Innova Gas tank Leak

[1997]

Nasa PAgawaan nanaman... For evaluation daw

[Mile2]

Yes, there is a warranty on your fuel tank since it came from Toyota's inventory and was installed with their mechanics.

I maybe wrong, but it looks like the dent came from the tank being bent. Just like if you bend a rain gutter, it may be improperly installed and is flexing together with the rest of the chassis.

I experienced this mysterious dent thing and it leaks my gas tank, It was replaced by Insurance claim. My memory is telling me that I never hit any hard object underneath nor I hit a humps.

Common to us was, I do my PMS at Toyota Makati. I'm not telling it could be one of their lifters that hit my gas tank but it's a possibility.

I'm also thinking the same, the "strap design" is somewhat not correct. There are actually two straps, one strap is about 1/4 from the front and the other one is also about 1/4 from the end, but the rear side of the tank is thicker and descending as compared to the front side. So the fuel weight is more on the rear side. The HORIZONTAL dent seems to be caused by the downward force of the rear side and just like you said it was liken to a bended rain gutter.

Interesting to know that, there were no bracket support at the rear and front which should sustain any flexing of the gas tank body.

Guess what?, I installed a rigid tank cage/skid plates after the tank was replaced and yet there again the mysterious dent. Do I have to McGuyver again a rear and front tank support/bracket just because I always do full tanks?

[1997]

I experienced this mysterious dent thing and it leaks my gas tank, It was replaced by Insurance claim. My memory is telling me that I never hit any hard object underneath nor I hit a humps.

Common to us was, I do my PMS at Toyota Makati. I'm not telling it could be one of their lifters that hit my gas tank but it's a possibility.

I'm also thinking the same, the "strap design" is somewhat not correct. There are actually two straps, one strap is about 1/4 from the front and the other one is also about 1/4 from the end, but the rear side of the tank is thicker and descending as compared to the front side. So the fuel weight is more on the rear side. The HORIZONTAL dent seems to be caused by the downward force of the rear side and just like you said it was liken to a bended rain gutter.

Interesting to know that, there were no bracket support at the rear and front which should sustain any flexing of the gas tank body.

Guess what?, I installed a rigid tank cage/skid plates after the tank was replaced and yet there again the mysterious dent. Do I have to McGuyver again a rear and front tank support/bracket just because I always do full tanks?

pareho tayo ng iniisip... ksi yung leak nasaharap na strap and i notice the strap in front is not hugging the tank... as in pwede mo ipasok yung kamay mo in between the tank and the strap.

[Mile2]

pareho tayo ng iniisip... ksi yung leak nasaharap na strap and i notice the strap in front is not hugging the tank... as in pwede mo ipasok yung kamay mo in between the tank and the strap.

Same position of the previous dent I have, pero grabe yang dent mo puede ipasok ang kamay? Pag walang dent, the straps hugs fit with the tank kasi, yan yung napansin ko ng pinalitan yung gas tank ko.

Ano yung sinsabi mong P3k na magagastos? Insurance claim ba yon?

Do you always do full tanks?

[oj88]

Here's my take on this: (Refer to the attached drawing)


The TS mentioned that one of the fuel support band is loose enough to allow one's hand/fingers to fit through (A). If that's the case, whenever the tank is heavy and while the vehicle is moving, the side of the tank with the loose band will tend to sag (B), and since the other end of the fuel tank is fitted tightly so as not to allow movement (C), it will cause buckling (D) around the center of the tank.

This is clearly a workmanship issue or a factory defect. The dent is most likely caused by buckling, especially if there are no gashes or scratches on the surface of the dent. Demand for warranty replacement.

[1997]

Same position of the previous dent I have, pero grabe yang dent mo puede ipasok ang kamay? Pag walang dent, the straps hugs fit with the tank kasi, yan yung napansin ko ng pinalitan yung gas tank ko.

Ano yung sinsabi mong P3k na magagastos? Insurance claim ba yon?

Do you always do full tanks?

Yap 3k kasi yung participation... once a week mga Php1000 of xcs more or less... almost full tank...

[Mile2]

Here's my take on this: (Refer to the attached drawing)



The TS mentioned that one of the fuel support band is loose enough to allow one's hand/fingers to fit through (A). If that's the case, whenever the tank is heavy and while the vehicle is moving, the side of the tank with the loose band will tend to sag (B), and since the other end of the fuel tank is fitted tightly so as not to allow movement (C), it will cause buckling (D) around the center of the tank.

