Contaminated Fuel

[Dan-Wolfe]

Good day to you all!

Firstly, let me tell you all how helpful that this form has been in both deciding eight months ago to buy a Prius in the first place, and what to expect after the sale. This has been an invaluable resource in making the Prius experience overwhelmingly positive.

I am faced now, however, with a problem which your collective expertise will no doubt be of great value. I bought a tank of gas contaminated with water. The gas station admitted it and is footing the bill for the replacement of the gas tank unit in the Prius. Now this is all done, and the car runs fine again, however, I had the "check engine" light come on twice.

The first time, I immediately took it back to the dealership (Alexandria Toyota in Virginia -- VERY nice people and very helpful as well!) They kept it overnight and declared it to be "related to the gas cap." They reset the light and the gas cap and sent me on my merry way -- no charge, by the way.

Two days later, whilst commuting, the light came on again. Research about such things here on the PriusChat site seem to indicate that what they were telling me was indeed the likely culprit. However, with my Prius (my baby, I admit!) about to go in the shop again, is there any advice about such things which may be of value?

I do NOT know the engine codes which were generated in the process, so I can't be of any help in providing any solid quantifyiable diagnostic facts from which you can base a judgment. (Unless they are on the original repair receipt -- and I am not sure I'd know what to look for anyhow.) Just hoping that the collective experience of this auspicious group may be able to guide me to a final resolution.

In closing, I am not a car geek. I always have a close personal relationship with vehicles I own. (No, not that close!) But this Prius is just about the coolest, nicest, most reliable car I have ever had the pleasure of owning. It has always exceeded my expectation at every turn. Well worth the price paid, and damned if it's not still fun to drive after eight months of trouble free operation. If I hadn't introduced the contaminated fuel into the tank, it would no doubt still be purring like the proverbial kitten.

Thanks again to you all! 'Preciate your help!

Warm Regards,

Dan Wolfe

[eagle33199]

I don't know what pre-visit advice people can offer, but i would say this: when you show up, tell them you want to know what the codes are, then you can post them here and someone with some more knowledge can translate those over to what the problem is.

[hyo silver]

I've had the gas cap engine light before, too, and it went away after removing and retightening the gas cap. Hopefully, that's all it is. It's possible not everything was fully repaired; there's more to the fuel system than just the tank. Was the pump checked, and the filter, and the gas lines? Hopefully the gas line was flushed to remove any water remaining in the system.

[tnthub]

They should have purged the lines, changed the gas filter, and crossed their fingers the injectors didn't get clogged. What they did should be listed on your dealer invoice.

[galaxee]

wow, unusual that you actually get a gas station to fess up to that! way to go!

anyway, if all they did was replace the gas tank they didn't do enough. they should have blown out the whole fuel system.

tnthub, the fuel filter in the prius is a part of the gas tank assy.

[Dan-Wolfe]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(galaxee @ Jul 24 2006, 10:26 PM) [snapback]291757[/snapback]</div>

wow, unusual that you actually get a gas station to fess up to that! way to go!

anyway, if all they did was replace the gas tank they didn't do enough. they should have blown out the whole fuel system.

tnthub, the fuel filter in the prius is a part of the gas tank assy.
[/b]

Strangely enough, I was at the gas station just as the driver of the bulk fuel truck discovered that HIS gas was contaminated. They rushed around telling everyone to stop using regular grade gas, but it was too late for some of us.

Should also note that this was a Navy Exchange gas station near the Pentagon supplied by Citgo. They have already called me and told me that the reimbursement was approved and apologised for the delay. I was like -- "What delay?" lol... I consider their response to have been stellar.

Good suggestion about asking for the codes. I will do that. I am still trying to get in touch with my service advisor who, in spite of not fixing it the first and second times, has been really good about working with me on it all. Matter of fact, he just called and set up the service appointment for tomorrow, so hopefully, I'll have more info then.

On a related note, what is the consensus -- or IS there one -- on the best Prius mechanic in Northern Virginia? I've seen a few posts, but nothing specific. Is there anyone out there who knows the definitive expert in NoVa? Curious...

Surely will miss my Prius while it's in the shop. Driving anything else is completely unsatisfying.

Unless they put me in a Porche.

Dan

[tnthub]

I kow the fuel pump is part of the gas tank but the fuel filter????? That is normally a regularly changed item.... Perhaps it is just inside the tank but removable? I'm not talking about the sock that fits over the pump but the actual line filter. The prius must have a line filter somewhere, right? Or am I completely out to lunch on this one?

[galaxee]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(tnthub @ Jul 25 2006, 10:09 AM) [snapback]291929[/snapback]</div>

I kow the fuel pump is part of the gas tank but the fuel filter?????
[/b]

yep.

That is normally a regularly changed item....
[/b]

not anymore, not on toyotas. they're designed to last the life of the vehicle. they are not stocked by dealers and are not intended to be changed.

Perhaps it is just inside the tank but removable?
[/b]

nothing in that tank's removable... trust us on that one

The prius must have a line filter somewhere, right? [/b]

nope. all in the tank. most if not all toyotas went to this design in 03.

[Lola&#39;05]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(galaxee @ Jul 25 2006, 07:44 PM) [snapback]292259[/snapback]</div>

yep.
not anymore, not on toyotas. they're designed to last the life of the vehicle. they are not stocked by dealers and are not intended to be changed.
nothing in that tank's removable... trust us on that one
nope. all in the tank. most if not all toyotas went to this design in 03.
[/b]

I love Galaxee and DH.

[galaxee]