Bad tank of gas cost me 850 bucks!!!!!

[Mitch louis]

Hi gang,
So I thought my gas tank sending unit was bad and covered by the
warranty. When the dealer opens it up he says there is this brown gunk
all over everything and everything has to be replaced to the tune of
1200 bucks!!!!!! He says I probally got a bad tank of gas which caused
all the damage. Sounds like a crock of shit to me!
Any way it turns out the Subaru Forester Turbo does not have a drain
plug, or so they tell me. How the hell do you drain the tank? Suck it
out with a straw? He tells me there are two sending units for the gas
gauge which are gummed up. He also wants to clean the injectors which I
said no way. The Subie runs FINE. The filter are doing their job.
So to clean the tank, they have to drop the rear sub frame, drive shafts
and associated hardware to clean the tank and clean the sending units.
So when the smoke cleared It's gonna cost me $850. shit.

Mitch, still smoking in South florida.........what ƒüçkn hurricane....

 

[Jim Stewart]

Hi gang,
So I thought my gas tank sending unit was bad and covered by the
warranty. When the dealer opens it up he says there is this brown gunk
all over everything and everything has to be replaced to the tune of
1200 bucks!!!!!! He says I probally got a bad tank of gas which caused
all the damage. Sounds like a crock of shit to me!
Any way it turns out the Subaru Forester Turbo does not have a drain
plug, or so they tell me. How the hell do you drain the tank? Suck it
out with a straw? He tells me there are two sending units for the gas
gauge which are gummed up. He also wants to clean the injectors which I
said no way. The Subie runs FINE. The filter are doing their job.
So to clean the tank, they have to drop the rear sub frame, drive shafts
and associated hardware to clean the tank and clean the sending units.
So when the smoke cleared It's gonna cost me $850. shit.

I'm not aware of *any* car that has
a drain plug for the gas tank. I know
first-hand that the 3 Fords that I owned
didn't. Don't ask how I know....

Did you actually get to look inside the
tank?

 

[johninKY]

Jim has a good point. How does the dealer know the tank's inside
condition? Anyways, there has to be an inspection plate inside the car
that allows access to the top of the tank and eventually the fuel pump.
Fuel pumps always fail and a fuel pump replacement does not require
dropping the tank. Going this way, through the top of the tank, means
you
can replace any and all tank filters. Easy way to "drain" the tank I
would
think would be to disconnect the fuel line at the filter and just allow
the
fuel pump to do its job. I can't believe the inside of your tank is all
that bad. Pump out the "bad" gas and change the fuel filter a couple of
times and you should have no problem. As for cleaning the injectors,
what's the reason for the fuel filter? Practically nothing can get by
it.

 

[Edward Hayes]

Something is not right with the diagnoses. Too bad you can't get a
second opinion on this. probably too late now but, I'd tell them to
replace the gas sending unit and put it back together. Then if any
problems arise find another dealer. JMO. ed

 

[Mitch louis]

I'm not aware of *any* car that has
a drain plug for the gas tank. I know
first-hand that the 3 Fords that I owned
didn't. Don't ask how I know....

Did you actually get to look inside the
tank?

Yup and the dealer emailed me the pic's. I got a sample of the shit and
I am bringing it to a Oil/fuel analysis lab to see what it is. After the
fuel dried it is a fine brown/beige powder......
mitch

 

[Mitch louis]

Jim has a good point. How does the dealer know the tank's inside
condition?

Hi,
I looked at it my self and he emailed me some pic's also. if anybody is
interested I can email them to you. I got a sample and i'm going to get
it analysed today.
mitch

 

[Mitch louis]

Edward Hayes wrote:
I'd tell them to

replace the gas sending unit and put it back together.m...

Yup, that's what he is doing. He is going to drop the tank to clean out
the crap and then replace the tank. Problem is that you have to drop the
ass end of the forrester to get the tank out. Lots of hours at $85 a
pop. ahggggggrrrrrrrr. I would take it to my local wrench but it is a ne
w vehicle with 3k on the clock.......

mitch
He looked and took pictures

As for cleaning the injectors,what's the reason for the fuel filter?
Practically nothing can get
thats what I told him. The car runs fine! I took a trip this weekend,
500 miles round trip, avg 75 mph and got 22mpg on the highway. He's
cleaning the tank and replacing the sending unit.
I think all the other shit was to pad the bill or "be through"
mitch

 

[Cam Penner]

@newsread2.news.atl.earthlink.net>, (e-mail address removed)
says...

thats what I told him. The car runs fine! I took a trip this weekend,
500 miles round trip, avg 75 mph and got 22mpg on the highway. He's
cleaning the tank and replacing the sending unit.
I think all the other shit was to pad the bill or "be through"

My gut says he was being thorough. It's a brand new car,
and you're spending a grand getting the tank cleaned due to
fuel contamination. You're doing this to protect the rest
of the engine from ingesting crap. Chances are if he
stopped at the tank and fuel filter, and something DID go
wrong later with the injectors, you'd be pretty upset that
he didn't.

