel gauge issue - and was told to contact the service department of my dealer. I contacted the service department. I was told that they know nothing about a firmware upgrade to give accurate reading for the 80 l fuel tank.

[berniecam]

I emailed Toyota about the fuel gauge issue - and was told to contact the service department of my dealer. I contacted the service department. I was told that they know nothing about a firmware upgrade to give accurate reading for the 80 l fuel tank.

Hi SP1 Yep bloody dealers they will bend over backwards to get your cash & a sale but something like this there is no money in it for them so they do not want to know you. --Bet if you try two or three you might get three different answers but might be worth a try you never know one might come good. Cheers.

[Aussie Adrenaline]

For what it's worth, my 'Distance to Empty' displayed on the screen fluctuates depending on fuel consumption from recent driving. The day I drove it off the showroom floor (15km on the odometer) it displayed 742km range. Since then it generally fluctuates through the 700's, with my highest ever reading being 787km, and lowest about 680km after towing the boat. My average fuel consumption is about 8.5L/100km around town, and about 9.5L/100km on the highway. The most fuel efficient speed is around 60km/h, during which time fuel consumption is approximately 6.0L/100km - hence why I receive better economy around town than highway driving. From my experience it takes the following amount of fuel (Litres) to fill to full: 65L from "Refuel / 0km remaining, 57L from when the fuel light turns on, 49L from 1/4 tank remaining, 31L from 1/2 tank remaining, and 13.5L from 3/4 tank remaining. Vehicle is a manual 2.8L diesel 4x4 SR dual cab-chassis with HDA tray and approximately 200kg of load in the tray at all times. Apparently the conservative fuel gauge issue occurs in other new Toyota vehicles as well (not just the HiLux). Perhaps this might be a deliberate move by Toyota due to the problems and associated repairs costs that can be encountered when the fuel runs dry?

[Beta]

Yeah I think they are conservative in other models, I've never got close to putting 150 litres in the Wife's Prado, I think max has been about 130 litres after the fuel lights comes on, but being such a big tank you never seem to stress over it, where the Hilux only being 80 litres the conservatism really stands out as its basically asking you to refuel when you've used only 60 litres which is not much distance especially if towing.

[banksy]

60G for a car that cant even tell how much fuel is left, crap auto, tail shaft clunks
Good stuff Toyota

well at least they are fixing it

Waiting waiting
More chance of the Wallabies beating the all blacks or JESUS turning back up.

[Kris NT]

On this whole km's travelled ,fuel light and so forth this is what I'm experiencing.
Dual cab ,auto , Tdiesel and all standard ... air con on everyday and as soon as I'm in the car , Darwin NT I'm not sure if the heat and humidity has anything to do with the readings.

Fuel light came on between E and 1/4 tank I drove another 70km , dash shows 9.1l - 100k , range left was 3km when I pulled into the servo ,fuel needle still wasn't on E , travelled 700km ,put in 68.68L of diesel , new range showed 725km.

[Kris NT]

On this whole km's travelled ,fuel light and so forth this is what I'm experiencing.
Dual cab ,auto , Tdiesel and all standard ... air con on everyday and as soon as I'm in the car , Darwin NT I'm not sure if the heat and humidity has anything to do with the readings.

Fuel light came on between E and 1/4 tank I drove another 70km , dash shows 9.1l - 100k , range left was 3km when I pulled into the servo ,fuel needle still wasn't on E , travelled 700km ,put in 68.68L of diesel , new range showed 725km.

[JHSR5]

Hi all,
Just moved up from NSW to QLD.
I was out at SCI FLEET Toyota Albion Queensland. Friendly, helpful staff. Got talking about the fuel guage issue. They are doing a fix. Were they remove the fuel tank and bend the sender rod, so it gives a more accurate reading. Fuel light comes on with 12 litres rather than 25 litres. He said they are having good results. Fix takes about 3 hours.

[Toeknee2]

Hi all,
Just moved up from NSW to QLD.
I was out at SCI FLEET Toyota Albion Queensland. Friendly, helpful staff. Got talking about the fuel guage issue. They are doing a fix. Were they remove the fuel tank and bend the sender rod, so it gives a more accurate reading. Fuel light comes on with 12 litres rather than 25 litres. He said they are having good results. Fix takes about 3 hours.

Interesting JHSR5, I have a 2017 SR coming that Toyota haven't started building yet (they said they would notify me when the manufacture commenced, predicted January). I wonder if that's what they will do during the new manufacturing process?
Anyway, I will be monitoring the performance of the fuel gauge and posting my results on here.
I will also post my opinion of the new tail shaft and the auto transmission performance. Hopefully these teething problems of the new GEN 8 model will be addressed and ironed out before they build the next batch.
Cheers guys.

[barryswanson]

I've got a 2017 model not build and so far the tailshaft has been good. Haven't paid much attention to the fuel guage. I will next time but anything that reduces the chances of running out of fuel is a good thing IMO

[Toeknee2]

You have a 2017 model and we are in 2016, how does that work? Two weeks ago I was told by a Toyota dealership (who that morning had been in touch with the manufacturing department/headquarters), that the new 2017 hiluxes were not being manufactured yet but will be very soon.
So how did you get a 2017 plate?
Assuming Toyota started manufacture the following day, they would have somehow had to get it made, shipped and then delivered to you in less than 14 days? Hmm, no offense but why do they have a "MY17" classification if the build plate states the previous year?

By the way I will also monitor and report back on the smoke issue.

[barryswanson]

The models are from September to September I believe. It might even be august to august. My dealer said you can pick them on the lot by just looking for the tow bar which is now standard from the factory.