FJ Cruiser spare fuel tank wanted

[flintsghost]

I'm looking for some way to add fuel capacity to my 2011 FJ Cruiser via a tank. Carrying cans is not helpful as the Allpro system doesn't work on late models with the factory installed back up camera...I already tried it and it doesn't work with the 2011. I don't have nor do I want a roof rack and carrying cans on a roof rack is a pain anyway. I'm not interested in the MAF 19 gallon spare tank because cost and installation aside it always blows codes once one gets past the 19 gallon spare tank and into your standard tank due to the amount of suction caused by the vacuum. MAF says they can't guarrantee that it won't blow codes and it's a 8 hour install after the roughly $1600 cost. Somewhere someone has a better idea. I'm dying to hear it. It must be available in the US and 10 gallons is about a minimum for auxillarys though more would be fine. Be happy to hear suggestions.

[ginericLC]

Buy a small fuel cell and plumb an electric pump to it and have it pump the fuel into your main tank.

[luk4mud]

My 12+- aux tank plumbed into my main does not trigger codes on my FJ80. If I fill both tanks, pump the aux into the main then run both pretty dry, there is alot of back pressure on the cap, but that is because I plumbed into the main using the vent. I imagine that I will go through lots of caps because of the pressure, but its worth it IMO. Aux tank + fuel line + Kragen fuel pump = good simple system. I have a dual filler neck too, but you can easily cut into the main filler line and skip the dual filler if you want.

Ironically, my aux tank is a used one from MAF, it was sitting on a shelf in the back, lonely and forgotten. Dual filler is from Specter, used, lonely and forgetten. rest of the stuff is from Kragen. I have maybe $400 into the whole system. I thought it would keep me form having to carry cans, now I carry them for friends.

[BIGGUY]

I saw an FJ with the backup camera that also had the All Pro stuff. The owner just made a small bracket and moved the camera out a little and it seemed to work fine. I don't remember where or who it was off hand though.

[cactusjk]

Can you better explain blows codes once one gets past the 19 gal aux tank?

I'm looking for some way to add fuel capacity to my 2011 FJ Cruiser via a tank. Carrying cans is not helpful as the Allpro system doesn't work on late models with the factory installed back up camera...I already tried it and it doesn't work with the 2011. I don't have nor do I want a roof rack and carrying cans on a roof rack is a pain anyway. I'm not interested in the MAF 19 gallon spare tank because cost and installation aside it always blows codes once one gets past the 19 gallon spare tank and into your standard tank due to the amount of suction caused by the vacuum. MAF says they can't guarrantee that it won't blow codes and it's a 8 hour install after the roughly $1600 cost. Somewhere someone has a better idea. I'm dying to hear it. It must be available in the US and 10 gallons is about a minimum for auxillarys though more would be fine. Be happy to hear suggestions.

[TangoBlue]

My 12+- aux tank plumbed into my main does not trigger codes on my FJ80. If I fill both tanks, pump the aux into the main then run both pretty dry, there is alot of back pressure on the cap, but that is because I plumbed into the main using the vent. I imagine that I will go through lots of caps because of the pressure, but its worth it IMO. Aux tank + fuel line + Kragen fuel pump = good simple system. I have a dual filler neck too, but you can easily cut into the main filler line and skip the dual filler if you want.

Ironically, my aux tank is a used one from MAF, it was sitting on a shelf in the back, lonely and forgotten. Dual filler is from Specter, used, lonely and forgetten. rest of the stuff is from Kragen. I have maybe $400 into the whole system. I thought it would keep me form having to carry cans, now I carry them for friends.

What vehicle and pictures please.

[flintsghost]

I saw an FJ with the backup camera that also had the All Pro stuff. The owner just made a small bracket and moved the camera out a little and it seemed to work fine. I don't remember where or who it was off hand though.

