Has anyone had trouble with rust in the fuel tank of a 2004 Toyota Echo?

Question

My mother-in-law's 2004 Echo just had to have the fuel tank replaced due to it rusting through. Even though the car is under a 3 year warranty, the Toyota repairer still made her pay $440 to replace it. She was told it was due to "fuel contamination", she was also told this by someone at Toyota HQ at Sydney when she called them. Isn't that a very specific phrase to use? "Fuel contamination"? Have Toyota been told to say this is the case to avoid dozens of warranty claims for dodgy fuel tanks that should have been recalled in the first place? And why in two and a half years of driving this car with so-called "fuel contamination" has it not gone through to the engine and stopped it working, yet it has done enough damage over time to rust all the way through the tank? If anyone out there has had a similar problem and warranty issues, please respond, I really think Toyota have dropped the ball with this one.

Answer 1

There is another way to attack this problem. Toyota also states they have a rust through policy on their cars. Go in line and find a person or collage that teaches Metallurgy. They'll take a look at the old tank and possibly wright a conclusion as to why the tank rusted through. If I were at your Toyota when this happened they would have a mad American jumping straight down their throats! In the back of the manual you'll find phone numbers to talk to Toyota directly. Do this and plea your case. I have never herd of that crappy excuse of contaminated fuel being the culprit in my entire life. Gas tanks ALWAYS rust rust from the outside in usually do to water being trapped beneith the gas tank straps or cars that 20 - 30 years old.

Answer 2

I worked as a technician for a Service Station Equipment company for over 10 yrs. There is a bacteria that gets into the fuel tanks at the gas stations... Yes, this crap lives in the fuel.
Normally it doesn't make it into the tank on a auto... The fuel dispensers have filters that should keep this from happening. If it does get into you tank, it can and will eat right through the tank, fuel lines, carb or injectors. It will also eat right through any rubber gaskets and o-rings.

once it is in the tank, it happens rapidly... (in just a few months)

Answer 3

Toyota has never provided a V4 in a Camry, and has never provided one in any motor vehicle in the united states of a. i don't have faith that they ever made a production V4. you do no longer might desire to renowned gasoline tank length to precise calculate gasoline economic gadget. quite, top off the tank at a undeniable pump. only bypass till it clicks. rigidity for a pair hundred miles, return to the comparable pump, top off till it clicks. Divide miles by using gallons. only be sure you have the pump set on the comparable fee of flow - sluggish is superb because of the fact much less splashing ends up in much less evaporation. only bypass till the 1st click. previous that, the gasoline will only be lost in the overflow gadget, and evaporate quite than being burned on your engine.