Fuel tank capacities
11-21-2014, 04:11 PM
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Phoenix, A-to-Z
Posts: 896
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes
on
2 Posts
Year: 1988
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
Fuel tank capacities
The manual suggests that the standard fuel tank capacity is 13.5 gallons and the 'optional' tank was 20 gallons.
I have read somewhere that the two tanks are actually the same physical dimensions and that the standard tank merely has a longer filler neck that goes inside the tank that only allows it to hold 13.5 gallons.
Is there some sneaky trick to upgrade a standard tank to hold 20 gallons? That would be a pretty useful mod if it could be done fairly easily and safely!
Also, when does the little low fuel warning light come on for you? How many gallons are left in the tank on average when that light comes on?
'88 4.0 here. I imagine other years may be different.
I have read somewhere that the two tanks are actually the same physical dimensions and that the standard tank merely has a longer filler neck that goes inside the tank that only allows it to hold 13.5 gallons.
Is there some sneaky trick to upgrade a standard tank to hold 20 gallons? That would be a pretty useful mod if it could be done fairly easily and safely!
Also, when does the little low fuel warning light come on for you? How many gallons are left in the tank on average when that light comes on?
'88 4.0 here. I imagine other years may be different.
11-21-2014, 04:15 PM
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Dawson Springs, KY
Posts: 780
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes
on
2 Posts
Year: 1985
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 2.5L
The manual suggests that the standard fuel tank capacity is 13.5 gallons and the 'optional' tank was 20 gallons.
I have read somewhere that the two tanks are actually the same physical dimensions and that the standard tank merely has a longer filler neck that goes inside the tank that only allows it to hold 13.5 gallons.
Is there some sneaky trick to upgrade a standard tank to hold 20 gallons? That would be a pretty useful mod if it could be done fairly easily and safely!
Also, when does the little low fuel warning light come on for you? How many gallons are left in the tank on average when that light comes on?
'88 4.0 here. I imagine other years may be different.
I have read somewhere that the two tanks are actually the same physical dimensions and that the standard tank merely has a longer filler neck that goes inside the tank that only allows it to hold 13.5 gallons.
Is there some sneaky trick to upgrade a standard tank to hold 20 gallons? That would be a pretty useful mod if it could be done fairly easily and safely!
Also, when does the little low fuel warning light come on for you? How many gallons are left in the tank on average when that light comes on?
'88 4.0 here. I imagine other years may be different.
I can't say you gain anything by altering the filler neck, since when I bought my new tank, the 20 gallon was actually cheaper than the 13.5 gallon one.
My light doesn't even come on anymore, I was down in the red on the gauge last week and put almost 19 gallons in and it was still off.
11-21-2014, 06:02 PM
#4
::CF Moderator::
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Prescott, Az
Posts: 43,863
Received 1,524 Likes
on
1,236 Posts
Year: 1990
Model: Cherokee (XJ)
Engine: 4.0
Put a sender assembly from a 20 gallon tank in it.
11-23-2014, 11:03 AM
#7
CF Veteran
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Monett, MO.
Posts: 7,554
Likes: 0
Received 14 Likes
on
14 Posts
Year: 1999
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
Rule of thumb I found out over 50 yrs. ago "Any Car Runs Better On The Top Half Of Fuel Tank".
No matter what the size just fill up when it shows a half a tank........then you will never run out of fuel. Or I should say that I never have in 54 yrs. of driving following that rule my father told me, have I not once ran out of fuel.
Oh yeah he told me that when I knew about everything there was to know at the time, I'm sure most can remember those days.
A little trivia for you older guys at that time I was driving a car with the fuel tank filler cap behind the tail light, this company only did this a couple of yrs.
No matter what the size just fill up when it shows a half a tank........then you will never run out of fuel. Or I should say that I never have in 54 yrs. of driving following that rule my father told me, have I not once ran out of fuel.
Oh yeah he told me that when I knew about everything there was to know at the time, I'm sure most can remember those days.
A little trivia for you older guys at that time I was driving a car with the fuel tank filler cap behind the tail light, this company only did this a couple of yrs.
Trending Topics
11-23-2014, 11:50 AM
#8
Seasoned Member
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Indiana
Posts: 340
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Year: 1998
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
Rule of thumb I found out over 50 yrs. ago "Any Car Runs Better On The Top Half Of Fuel Tank". No matter what the size just fill up when it shows a half a tank........then you will never run out of fuel. Or I should say that I never have in 54 yrs. of driving following that rule my father told me, have I not once ran out of fuel. Oh yeah he told me that when I knew about everything there was to know at the time, I'm sure most can remember those days. A little trivia for you older guys at that time I was driving a car with the fuel tank filler cap behind the tail light, this company only did this a couple of yrs.
11-23-2014, 12:29 PM
#9
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: West Texas
Posts: 553
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
on
1 Post
Year: 1991
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0 L
I dunno about YOU guys, but Ol' Red can only eat 17.68 gallons of gas at a time. that is all the way full, (gas right at the top of the filler tube.) so I guess 20 gallons is not 20 gallons.... and I got no "light' which tells me when I low. I always and I mean always run her until I get to the very end of the RED mark (reserve), never had any issues.....except......recently, (after 289K miles) my fuel pump finally went. am sure I am gonna drop the tank next spring and flush it out, as the old pump had NO STRAINER left on it. it had eaten away!!!!!!!
just some data for the masses..........
cheers!
cpnwrench
11-23-2014, 12:35 PM
#10
Member
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Alberta
Posts: 112
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Year: 1994
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L
I dunno about YOU guys, but Ol' Red can only eat 17.68 gallons of gas at a time. that is all the way full, (gas right at the top of the filler tube.) so I guess 20 gallons is not 20 gallons.... and I got no "light' which tells me when I low. I always and I mean always run her until I get to the very end of the RED mark (reserve), never had any issues.....except......recently, (after 289K miles) my fuel pump finally went. am sure I am gonna drop the tank next spring and flush it out, as the old pump had NO STRAINER left on it. it had eaten away!!!!!!!
just some data for the masses..........
cheers!
cpnwrench
my build sheet says "8 additional gallons of fuel" yah 8 if the standard tank was 9.5 gal 
i havnt really filled it yet to see if mine drinks all 20 or less like yurs.
11-23-2014, 12:48 PM
#11
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: West Texas
Posts: 553
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
on
1 Post
Year: 1991
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0 L
OH WAIT!!!!!!!!!! You have the "Canadian" build.......
They only make a 38 Litre tank for those!!!!
and only ESSO gas! kidding Mr.
Enjoy!
cpnwrench
11-23-2014, 10:49 PM
#12
Member
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Alberta
Posts: 112
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Year: 1994
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L
lol. Mine was made in Michigan so it's in miles and gallons. Which really screws me up somedays. But I do buy esso gas haha
11-24-2014, 11:07 AM
#14
Seasoned Member
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Groveland, CA
Posts: 426
Likes: 0
Received 8 Likes
on
8 Posts
Year: 1996 Two Door Wagoneer
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L
Well, sort of...
It was a practical way of learning fractions, I guess.
11-24-2014, 11:22 AM
#15
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Phoenix, A-to-Z
Posts: 896
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes
on
2 Posts
Year: 1988
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
I used much worse wisdom: I always carried a spare fuel can. The rule was, when I ran out of gas, only put half the can in the tank. Then the next time, only half of what was left in the can, etc. Logic being, There will always be gas in the spare can.
Well, sort of...
It was a practical way of learning fractions, I guess.
Well, sort of...
It was a practical way of learning fractions, I guess.
Zeno's paradox...
http://platonicrealms.com/encycloped...e-and-Achilles
