Does my Cherokee really have a 20 gallon fuel cell? I only ask because my tank was running very low today and the computer said I had 11 miles till empty. When I filled up, it only filled up to 16.5 gallons to completely fill the cell. Does the Cherokee really have a 20 gallon fuel cell? Something is not computing.

 

You're keeping the model year of your xj a secret but some of the earlier ones had smaller tank capacity (same tank, different venting).
here's one of about 1000 internet posts on the subject and possible fix
https://www.cherokeeforum.com/f2/jee...nk-mod-241515/

 

My 1999 has a 17 gal tank - off road we carry roto-pack containers

 

And my 2000 holds 20 and the 96 I had before held 20.

So who knows...

https://www.cherokeeforum.com/f2/xj-...nk-size-17802/

 

Darn, looks like I was cheated out of 3 gal

 

Is this your first vehicle? No vehicle I have ever owned or driven is out of fuel as soon as the gauge hits E. If your engine was running before you filled the tank up then it wasn't out of fuel so you aren't going to put 20 gallons in it.

 

What makes you think it has a 17 gallon tank?

 

My 96 had a 16 gallon tank, I could never get close to that but it was the most. I bought a new tank and it's vents are different and is a 20 gallon tank.

 

When I first bought my jeep I could only get 10 gallons in before the pump shut off. After I replaced the off-brand vent/regulator/fuel pump/float sending unit/ screen assembly with a name-brand, I could get 17 gallons into it when the fuel gauge sets on empty. I have no idea if my tank is stock or if has been replaced. Where did you get your new 20gal tank?

 

My '98 holds 20 gallons. Not sure why others are having different experiences.

 

Some previous owner probably replaced the tank to a 20 gal tank years ago (b/c that's what's avail aftermarket). And now the gauge is 1/4 tank off ...which is real common. So, when it reads 'empty' you really have 5 gallons left. The sending unit on the smaller tank vehicles doesn't go deep enough as I recall ...is the problem. Same issue with my tank since i swapped out the old (smaller OEM one) to an aftermarket tank that doesn't leak.

That's one theory....

 

Just to continue the trend my 87 has a ~17 gallon tank.

John

 

Enter your VIN after the = and it will give you the factory build sheet and list the tank capacity on the second page. Only works back to a certain year, can't remember when the cutoff is.

https://www.jeep.com/webselfservice/...etServlet?vin=

 

I have a 20 gallon tank. However, when the pump shuts off, I usually can put 3 more gallons in before she is really full.

 

20 on my '99 as well. But if I was planning longer adventure dino juice stops offroad. A couple of those roto packs would do the trick