GM disappointingly small fuel tanks continue

Like-A-Rock44 · May 20, 2020

I hear that the 2021 suburban does not have the 31 gallon tank any more and it’s 28 gal and Tahoe down to 24 gal. Can anyone confirm this? Having to Fill up more often with a pack of kids running late to practice.... please GM give us options for large fuel tanks!

Like-A-Rock44 · May 20, 2020

On 4/20/2020 at 6:05 PM, garagerog said:

That's a little harsh. I take it you've never been to Wyoming. Even along I-80 there aren't that many fuel stops, let alone getting into the interior. Nothing to do in Wyoming? Ever hear of Yellowstone Park, Devils Tower? Course maybe you're a city dweller with a gas station on every corner and fixated on Brokeback Mtn.

This guy gets it!

May 23, 2020

On 5/19/2020 at 8:34 PM, Like-A-Rock44 said:

I hear that the 2021 suburban does not have the 31 gallon tank any more and it’s 28 gal and Tahoe down to 24 gal. Can anyone confirm this? Having to Fill up more often with a pack of kids running late to practice.... please GM give us options for large fuel tanks!

Yes that is accurate. Both tanks will be getting smaller.

2021 Suburban fuel tank 28 gallon vs 2020 was 31 gal

2021 Tahoe fuel tank 24 gallon vs 2020 was 26 gal

June 13, 2020

GM decreased their fuel tank size by 2 gallons and now have one of the smallest fuel tanks and the only major truck brand to not offer an optional larger tank size. The only advantage of a smaller fuel tank is to do better on a government test and show better numbers on paper. GM really needs to step up and have a larger tank option!

Otherguy · June 15, 2020

I honestly don’t know why anyone is still complaining about this. GM is doing what is best based off of their own market research into the matter. When consumers see a smaller fuel tank, they think it’s more affordable. For example, years ago when I was looking at a F150, my wife was turned away at the fact that every single truck had a 36 gallon tank. GM doesn’t care about feelings, they want the money of masses, not the 1%.

alpinecrick · June 15, 2020

When there is no gas station within a hour and half drive, fuel capacity can indeed become an issue. Some places I go to I carry a 5 ga can of spare gas.........

Otherguy · June 15, 2020

1 hour ago, alpinecrick said:

When there is no gas station within a hour and half drive, fuel capacity can indeed become an issue. Some places I go to I carry a 5 ga can of spare gas.........

Understand, but why would you buy a truck that doesn’t meet the requirements of your drive? If you knew the tank was small and still bought it, then

KARNUT · June 15, 2020

I really get amused at these fuel tank threads. GM is jumping through hoops for HP numbers and fuel mileage numbers. I’ve been buying trucks since the 70s. Horsepower and fuel mileage has been slowly increasing. Trucks don’t need big tanks anymore. Why? On the freeway you’re still getting the distance , I do anyway. My big tank 01 Avalanche will not go farther than my small tank 14 GMC did. Guess why? So guess what the small tank gets you? Ok I’ll tell you, less weight. And that increases fuel mileage. When I pulled I added a gas tank in the bed. If you want to go 1000 miles without stopping. It’s easy. That comes with blood clots and a bad bladder.

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ThundahBeagle · June 15, 2020

On 4/9/2020 at 9:57 PM, Like-A-Rock44 said:

I think a 400 mile range when towing would be a minimum, your buying a truck right! Getting 10 MPG you need a 40 gallon tank to go 400 miles. The new 1/2 tons are like 3/4 tons use to be... a 1/2 ton rated at 13,000 pounds towing seems to be the new normal, it comes with a trailer brake controller these trucks are set up to tow! It seems to me GM forgot one critical peace of a towing rig a larger fuel tank! I Think a larger tank should at least be an option on any truck. A larger fuel tank should come standard with Max tow, trail boss and the 3.73 geared 10 speed off-road diesel what a sweet set up! they just forgot to add a large tank. GM down sized from 26 to 24 gal on the 1/2 tons that seems weird.

I try to call it like I see it. There are some members that I have agreed with in the past that I sort of disagree with here. So please, nobody take offense...

