It changes the fuel pump symbol from white to orange, it will say low fuel on the center of the gauge cluster, and it will pop up a temporary banner on the multimedia screen saying fuel is low. Also, zero miles range seems to be something more like 20-40 miles in reality.
GX550 Low Fuel Gas Warning Light?? Where is it? (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter Sunshine3
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Unfortunately not for me. I ran out in the middle of the Interstate - whole system shut down and I couldn’t even turn my steering wheel. Every vehicle I’ve owned since 2010 has had a bell/alarm when gas is low so I’m conditioned to that I guess and I had not noticed that it was low. Seems like this would be a simple update to our technology to add an auditory alarm, especially for a $100K vehicle. Pretty disappointing.
I was able to find a solution to this problem that works great.
I purchased a bluetooth OBD2 adapter called vLink MC+ for under $60 and use an app called SideCar that works with CarPlay to put a gas gauge on my CarPlay interface. The only drawback is that you need to use the SideCar app all the time (with Apple Maps integrated) to have the gas gauge displayed, but I like it.
Here is a link to the OBD2 adapter
Here is a link to the SideCar app
apps.apple.com
Hope this helps someone else!
I purchased a bluetooth OBD2 adapter called vLink MC+ for under $60 and use an app called SideCar that works with CarPlay to put a gas gauge on my CarPlay interface. The only drawback is that you need to use the SideCar app all the time (with Apple Maps integrated) to have the gas gauge displayed, but I like it.
Here is a link to the OBD2 adapter
Here is a link to the SideCar app
Sidecar: Automotive assistant
Your personal automative assistant. A powerful OBD scanner with integrated CarPlay widgets, Shortcuts, and iCloud sync support. Now includes turn-by-turn navigation in CarPlay. Want to beta test Sidecar and get two months free? Visit http://sidecar.clutch.engineering/beta/ to learn more...
apps.apple.com
Hope this helps someone else!
If I fill up my GX it states that I have 272 miles. But lately it has been going slowly. Yesterday I made it to 280! So weird. I am getting 14.5 miles per gallon I drive about 25,000/ 30,000 miles a year. This thing eats gas! I do Micky Thompson Baja Boss AT’s 275/65/18’s and a roof rack.
I have to agree. I’ve almost run out of gas twice now. And yes, I should be paying more attention to it, but I’d think in a car like this there would be bells, whistles and a phone call. lol.
Do these GX 550s not have fuel gauges? That seems like a huge oversight.
Yes, it has a fuel gauge, yes the warning light does come one and yes, it will also give a text warning. I am not sure if it will give an audio warning or not. Anyways, some people choose to drive while distracted so much that they don't even know the tank is running dry...A bigger tank won't fix this kind problem for sure.
i always reset the trip odometer when i fill gas. i don't trust the miles remaining estimates and i don't trust the MPG calculator, do the math myself. i also compensate for the 3% tire size increase i have. and as a bonus, i ignore the miles remaining display when it hits zero because the trip odometer keeps counting.
my best trip so far was ~ 380 miles on a single tank, almost entirely highway.
my best trip so far was ~ 380 miles on a single tank, almost entirely highway.
Pretty sure it’s resetting the value for the warning based upon distance traveled, fuel used, fuel remaining & speed, then providing message warning in miles assuming you continue same driving pattern.
But 2 different warning systems -
- Low fuel light is a fuel pump potentiometer of actual remaining fuel level being triggered by a remaining fuel volume. Haven’t seen in TIS myself, but told on GX550 it’s 3.2 gallons remaining & 2.7 on Land Cruiser fuel tanks.
- Message center low fuel warning indication is a calculated miles of remaining travel based upon remaining fuel level & avg mpg. Change the speed, apply more load (wind, hill) or engine speed from selecting different gear & it will recalculate.
Learned a bit DIY swapping the OE gas tank on my 2025 Tundra from 22.5G to larger OE 32.2G version. My low fuel warning light & gas gauge work perfect w/ new tank. The DTE still thinks it has a 22.5G system, as its calculations for tank size are hard coded into the ECU.
www.tundras.com
But 2 different warning systems -
- Low fuel light is a fuel pump potentiometer of actual remaining fuel level being triggered by a remaining fuel volume. Haven’t seen in TIS myself, but told on GX550 it’s 3.2 gallons remaining & 2.7 on Land Cruiser fuel tanks.
- Message center low fuel warning indication is a calculated miles of remaining travel based upon remaining fuel level & avg mpg. Change the speed, apply more load (wind, hill) or engine speed from selecting different gear & it will recalculate.
Learned a bit DIY swapping the OE gas tank on my 2025 Tundra from 22.5G to larger OE 32.2G version. My low fuel warning light & gas gauge work perfect w/ new tank. The DTE still thinks it has a 22.5G system, as its calculations for tank size are hard coded into the ECU.
32 gallon tank swap COMPLETED!
