Sub-Tank Capacity

Relating to fuel tanks, long range, fuel type, fuel filters and other fuel related queries
User avatar
jonathan
Senior Member
Senior Member
Posts: 269
Joined: 20 Aug 2012 16:24
Full Name: Jonathan Venter
Nickname: jonathan
Home Town: Jacobsbaai
Current 4x4: 2005 4.8 GRX
Home Language: Afrikaans
Has thanked: 7 times
Been thanked: 40 times

Re: Sub-Tank Capacity

Post by jonathan »

iandvl wrote:
Jonathan,

Before I try seeing how far I can go again, I'm going to have to have the low fuel sensor checked out, as the light didn't come on (only briefly) at all the other day when I was towed - hence getting stuck in my predicament...

I put in 125L in total this morning, which would mean that I should have had about 10L left...
I've driven mine to just about below the Empty mark and nothing happened. Perhaps the light is not tell you that you are low on fuel, it's to tell you you're about to get towed :confused:
Wilkie
Patrolman 1000+
Patrolman 1000+
Posts: 1402
Joined: 24 Feb 2014 15:33
Full Name: Errol Wilken
Nickname: Wilkie
Home Town: Pretoria
Current 4x4: 1999 4.5 GRX Nissan Patrol
2004 BMW 3.0D X5
Home Language: Afrikaans
Has thanked: 69 times
Been thanked: 92 times

Re: Sub-Tank Capacity

Post by Wilkie »

I think all pre 1999 did not have sub tanks 4.2 and 4.5 petrol and diesel
But guys reading this tread and running your main thanks dry is not a good thing,you sucking up all the dirt in the fuel tank and tomorrow the vehicle is not pulling well,
cause off all the muck has now gone into the inline fuel filter and blocked it

Just some info on subtanks,when your maintank is empty and the hit the sub tank button,the sub tank is pumping back into the main tank and the engine gets fuel from the main tank only :salute:
User avatar
iandvl
Patrolman 1000+
Patrolman 1000+
Posts: 1765
Joined: 12 Jan 2015 13:26
Full Name: Ian de Villiers
Nickname: Ian
Home Town: Garsfontein
Current 4x4: Nissan Patrol 4.5 GRX
Home Language: English
Has thanked: 446 times
Been thanked: 670 times

Re: Sub-Tank Capacity

Post by iandvl »

Wilkie wrote:I think all pre 1999 did not have sub tanks 4.2 and 4.5 petrol and diesel
But guys reading this tread and running your main thanks dry is not a good thing,you sucking up all the dirt in the fuel tank and tomorrow the vehicle is not pulling well,
cause off all the muck has now gone into the inline fuel filter and blocked it

Just some info on subtanks,when your maintank is empty and the hit the sub tank button,the sub tank is pumping back into the main tank and the engine gets fuel from the main tank only :salute:
Wilkie,

The thread is not about running the main tank dry. That happened to me two days ago (outlined in the link to the original thread on post 1), but at the time it was not my intention. I intended filling up when the warning light came on solidly. This did not happen.

The thread is only an attempt to determine the size of the subtank - as there seems to be quite a bit of discrepancy about this. Mine is definitely 40L, but it seems as if others get considerably less... :salute:
Ian de Villiers

Patrol 4.5 GRX
Jurgens XT65 2x0 with Super Select Zero
ORRA: H80
User avatar
Marino4x4
Patrolman
Patrolman
Posts: 520
Joined: 19 Oct 2011 12:15
Full Name: Marinus Potgieter
Nickname: Marino4x4
Home Town: Bloemfontein
Current 4x4: Nissan Patrol
Home Language: Afrikaans
Location: Bloemfontein
Has thanked: 17 times
Been thanked: 84 times

Re: Sub-Tank Capacity

Post by Marino4x4 »

jonathan wrote:
I've driven mine to just about below the Empty mark and nothing happened. Perhaps the light is not tell you that you are low on fuel, it's to tell you you're about to get towed :confused:
I tried once to drive my car till the light came on. I luckily had my sub-tank as backup. When it came on I drove about 1 km before the car died due to lack of fuel. Seem that the light is there to tell you it is already to late.
Wilkie wrote:
I think all pre 1999 did not have sub tanks 4.2 and 4.5 petrol and diesel
Wilkie I have one of the very first GU 4.5 cars that was available in SA, 1998 model and I have the sub-tank in my car
Patrol 4.5 GL 1998

Terrain 4X4 Parts
User avatar
ricster
Patrolman 1000+
Patrolman 1000+
Posts: 5850
Joined: 13 Jan 2010 11:16
Full Name: Cedric Warner
Nickname: Cedric
Home Town: Alberton Gauteng
Current 4x4: '99 Nissan Patrol 4.2 Turbo Diesel
Home Language: English
Location: LA..... No not Los Angles ..... Lower Alberton, Gauteng
Has thanked: 591 times
Been thanked: 468 times