It wasn't loose because it was originally loose, it was loose because of the dent. The dent causes the gas tank floor to push upward just beneath the strap and that where TS says he can slip his hand in between.

Originally the straps with rubber padding hugs the gas tank floor perfectly without any gaps.

[1997]

Here's my take on this: (Refer to the attached drawing)


The TS mentioned that one of the fuel support band is loose enough to allow one's hand/fingers to fit through (A). If that's the case, whenever the tank is heavy and while the vehicle is moving, the side of the tank with the loose band will tend to sag (B), and since the other end of the fuel tank is fitted tightly so as not to allow movement (C), it will cause buckling (D) around the center of the tank.

This is clearly a workmanship issue or a factory defect. The dent is most likely caused by buckling, especially if there are no gashes or scratches on the surface of the dent. Demand for warranty replacement.

Ayaw nila claim as waranty... kasi daw may dent... and as soon as na touch na ng gas any portion of the exterior of the tank natutuklap.. Useless... sana masunog nalang yung oto sa loob ng Toyota... They will just say sir Nalubak kayo malamang... Sabi ko nga yung Sentra ko nakalowered hindi naman gumagasgas yan pang innova... Same route every day...

Baka may taga toyota na nagbabasa ng thread na toh... Pu___ng _N_ kayo... hehehe...

[Mile2]

Yap 3k kasi yung participation... once a week mga Php1000 of xcs more or less... almost full tank...

I'm leaning toward the idea that the gas tank weight causes the dent. There's bracket at the rear end of the gas tank where much of the fuel weight concentrates.

I have the tank cage/skid plates fitted underneath so there's no way it will be hit by something to cause the horizontal dent.

I'll try to solicit full evaluation of this case at TMBC if I have time this weekend or maybe next week.

[1997]

I'm leaning toward the idea that the gas tank weight causes the dent. There's bracket at the rear end of the gas tank where much of the fuel weight concentrates.

I have the tank cage/skid plates fitted underneath so there's no way it will be hit by something to cause the horizontal dent.

I'll try to solicit full evaluation of this case at TMBC if I have time this weekend or maybe next week.

sana magawan ng paraan... or elsa were going to sell the Innova.... ganda pa naman ng performance... Sayang...

[oj88]

Does the TS detect a whoosh of rushing air whenever he opens up the fuel cap? The problem could also be caused by too much vacuum in the tank.

For emissions purposes, the fuel tank is maintained at a slight vacuum to prevent it from venting unburned fuel into the atmosphere. If the vacuum is strong enough, it could cause the tank to buckle.

[Mile2]

Does the TS detect a whoosh of rushing air whenever he opens up the fuel cap? The problem could also be caused by too much vacuum in the tank.

For emissions purposes, the fuel tank is maintained at a slight vacuum to prevent it from venting unburned fuel into the atmosphere. If the vacuum is strong enough, it could cause the tank to buckle.

I do experienced that, whenever I do refills I could hear air escaping.

There's also this weird thing: Usually I stay inside the car at the parking lot in the morning because I usually comes in too early. After 5-10 minutes I would hear a huge tug or was a huge popping sound underneath the car and it could be the gas tank?

*1997
Do you experience this loud "tog" sound underneath? If not try to stay inside the car after you drive it. The sound usually comes in after 5-10 minutes. I guess its the air pressure being relieve and it flexes the gas tank to original position.

[1997]

I do experienced that, whenever I do refills I could hear air escaping.

There's also this weird thing: Usually I stay inside the car at the parking lot in the morning because I usually comes in too early. After 5-10 minutes I would hear a huge tug or was a huge popping sound underneath the car and it could be the gas tank?

*1997
Do you experience this loud "tog" sound underneath? If not try to stay inside the car after you drive it. The sound usually comes in after 5-10 minutes. I guess its the air pressure being relieve and it flexes the gas tank to original position.

No Tog sound... But whenever I open the gas filler i Hear a sound like your opening a new bottle of soda...

Its either the strap thing or very poor gas tank... as in parang delata lang... hehehe...

[Mile2]

*1997

Is your Innova Gas or Diesel?

Mine is Gasoline VVTI 2.0

[1997]

*1997

Is your Innova Gas or Diesel?

