$1300 to repair FRS for bad gas, does that sound right?

[pauldz]

Bought $20 worth of gas yesterday afternoon at a Mobil station, went to a car meet about 12 miles away, and then after the meet the car would not start. Had it towed to the Toyota dealership, they said the problem was bad gas and would cost $1300 to fix. They said they would have to "raise the motor and the fuel tank" because the spark plugs and other parts were affected by the bad gas and would have to be replaced. They said they saved a sample of the gas I could take to the gas station and ask for reimbursement.

I'm no car expert, but does this sound right? We have bought gas from the same Mobil station for years with no problems. Which parts require lifting of the motor and fuel tank and is it clear they would need to be replaced? My neighbor accidentally put gas in his diesel car and all they did was drain the gas and run some additive through the system, cost him about $400.

Any thoughts?
Thanks,
p

[Impureclient]

I'd act quick and get compensated from the gas station. If it really was the culprit, then there are going to be more along with you.

In most cases of contaminated gas, the fuel supplier will recall it and put information on their website on how to make a damage claim. Typically you will have to provide proof that you purchased contaminated gasoline, usually a receipt will suffice. The fuel supplier should cover the cost of your damage but it can be a grueling process and there is no guarantee of rental car coverage if your car is in the shop for an extended period of time.

Filling up with contaminated gasoline can be a frustrating and costly headache. Check with your insurer to see if you have coverage under the comprehensive portion of your policy, if not you will have to pursue the fuel supplier for damages.

Keep your receipt for the gas, and know the pump number and exact time and date of the purchase. Immediately call the state’s weights and measures inspectors (often part of the state Department of Agriculture), and ask them to send an inspector right away.

[Spuds]

Lifting the engine is what the shop manual says to do for changing spark plugs, so that's what they are saying. I'm not entirely sure anything that causes a need for plugs to be replaced can even be called gasoline, so you might want to get an explanation for why plugs need replacement.

On the other hand, if you aren't paying for it,

[Impureclient]

Maybe water in there and then replacing plugs if close to 60k miles while it's out since they need to be taken out anyway?

[Dake]

Man that sucks. I hope you kept the receipt.

Does look like the price isn't far off though.

[humfrz]

Originally Posted by pauldz

Bought $20 worth of gas yesterday afternoon at a Mobil station, went to a car meet about 12 miles away, and then after the meet the car would not start. Had it towed to the Toyota dealership, they said the problem was bad gas and would cost $1300 to fix. They said they would have to "raise the motor and the fuel tank" because the spark plugs and other parts were affected by the bad gas and would have to be replaced. They said they saved a sample of the gas I could take to the gas station and ask for reimbursement.

I'm no car expert, but does this sound right? We have bought gas from the same Mobil station for years with no problems. Which parts require lifting of the motor and fuel tank and is it clear they would need to be replaced? My neighbor accidentally put gas in his diesel car and all they did was drain the gas and run some additive through the system, cost him about $400.

Any thoughts?
Thanks,
p

If you would put some of the fuel in a glass jar, contaminates like water or diesel should settle so you could see it.

If it is contaminated with water, it could be absorbed by adding alcohol to the tank.

Bubba says to drain/syphon out as much gas from the tank as possible, then fill the tank with some good gas and a can of HEET.

Then spray starter fluid in the intake and crank on the engine till it clears the contaminates from the fuel system.


humfrz for Bubba

[steve99]

Sounds a little strange to me.


Usually with bad fuel the car will run pretty crap and you know something wrong.


By car meet do you mean track/autocross ?? did it run ok during this ??


When you say car would not start after the meet, did the starter crank motor or just nothing, did motor fire up then die ??


might be just failed battery.

[Mr.ac]

Well kind of sounds in the ball park with that price.
$600 for spark plug removal
$100ish for new spark plugs
$300 for new fuel pump assembly
$300 for dealer ass rape fee with out lube obviously.

Then again if you can get the gas station to pay for it, it might be worth a shot. If you where to pay for it out of your own pocket then I would call a few shops to compare prices.
Or you could try and do it yourself. That's if you are handy with tools.

[Adam_L]

Are you sure someone didn't slip you a micky at the car meet ?

[guybo]

Originally Posted by pauldz

My neighbor accidentally put gas in his diesel car and all they did was drain the gas and run some additive through the system, cost him about $400.
p

Now someone define "bad gas"? There's lots of ways gas can be bad and lots of different price points we could discuss all day

[pauldz]

By car meet do you mean track/autocross ?? No, we just meet up and look at each other's cars.

did it run ok during this ?? The car was not turned on during the meet.

When you say car would not start after the meet, did the starter crank motor or just nothing, did motor fire up then die ?? It cranked but the motor did not start.

"Well kind of sounds in the ball park with that price.
$600 for spark plug removal
$100ish for new spark plugs
$300 for new fuel pump assembly
$300 for dealer ass rape fee with out lube obviously."
Guess that's the big question, does it need all this work or is it enough, as some others have said, to drain the tank and then fill with some good gas and a can of HEET.

They did save a sample of the gas and I will make a claim with the gas station.

[markitect]

I would call your state's department that checks gas pumps. In michigan all pumps have to have an inspection sticker, that has their phone number.

[ermax]

Originally Posted by pauldz

Bought $20 worth of gas yesterday afternoon at a Mobil station, went to a car meet about 12 miles away, and then after the meet the car would not start. Had it towed to the Toyota dealership, they said the problem was bad gas and would cost $1300 to fix. They said they would have to "raise the motor and the fuel tank" because the spark plugs and other parts were affected by the bad gas and would have to be replaced. They said they saved a sample of the gas I could take to the gas station and ask for reimbursement.

I'm no car expert, but does this sound right? We have bought gas from the same Mobil station for years with no problems. Which parts require lifting of the motor and fuel tank and is it clear they would need to be replaced? My neighbor accidentally put gas in his diesel car and all they did was drain the gas and run some additive through the system, cost him about $400.

Any thoughts?
Thanks,
p

Interesting that you had some bad gas from Mobile. I also had a bad batch from Mobile here in Jacksonville FL. Not bad enough to cause the car to not start but I was getting knock and my IAM was dropping which never happens in my car. After running that tank out and getting new gas my IAM is back up to 1 and no more knock.

I think I'm staying away from Mobile from now on.

Anyways, about your car. It seems odd that simply draining the fuel and putting good fuel in isn't all that you would need to do. Seems odd to me that you would need new plugs too.

Edit: To clarify. When I say bad gas I mean it was sold as 93 but clearly wasn't.

[NOHOME]

Wait, you guys mean to tell me that the engine pretty much has to be removed to change plugs on this thing? And that it is going to cost $600 in labour.

If so, one more reason why I consider the boxer to be a ridiculous design. I also wonder at the lack of a fuel tank drain if it does not have one.


As for the OP's question, yeah, if they have to drop the fuel tank and unbolt the engine in order to do the work, I can see it costing that much easy at dealer rates.