Yes I understand that the Engineers across the board are placing smaller tanks in these trucks for EPA and CAFE standards and I fully comprehend that move. Range is roughly the same as it has always been because the newer trucks are more fuel efficient. But I don't support knocking this guy because he wants a bigger tank. This IS a forum, after all. Someone in another thread knocked one of us for having a high lift. But the man can lift as high as he wants. This man is just reaching "up" in his own way, I guess.

My GMT400 1993 and '94 full sized, 2 door Blazer Silverados both had 30 gallon tanks. And they were much shorter and more maneuverable than a current Sierra double cab with 6.5 ft bed. But they got worse mileage. The Suburbans of that same period had 40 gallon tanks. In the square body generation prior to the GMT400, an option was available to have an entire second tank installed at the truck's passenger side! When your fuel gauge read low, just flip a switch and watch it climb back up. If they both read low, then the wallet had to really strain.

The man feels like he's being gypped even though he isnt. He wants more, and I guess that's not wrong.

I wish my 14 Sierra had a 30 gallon tank, or the option for a second 25 (24?) gallon. But it doesnt. I can still get 550, maybe even close to 600 miles if I really hyper mile it on flat ground. I wish I had more but I'm coping.

Maybe the OP could redevelop the 2nd fuel tank system and sell it, and see how many takers he gets. I'd like to see that.

Grumpy Bear · June 15, 2020

Towing aside I can go over 600 miles on 25 gallons of gas. That is 2/3 the distance from Chicago to Denver. Three times longer than my butt will take. A hundred longer than any day I currently drive. Cut in half for towing and I'm still one tank per day. How far do you need to drive? The entire state of Wyoming is less than that kitty corner.

KARNUT · June 15, 2020

I never towed without an in bed tank. I usually had a manual switch to fill my stock fuel tank through the return line. On my trips across country unloaded we usually stop 3-4 times per 7-8 hours of driving. Only one for fuel. And that involves lunch or bathroom breaks. It usually cost me an additional couple of minutes. Yes I time it along with my average drive time average. With the wife along now I’m ecstatic if it 60mph daily average. When I was traveling working it was 68 mph. So yea I’d be bitchen if the tank size cost me time. It doesn’t.

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garagerog · June 15, 2020

I believe the issue with small fuel tanks rests primarily with those towing long loads. Unless you're primarily using interstates and have truck stops available, it gets sketchy on the back roads and byways finding a fuel stop that you can pull a truck and long trailer into to fuel up. My brother up until last year bumper towed a 35' TT with a Ram 3/4 CC 6.4 gasser, I believe with a 33-34 gallon tank. Did he want to tow 400 miles without stopping for lunch or a piss break? Oh, heck no. He had to spend an inordinate amount of time pre-planning his route to his destination just to find a fuel stop that he could access.

TXGREEK · June 15, 2020

A gallon of water weighs 8.4 pounds, reduction of the fuel tank is part of the requirements to lessen the vehicles weight in return helping in adding something in mpg’s, mentally appeasing the mpg nerds and the EPA’s requirements.

I personally will ONLY tow on the interstate, trying to find diesel while towing on the back roads adds lots of stress, I wouldn’t attempt that with a gasoline engine no matter the stated mpg’s. My 14 CrewCab LTZ 5.3 3.42 gave me appox 3.5-3.9 miles per gallon (sometimes less) while towing an 8k# TT, having to pull over twice between Houston and Dallas was the nail in the coffin for that truck. I didn’t like it at all, even had my family drive in another one of our vehicles, I started 3 hours before them and they got there much sooner than I did, never again lol!

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June 22, 2020

A gallon of gas weighs 6 pounds and yeah the only advantage of a smaller tank is to chase government numbers and look better on paper with payload capacities as these tests must be done with a full tank. There are NO real-world advantages of a smaller tank. There are lots of real-world advantages with a larger tank (longer range, less frequent stops, saving time, saving money, reducing hassle, etc) and NO real-world disadvantages. Also your truck doesn't need to be on empty to take a rest stop. Not sure why people on here need their tank size to be equivalent to their bladder size, that's ridiculous. Stop when you want, you don't need to be on empty to stop. Or if that's important to you, only fill the tank half full. If you are worried about extra weight only fill up a few gallons at a time, that's even better LOL. Ford, Ram and even Toyota offer larger tanks, time for GM to get it together.