Running Prado diesel tank dry query

It may do, but it is a silly idea to do it deliberately.
Besides the sucking of long accumulated dregs from the tank, the fuel also lubricates the injector pump.
You wouldnt drain your sump then drive til the oil lite comes on-would you??

Hello, I have done it many times (on a work 80 series) and no problem - but dont forget you're on empty and try an overtake a road train. Cant comment on potential for increased wear to fuel pump. Can only assume it would reduce the life of some parts but by how much, who knows.

Cheers
Greg

Tried it once with a 105 series, 1HZ diesel. Did not work at all. Ended up having to prime all the way from the tank. Got there eventually, but a real bitch. I just wanted to know how many k's I had left after the red low fuel light came on with the after market LR tank. Just in case anyone is interested, I got another 100 k's out of it.
Cheers
Gerry

The fuel isn’t sucked by the engine as there is an electric delivery pump inside each tank. Most modern diesels are self priming due to this concept. I think the Prado is unique in the fact that either tank delivers straight to the engine (Not transferred from sub to main tank as in other cars)

From my experience if you are monitoring the fuel situation and switch over at the first hint of loss of power you will have no problems.

As for sucking up the sludge, the intake of the pump is in a fixed position at the bottom of the tank so you will get any sediment that settle out regardless of the tank being full or empty. (Most have a gauze intake strainer)

Other may have more exact info relating to the Prado.

Hope this helps
Spinifex

Your Prado had a rotary injector pump that sucks the fuel from whichever tank is selected, and sucks it through the fuel filter. Theres a fuel return line, so excess fuel is returned to the tank it came from.

When you run a tank dry, small amounts of air get through, but are separated off at the pump and disappear down the return line back to the tank. But bigger amounts of air make their way through the injector pump abd up to the injectors.

When you run short on fuel, your Prado will lose a bit of power. If you flick the tanks straight away and take your foot off, the air will get eliminated and all will be well again. If you wait until it stutters, it will probably cut out - rather dangerous on the highway, and damages your pump.

To do this repeatedly will shorten the life of a very expensive injector pump. The pump relies on the diesel fuel for its lubrication, so its easy to do some damage.

Should never be done, the fuel lubricates and cools the injection pump, many 1hz powered cruiser owners have found out that it is a very expensive exercise when the injection pump starts to play up through excessive wear. First sign of probs is hard starting when warm.
Would you run the engine with no oil pressure? your injection pump doesn't like it either

Good to read everyones replies but you run a high risk of picking up some junk in the bottom of tank if you let it run empty before you switch tanks you could get a block in ya filter or worst still blocked injector or 2. So just switch tanks when ya warning light comes on. I wouldnt like to be pulling apart an injector out there.

Derek L

Thank you to everybody for a selection of very informative replies.