Well thx. I stand corrected. Every TRD/OR I looked at had the 32GA. I’ll dig out my window sticker tomorrow. I remember some stickers called it out as...
www.tundras.com
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This car, my car at least, underestimates miles to empty quite a bit. When the warning light finally comes on miles to empty shows around 10-15miles. But I never put in more than 17 gallons. It has 21 gallon tank. Even at 10miles/gallon that's still 40miles to empty, not 10 
I actually prefer this, more conservative, approach of Lexus to overly optimistic estimates of some other brands. E.g. on my prev car (Grand Cherokee), when the fuel warning light came on, the miles to empty started dropping like a rock - light comes on at 50 miles, but after only 20-25 miles it was already single digits...
I actually prefer this, more conservative, approach of Lexus to overly optimistic estimates of some other brands. E.g. on my prev car (Grand Cherokee), when the fuel warning light came on, the miles to empty started dropping like a rock - light comes on at 50 miles, but after only 20-25 miles it was already single digits...
I always assume that if I buy a full tank of gas - as soon as I leave the gas station, I'll need to loop around and fill it up again....
Also think about non-level situations. You have that 20 mile range when level because you can use all of the fuel, but on an incline the fuel pump can only count on what it can pu in the smaller fuel pump well the pump sits in. High angles of attack limit amount of fuel that might be able to be picked up.This car, my car at least, underestimates miles to empty quite a bit. When the warning light finally comes on miles to empty shows around 10-15miles. But I never put in more than 17 gallons. It has 21 gallon tank. Even at 10miles/gallon that's still 40miles to empty, not 10
I actually prefer this, more conservative, approach of Lexus to overly optimistic estimates of some other brands. E.g. on my prev car (Grand Cherokee), when the fuel warning light came on, the miles to empty started dropping like a rock - light comes on at 50 miles, but after only 20-25 miles it was already single digits...
There was a thread on this years ago and I took a swag at a software algorithm. In my experience it seems to be holding mostly true that once you reach empty you have fuel for another 50 miles or so. If you add 50 to your estimated miles to empty after a full up that is about your total range. When I averaged 18.3 mpg the after fill up was up to 345 miles plus another 50-60 would net over 400 total. But that is if you can drive and get 18.3 mpg. Currently after mods (rack, tent, bumper w/winch, and 34" AT's my after fill up is now 275 or so with an avg mpg of 15-16. So adding 50 miles brings this up to 325 total plus about 15 for the tire size correction nets 340 total in actual range.
Lexus/Toyota intentionally underestimates the fuel range remaining because the fuel pump needs to be submerged to a certain level at all times. Running it to actual empty can damage that pump, and it's a bear to replace because it's inside the gas tank. More efficient that way, although much more damaging if you run out of gas.
I refill at a quarter tank, but I've always done that. My father scared me to death about what happens to an engine by running it dry, and I've preached that to my kids as well.
That said, it's puzzling that the didn't figure out how to put a bigger tank under this thing, especially given the gas mileage.
Strangely, I started getting slightly better gas mileage after I hit about 5000 miles. Slight, but a mile or two better.
I refill at a quarter tank, but I've always done that. My father scared me to death about what happens to an engine by running it dry, and I've preached that to my kids as well.
That said, it's puzzling that the didn't figure out how to put a bigger tank under this thing, especially given the gas mileage.
Strangely, I started getting slightly better gas mileage after I hit about 5000 miles. Slight, but a mile or two better.
I guess it’s understandable that some people get accustomed to the fuel light always being on considering how bad the mileage on the GX is combined with a thimble for a gas tank…
Mines practically back on before I get out of the gas station parking lot.
Mines practically back on before I get out of the gas station parking lot.
Certainly drives some anxiety, but if you just remind yourself you have a safe 30 or so miles after zero to stop at a station that should help. Think glass half full. The number presented at the fuel gauge is the safe range.
Are we really complaining that our GX doesn’t tell us -
& now we want it to have an audible warning? Next we will be asking for a stick shaker…. You are going to have some kinda fun if someday you get that EV.
Next posts will be the elitist view of how much $ they paid for their GX & for the price it should have (fill in blank audible low fuel warning) like their last ride.
Drive your GX, and look in the mirror and notice that you’re the driver. Being responsible for the fuel required & used is in on you.
- that you didn’t pay attention to how many miles you’ve gone,
- or you aren’t watching your MPG,
- or you haven’t watched the fuel gauge level,
- or the illuminated visual low fuel light,
- or warning display on the IP,
& now we want it to have an audible warning? Next we will be asking for a stick shaker…. You are going to have some kinda fun if someday you get that EV.
Next posts will be the elitist view of how much $ they paid for their GX & for the price it should have (
Drive your GX, and look in the mirror and notice that you’re the driver. Being responsible for the fuel required & used is in on you.
📷 Lexus GX 550 Random Images
📷 Lexus GX 550 Random Images
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