 

[Frank Logullo]

I had a dentist that successfully sued a gas station owner for damage caused
by a bad tank of gas.

 

[Edward Hayes]

My neighbor had a Toyota that got water & sludge in the gas and it
cost him $700 last year. The Toyota dealer kept a sample of the
gas/water for proof. The gas stations' insurance paid the entire bill
after many phone calls and letters. Good gas stations have insurance
for these rare occasions. Just keep the receipts, gas system samples
and a letter from your dealers' manager and contact the station
manager. Good luck.

 

[Mitch louis]

Well got the little puppy back from the big bad old dealer. $625 bucks.
One sending unit covered by warranty and one not. Mechanic cleaned the
filters on both units and cleaned out the tank also. buttoned up the
whole thing. Since I don't know which gas station did the dastardly deed
I can't point a finger. The car ran fine through the whole deal, just
the gas gauge was messed up. I took a sample of the contaminant to a FAA
approved fuel/oil testing lab and I will see what it was in the tank.
Inquireing minds want to know.......

mitch

 

[Freedom55]

Well got the little puppy back from the big bad old dealer. $625 bucks.
One sending unit covered by warranty and one not. Mechanic cleaned the
filters on both units and cleaned out the tank also. buttoned up the
whole thing. Since I don't know which gas station did the dastardly deed
I can't point a finger. The car ran fine through the whole deal, just
the gas gauge was messed up. I took a sample of the contaminant to a FAA
approved fuel/oil testing lab and I will see what it was in the tank.
Inquireing minds want to know.......

mitch

Keep us posted Mitch.

Ron

--
And it really doesn't matter if
I'm wrong I'm right
Where I belong I'm right
Where I belong.

Lennon & McCartney

 

[Edward Hayes]

Mitch: My guess is that the "bad gas" was purchased at the last tank
or the one before that so!!!!!! i would go for the most likely
especially if one station was an off brand since they are not
monitored as to when their gas filters are changed. Ed

 

[Carl 1 Lucky Texan]

Mitch: My guess is that the "bad gas" was purchased at the last tank
or the one before that so!!!!!! i would go for the most likely
especially if one station was an off brand since they are not
monitored as to when their gas filters are changed. Ed

Maybe a blurb in the Classifieds or a local 'shopper's news' would turn
up more victims - easier to pinpoint the station and maybe more likely
to have them step up and take care of your expenses.

Carl

 

[Frank Logullo]

My neighbor had a Toyota that got water & sludge in the gas and it
cost him $700 last year. The Toyota dealer kept a sample of the
gas/water for proof. The gas stations' insurance paid the entire bill
after many phone calls and letters. Good gas stations have insurance
for these rare occasions. Just keep the receipts, gas system samples
and a letter from your dealers' manager and contact the station
manager. Good luck.

I might add, story was in the paper and I discussed with my dentist. It was
his daughter's car and they took case to small claims court (magistrate)
when service station owner refused to pay damages. They won case but
station owner demanded jury trial which dentist also won without using his
lawyer. Dentist's lawyer told him that he could imagine how service
station's lawyer felt being beaten in court by a dentist
Frank

 

[Mitch louis]

Mitch: My guess is that the "bad gas" was purchased at the last tank
or the one before that so!!!!!!

Hummmmmm Sonoco in Clearwater, fla.

mitch

 

[Mitch louis]

Mitch: My guess is that the "bad gas" was purchased at the last tank
or the one before that so!!!!!!

Hummmmmm Sonoco in Clearwater, fla.

mitch

 

[Guest]

Maybe a blurb in the Classifieds or a local 'shopper's news' would turn
up more victims - easier to pinpoint the station and maybe more likely
to have them step up and take care of your expenses.

These are sure to be other people affected.

In our area e had bad gas from a supplier last year.
As a result of many complaints they paid up.
The damages to many cars was significant. I don't remember the details.

 

[Carl 1 Lucky Texan]

These are sure to be other people affected.

In our area e had bad gas from a supplier last year.
As a result of many complaints they paid up.
The damages to many cars was significant. I don't remember the details.

I just though, maybe ask around at some of the auto service shops and
dealers too. maybe they've had folks come in with this problem.

good luck

Carl