"The Long Ranger" fuel Tanks

GrumpyOldFart replied:

I don't have a Long Ranger but I think all long range tanks are measured by their volume. i.e. length x width x height = litres. Subtract baffles, air space & etc and you get useable volume which is less.

My Outback 4x4 tank was 170 litres but took 153 litres to fill from dry. I could get to the bowser running on my main tank so I know it was dry from when I fitted it.

So don't panic but I wish they would quote useable capacity and not volume it would stop confusion.

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NTVRX replied:

I had a 60 ltr LRA tank installed & I can get 60.58 ltrs according to bowser meters. I was told by LRA that when the red light comes on the tank is empty so I was to make sure the pump was not operating dry. Thumbs UpThanks 0

fisho64 replied:

you dont say which model Hilux, but I have had a LN106 and KZN165 with Longrangers fitted. What they said about the gauge is correct, its simply not possible to get the arm into a full arc for accurate measurement. I removed one of my tanks and welded up a leak, also checked the sender unit.
Just because the fuel light is on, does not necessarily mean its bone dry-only one way to check that. Run it til light on then disconnect fuel line andlet it drain til doesnt suck anymore.

Also, as the tanks are quite long and flat at the bottom, itd be very unwise to run it too low as a moderately steepish downhill run will see all the fuel move forward away from the pickup. Thumbs UpThanks 0

Allan B (Member, SunCoast) replied:

I had a Long Ranger 180 litre tank fitted to the Troopy by ARB in July 2011.

As part of the fitting procedure they require to fill the tank with diesel to check for leaks and charge me for the fuel cost.

The presented invoice included a receipt from the service station for 180.23 litres of diesel at $265.

So it seems mine does contain 180 litres. Of course, I may not be able to draw the full 180 litres from the tank via the fuel pump.

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GT Campers replied:

Yes: Ive had a Long Ranger (The Newcastle NSW built ones) in a Nissan WD21 Pathy and it usually took 135+ litres on a 140L spec day-to-day, with the light well and truly on.

The car's OE fuel gauge references from the floor level of the tank NOT tank volume: it measures the height of the fuel remining in the tank so with a bigger tank, there is more stored fuel above the 'high tide' (full) level the gauge reads. So, the gauge will show 'full' for longer (it won't move), and your low fuel warning light will come on with a larger quantity of fuel remaining than with an OE tank. Like, as much as 20+ litres

A few percent from spec doesn't worry most people - temperatures and retail fuel pump calibration issues can alter the "actual" volume you think is being put in the tank. My Pathy had 19-20L remaining the instant the light came on - measured by draining as part of a vehicle preparation regime, not by guessing. If this concerns you - it interested me for remote area travel - maybe you could do the same, just so you know what the actual level is when the light comes on.

My current Hilux (OE tank) has at least 10L remaining when the light comes on - I can drive at least 70km without running dry. So you MAY have had that much in yours when you arrived at the workshop[...but who re-uses old fuel?

Who fitted yours? I'm sure LR specifies the tank be filled at installation to check for leaks etc

Tactfully said, maybe you could live with this tank a little longer before expressing your "shock" at Long Ranger's decades-long history of quality tank supply.

Let us know how things pan out over the next few tanks!



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Ozrover replied:

The 166 litre Long Ranger sub fuel tank that I installed in my 80 series actually holds 180 litres, but stops transferring at 166 litres, it's nice to know that there is still 14 litres left in the tank in an emergency!

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The Landy replied:

I’ve got two in ‘The Landy’, a 120 litre, and an 80 litre. Both are pretty much spot on in terms of volume and useable fuel.

I don’t rely on the gauges or warning light for fuel, but have kept a fuel log which provides a long-term fuel use average. When I fill the tank I do a calculation as to the expected range adjusted by a factor of 10% - found this works best for remote area travel, and when I fill the tanks I back calculate to see if usage was at, or close to what I expected.
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PJR (NSW) replied:

We have a dual fuel (125 lt) and water (55 lt) Long Ranger and I damned sick and tired of trying to get the damned taint out of the water. Yes we have tried baking soda and the stuff from the caravan place. I would never, that's never, get one again nor recommend one. It has been filled and cleaned and emptied and rinsed at least ten times. And with the correct water approved hose and fittings.

And they wash (sic) their hands of you. They wont even recommend any specific treatment.

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rcam replied:

Look I am not asking the question to put any doubt over the company which has a long history to it, simply asking the question to see if it is common knowledge.

Doing a 5000k trip with a caravan in tow and whether or not to believe that there is abother 20l of diesel hiding away in a tank is pretty important to know sometimes.


I'll have run it bone dry and do a real test.
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