Mine is Gasoline VVTI 2.0

Its a Gasoline VVTI 2.0 din po... innova J

[1997]

update lang. they will change again the gas tank. sbi ko nga "obvious ba, eh may butas nga" hehehe... they will shoulder the cost...

[1997]

update lang hindi pa nagagawa yung innova namin pero nasa Toyota Quezon Ave na po... Ang Sabi ng SA nila pag nag palit ng Gas tank dapat pati filler cap and charcoal Canister mag palit din... kung hindi daw mabubutas ulet yan.. Due to Pressure Build up daw...

[Mile2]

Just been to casa to claim warranty for my fuel tank with huge mysterious dent just beneath the front strap.

Culprit of the Innova gas tank warp/leak was the filler cap, they disassembled the filler cap with me watching and viola!!! the air breather was clogged with soot like dirt that forms like a solid charcoal. They clean the filler cap's breather filter and vacuum buildup inside the tank was gone.

Evidently, Toyota knows this problem but no recall was done for the "FAULTY FILLER CAP DESIGN!!!". Newer Innova 2009 now has new design filler cap with larger breather holes and much more breather holes than its predecessor.

So if, you have older versions of Innova, Fortuner or Hilux be very cautious that one day your fuel filler cap's breather will get clogged and this will damage your fuel tank. While I was at the dealer's service area I notice another gas tank on the working table and when I look at it has the same large dent spot and same leak point (just beneath the front gas tank strap which is the weakest point).

Negative pressure builds up and thereby sucking the gas tank floor inward, and when the negative pressure is gone or when the car's engine is off for some time the gas tank floor will push back to its orginal form. The constant flippping inward and flipping outward of the gas tank will eventually crack open the corner bend just beneath the position of the front gas tank strap.

[Mile2]

Just been to casa to claim warranty for my fuel tank with huge mysterious dent just beneath the front strap.

Culprit of the Innova gas tank warp/leak was the filler cap, they disassembled the filler cap with me watching and viola!!! the air breather was clogged with soot like dirt that forms like a solid charcoal. They clean the filler cap's breather filter and vacuum buildup inside the tank was gone.

Evidently, Toyota knows this problem but no recall was done for the "FAULTY FILLER CAP DESIGN!!!". Newer Innova 2009 now has new design filler cap with larger breather holes and much more breather holes than its predecessor.

So if, you have older versions of Innova, Fortuner or Hilux be very cautious that one day your fuel filler cap's breather will get clogged and this will damage your fuel tank. While I was at the dealer's service area I notice another gas tank on the working table and when I look at it has the same large dent spot and same leak point (just beneath the front gas tank strap which is the weakest point).

Negative pressure builds up and thereby sucking the gas tank floor inward, and when the negative pressure is gone or when the car's engine is off for some time the gas tank floor will push back to its orginal form. The constant flippping inward and flipping outward of the gas tank will eventually crack open the corner bend just beneath the position of the front gas tank strap.

[number001]

Just been to casa to claim warranty for my fuel tank with huge mysterious dent just beneath the front strap.

Culprit of the Innova gas tank warp/leak was the filler cap, they disassembled the filler cap with me watching and viola!!! the air breather was clogged with soot like dirt that forms like a solid charcoal. They clean the filler cap's breather filter and vacuum buildup inside the tank was gone.

Evidently, Toyota knows this problem but no recall was done for the "FAULTY FILLER CAP DESIGN!!!". Newer Innova 2009 now has new design filler cap with larger breather holes and much more breather holes than its predecessor.

So if, you have older versions of Innova, Fortuner or Hilux be very cautious that one day your fuel filler cap's breather will get clogged and this will damage your fuel tank. While I was at the dealer's service area I notice another gas tank on the working table and when I look at it has the same large dent spot and same leak point (just beneath the front gas tank strap which is the weakest point).

Negative pressure builds up and thereby sucking the gas tank floor inward, and when the negative pressure is gone or when the car's engine is off for some time the gas tank floor will push back to its orginal form. The constant flippping inward and flipping outward of the gas tank will eventually crack open the corner bend just beneath the position of the front gas tank strap.

ref:
Pg 34 (2005-06 Innova manual)

Filler cap? Is this the same as the fuel tank cap?

What needs to be changed inorder to prevent the problem (dents and leaks)?

Hope you can provide pics. Thanks!