Some Land Cruisers have a secret extra fuel tank that keeps them going even if you run out of gas
Published on Dec 28, 2025 at 8:46 PM (UTC-5)
by Keelin McNamara
Last updated on Dec 28, 2025 at 8:46 PM (UTC-5)
Edited by
Emma Matthews
Did you know that some Toyota Land Cruisers have a secret extra fuel tank?
It allows owners to keep going even if they run out of gas.
The incredible feature can be found in certain generations of the SUV.
And it allows the SUV to just keep going.
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Land Cruisers come with a secret system
Toyota Land Cruisers are among the most iconic SUVs ever built.
They’ve been in continuous production since the 1950s. But it turns out that some models also come with a fascinating feature.
Yup, it seems that certain generations of Land Cruisers come with an extra gas tank – Toyota designed them with a dual tank system.
It gives drivers a primary tank and a secondary ‘sub tank’ that can be activated instantly when the main one runs dry.
Of course, this feature was created for a very particular reason.
And that’s for those regions where long distances, remote terrain, and scarce fuel stations made running out of gas a real risk.
You might be wondering how the system is activated. Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered.
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How the secret extra fuel tank works
It turns out that there is a switch on the dashboard of certain Land Cruisers that activates that independent, second fuel supply stored in a separate compartment.
A transfer pump can then move fuel between the two tanks, allowing the engine to keep running without a single interruption.
Of course, these types of systems are almost never found on modern vehicles.
This is because of extremely stringent emission regulations and environmental issues, and it also involves higher manufacturing costs.
Land Cruisers from this era, however, were extremely rugged and reliable vehicles.
They have always been built as rock-solid workhorses.
For many, this can also involve work in mountainous, remote regions.
As a result, Toyota came up with an ingenious solution that makes the Cruisers even better.