It was on FJ forum and the pictures were put up. But what you just said is not all they had to do. It can be done but the Allpro set up had to be modified also as did the spare tire mount. I discussed this with the owner through email. And I know who did it. But it's not possible witht he spare tire carrier that the 2011 comes with, even Allpro knows that, and they are working on it. I was involved with that thread.

[flintsghost]

Can you better explain blows codes once one gets past the 19 gal aux tank?

What apparently happens is that the MAF tank feeds directly into the regular tank which has the fuel pump built in and it is designed to pull a certain pressure and needs a vacuum pressure which is why your fuel filler cap seals the vacuum in when closed. The MAF tank is designed to constantly fill the main tank as the fuel is drawn out of the main tank by the fuel pump. Once the MAF tank gets empty the fuel pump has too much vacuum pulling pressure through the fuel pump and the codes start popping up on your indicators on the dash, because of the excess fuel pressure. You then need a scanner to eliminate the codes and reset everything once you refill the MAF tank. I called MAF about it. It may not be a problem with a 10-12 gallon tank but with their current designed 19 gallon tank it is a problem. Some owners don't care and others don't like it much. I think maybe it depends on whether you have the appropriate equipment to reset the code. The person I talked to about it has the equipment to reset the codes and he doesn't care. MAF themselves say that it "could" happen and if you are close they will try to help. But if not, nothing they can do. I prefer not to keep going through a problematic situation where the vehicle keeps sending me to the dealer to have the service codes reset. Does that make sense.

[cactusjk]

Sort of. You must manually transfer fuel from the Aux tank to the main tank using the Aux tank fuel pump. This is done only when you want to transfer fuel. I think you might be onto something with respect to why codes pop up but something in the explanation is missing. It would be good to know how to avoid codes long enough to get smog inspected once a year. Other than that you can easily reset the codes using a Scan Gauge.

What apparently happens is that the MAF tank feeds directly into the regular tank which has the fuel pump built in and it is designed to pull a certain pressure and needs a vacuum pressure which is why your fuel filler cap seals the vacuum in when closed. The MAF tank is designed to constantly fill the main tank as the fuel is drawn out of the main tank by the fuel pump. Once the MAF tank gets empty the fuel pump has too much vacuum pulling pressure through the fuel pump and the codes start popping up on your indicators on the dash, because of the excess fuel pressure. You then need a scanner to eliminate the codes and reset everything once you refill the MAF tank. I called MAF about it. It may not be a problem with a 10-12 gallon tank but with their current designed 19 gallon tank it is a problem. Some owners don't care and others don't like it much. I think maybe it depends on whether you have the appropriate equipment to reset the code. The person I talked to about it has the equipment to reset the codes and he doesn't care. MAF themselves say that it "could" happen and if you are close they will try to help. But if not, nothing they can do. I prefer not to keep going through a problematic situation where the vehicle keeps sending me to the dealer to have the service codes reset. Does that make sense.

[flintsghost]

Sort of. You must manually transfer fuel from the Aux tank to the main tank using the Aux tank fuel pump. This is done only when you want to transfer fuel. I think you might be onto something with respect to why codes pop up but something in the explanation is missing. It would be good to know how to avoid codes long enough to get smog inspected once a year. Other than that you can easily reset the codes using a Scan Gauge.

Based on what I got from talking with MAF and their information, you don't manual transfer the fuel. Their currently system does it automatically and you have no switch etc to change over or anyway to control the flow. Codes show up once the auxillary tank is empty and the other tank is being used. Exactly how much main tank use activates it I don't know. The earlier versions of the tank including the smaller versions mentioned in response may have a manual switchover but the 19 Gal version they sell now certainly doesn't. In fact if you don't want it the fuel gauge is only an optional extra and no mandatory. Since smaller tanks don't seem to spit out codes it may also have something to do with the sheer size of the 19 Gal. Another tank system mentioned on FJ Cruiser forum doesn't apparently have that problem and its either a 10 or 14 Gal variety. It's also a non commercial venture and not a readily available item.