2004 Fuel Tank replacement 120k miles.

Hi guys, new here and figured id poke around and see if i cant get some advice/suggestions on this job.

Just got a 2004 with 120k on it this week and found out i shouldnt put more than a half tank of gas in it because its swiss cheese and will leak out all into my driveway.....

Has anyone done this replacement before? any warnings, recs, do and dont's?

Im not a mechanic but i can get by, im going to try looking around at some scrap yards but geez these trucks are like gold and i cant find any of them around (ohio). Worst case i was quoted the repair job at about $3200 from firestone. Im excited to start getting this truck up to snuff and this is the first major repair i have to get through.

I also suspect this to be the source of my P0171 OBD code as the fuel system is compromised.

 

3200$ ???

I recall being quoted at one time that fuel tank remove and reinstall was Not more than 3 hours for a pro with the right tools
Where the F do they get 3200$ from?

 

Because…..Firestone.


When I need to work on my tank(FP) sometime in the future
from all my searches/vids watched
I will be taking bed off for access to tank/FP/charcoal canister/etc

 

P0171:

 

Yeah $3,200 and they wont even buy me dinner first....

I figure the parts might be about $500-ish and a solid saturday/sunday worth of work, if pulling the bed isn't too hard id definitely want to go that route so i could access the hoses and everything from above.

 

they're not hard to replace. but i will say be ready for potentially broken bolts. the specter aftermarket tanks arnt bad. but i would recommend painting them.

 

Oh thx for bringing that up, i have seen alot of the tanks that just look like bare steel for $250

$200 TRQ Gas Fuel Tank 16 gal Compatible with 2002-2004 Toyota Tacoma

https://www.amazon.com/TRQ-Gallon-Engine-2002-2004-Toyota/dp/B09JQDHQZW. So i do need to paint/seal them?

 

its advised. they have some kind of coating. but the ones that were installed a few years ago are already rough looking out here. even just rustoleum black would probably help alot on longevity

 

Hmm ill do a prime and seal then, i hope to never replace this for as long as it lives.

 

Fuel tank at Rockauto is under 300 bucks. A rattle gun makes getting the bed mount bolts out a lot easier. Two guys can lift the bed up and over the fuel fill tube, and off the frame. The fuel pump screws will likely be in pretty sad shape and need to be cut or drilled to get the pump out. You can do it.

 

I think ill try my best to pre-order sets of fasteners, i know pretty much all of these are going to be toast. I've got my angle grinder, torch and hammer ready.

 

I just ordered a tank and it came with all three gaskets and the screws for the pump assembly. I didn't paint mine but probably should have. I did transfer the rubber pads off the top of the old tank to the new tank with some 3m spray glue. They protect it from frame rash where the clamp pulls it tight to the frame.

 

Good note, ive got some rubber sheet handy just in case is toast. Did you do the job yourself?

 

Yes I did it myself. If the tank doesn't have fuel in it, pretty easy. Just lube up all the bolts day or two before. Hardest part for me was getting the rusted pin out of the strap up near the frame. My bed is off so i had easy access. There is one fuel line that's kinda tricky. You will need to buy a tool or make one to get off to be safest removal. The tool at Napa was like $35 which i thought was crazy so I cut a half inch off the end of a funnel to make a ring. I then cut a section out of it so the ring would slip over the fuel line and I could push it up in and release the fitting. Kinda crude but it worked perfect. Pretty easy once I cleaned the road grime out of the fitting with brake cleaner.

 

Shoot ok, i'm feelin better about doing this in the driveway now. Aint no way im paying $3k for this.

 

i am a long days wheel from Ohio or i would most Gladly assist U if you needed it

 

Check the tank straps too. They can rust out pretty bad and aren’t real expensive. The pins at the top can rust too, I can’t remember if they come with or not.

 

Oh i've already got tank straps in my cart, they are 100% both toast. I just got my hands on a new set of harbor freight jack stands too, if you dont hear from me for awhile you'll know why.

 

Does the tank have two straps? I have a strap at the rear and three bolts at the front to the frame.

 

UPDATE: I actually ended up finding a local mechanic to do the job for $1k, i figured the parts alone and trips to the hardware store would amount to that much anyway so i went for it. NO MORE LEAKY FUEL TANK, now on to the engine....