Re: Sub-Tank Capacity

Post by ricster »

Its wierd, cause on my 1999 GU 4.2 diesel, I have the leather seats, but no sub tank. I have the switch that says subtank, but nothing connected to it. On my instrument cluster my fuel gauge only has the main tank needle and no small sub tank needle. So why did the first owner buy it with the leather seats upgrade, but not the subtank??.... I don't know
Regards
Cedric
Nissan Patrol GL 4.2 Diesel Turbo (Iron Maiden)
Nissan SANI 3.0 V6 4x4 (SOLD)
Isuzu KB 280 DT 2x4 ('ol Smokey) - SOLD
Suzuki TL 1000R "V twin" (Growler) - SOLD
User avatar
iandvl
Patrolman 1000+
Patrolman 1000+
Posts: 1765
Joined: 12 Jan 2015 13:26
Full Name: Ian de Villiers
Nickname: Ian
Home Town: Garsfontein
Current 4x4: Nissan Patrol 4.5 GRX
Home Language: English
Has thanked: 446 times
Been thanked: 670 times

Re: Sub-Tank Capacity

Post by iandvl »

On the same note - and specifically since there are very definitely differences in sizes between subtanks (as we've seen in terms of figures posted in yesterday's thread and today's).

Michael, is your 'trol a GL ? Reason for the question is that Marinus has mentioned that the sub-tank was an optional extra on the GL's. It is sort of confirmed by Cedric's comment about not having the sub-tank meters and similar in the cluster. As such, perhaps someone fitted the tank afterwards. Michael - is your sub-tank an OEM sub-tank (ie: manufactured by Nissan), or was it manufactured by a third party.

I just cannot understand that it only takes 30L. This is what confused me about yesterday's thread...
Ian de Villiers

Patrol 4.5 GRX
Jurgens XT65 2x0 with Super Select Zero
ORRA: H80
AndriesS
Patrolman
Patrolman
Posts: 609
Joined: 01 Feb 2010 07:42
Full Name: Andries
Nickname: None
Home Town: Pretoorsdorp
Current 4x4: 4.8 GL with hairdryer.
Home Language: Afrikaans
Has thanked: 28 times
Been thanked: 38 times

Re: Sub-Tank Capacity

Post by AndriesS »

I've got it in my mind that on my 4.8GL that the main tanks takes 95, and sub takes 35. I've driven it to where needle was below the 0 mark but not on the stop. and filled it with 89 liters. My reserve light comes on when there is about 20liters left, just enough if the towns are 100km apart that your not 100% sure if you can make it to the next or not. and as a warning when that light is on do not attempt /stop on a steep side inclination (roll), engine will suffer from starvation.
User avatar
ricster
Patrolman 1000+
Patrolman 1000+
Posts: 5850
Joined: 13 Jan 2010 11:16
Full Name: Cedric Warner
Nickname: Cedric
Home Town: Alberton Gauteng
Current 4x4: '99 Nissan Patrol 4.2 Turbo Diesel
Home Language: English
Location: LA..... No not Los Angles ..... Lower Alberton, Gauteng
Has thanked: 591 times
Been thanked: 468 times

Re: Sub-Tank Capacity

Post by ricster »

The GL was the cheaper model. The GRX was the full spec. All 4.2 diesels ONLY came out in the GL model. This is VERY sad as I would have loved a sunroof on mine, but I believe it was marketed as more the farmers car.
Regards
Cedric
Nissan Patrol GL 4.2 Diesel Turbo (Iron Maiden)
Nissan SANI 3.0 V6 4x4 (SOLD)
Isuzu KB 280 DT 2x4 ('ol Smokey) - SOLD
Suzuki TL 1000R "V twin" (Growler) - SOLD
User avatar
jonathan
Senior Member
Senior Member
Posts: 269
Joined: 20 Aug 2012 16:24
Full Name: Jonathan Venter
Nickname: jonathan
Home Town: Jacobsbaai
Current 4x4: 2005 4.8 GRX
Home Language: Afrikaans
Has thanked: 7 times
Been thanked: 40 times

Re: Sub-Tank Capacity

Post by jonathan »

My GL definitely has an OEM sub-tank. But it is 2003 model, so maybe they were an optional extra at one point and became standard afterwards?
User avatar
Herrie
Patrolman 1000+
Patrolman 1000+
Posts: 2999
Joined: 08 Apr 2009 07:17
Full Name: Kobus Pienaar
Nickname: Herrie
Home Town: Kempton Park
Current 4x4: 1999 Patrol 4500e GRX
1983 Datsun Safari
Home Language: Afrikaans
Location: Kempton Park
Has thanked: 55 times
Been thanked: 93 times

Re: Sub-Tank Capacity

Post by Herrie »

I normally get around 38,5l in the subtank.
Herrie op Safari/Patrollie
1983 Safari
1999 Patrol 4500 GRX
Post Reply

Return to “11b. Fuel Related”

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 0 guests