Tacoma 2.7 won't start after heavy rain

That is weird, I would expect EVAP codes to be set if there was a leak in the tank or lines.
You sure you didn't fill up with contaminated fuel? There's a couple gas stations around me that get water in their fuel when it rains alot.

 

I think it’s definitely possible I got contaminated fuel, but it had been awhile since I filled up. At least a couple days of driving. I also don’t think there was any heavy rain around the time I filled up.

I had 0420 codes but I’ve always had those come and go

 

Not sure how it's getting in then unless someone is playing tricks on you.

P0420 is for the catalytic converter, it has nothing to do with the fuel system.

 

Yeah I hope that's not the case lol. We will see the next heavy rain I guess.

I know the truck was sitting and not running for a while before I got it, and I never drained the gas tank which I probably should have. I had been driving it for months with no problems until now though. So I feel like if there had been water in the gas tank or any crap it definitely would have affected it earlier on.

 

Bet you got into gas thats ethanol......
ethanol is hydrophilic.......cant switch back and forth between that and regular gas....
Have to stick with one or the other.....or you'll end up with water in the tank......

 

you mentioned earlier that the seal on the fuel pump was not good, did you have any water running down the filler neck and on to the top of the tank? possible hole in the bed that let water drip on top and then seep into the tank? water run into gas door and gas cap not tight?

just a few thoughts I had

 

I don't think fuel would be able to go from the filler neck to the top of the tank since it comes in at more of an angle to the side, but it might be possible that some water dripped from a hole in the bed onto the fuel pump seal area. I have a toolbox that I bolted to the bed and the bolt holes could leak somewhat. I just have trouble believing that it could be as much as I found in the tank because I also have a camper top that keeps most water out. I did see a very small drip coming from the bed though. I think that if water got into the tank through any hole or anything it would definitely be the fuel pump seal. I hope it was that because I fixed that. So I should be good now.

It's been running very well recently. Starts a little harder though. Takes a lot more cranks than it did before and I usually give it some gas to get it started. It has been consistently starting every time which I'm grateful for.

The oil was starting to get milky again the second time it stopped running, but once it started running and driving it cleaned up, and now it is completely clean.

 

I don't think I got into any ethanol gas. I'm pretty sure Sheetz is the only place around me that has E85, and I haven't fueled up there. I've also made the mistake before with one of my old cars and stalled out and learned my lesson so I always look out for it.

 

Almost all gas in the US has up to 10% ethanol (some places 15%).
Here there's only a few places that sell ethanol free and it's almost double the price of regular.

Ethanol blended gas works fine in vehicles (providing you don't let them sit too long) because the fuel tank is sealed, now you can't run E85 in a non flex fuel vehicle but we are already forced to run 10% in most places.
Anything with a vented fuel tank (like outdoor power equipment, generators, and ATVs) has nothing but problems with ethanol blended gas unless you use them every day as ethanol pulls moisture from the air and separates from the fuel leaving the gas on top and the ethanol/water mix on the bottom.

You can test your fuels ethanol content with an ethanol tester like this, you put water up to the line and fill the rest with fuel, shake it up, let it sit for a min, and where the separation line settles is your ethanol content.

 

Yes sorry I meant I just use regular gas. I took O'silver as saying maybe I was using gas with more ethanol than regular gas when he compared them. Maybe my tank was basically a vented tank because of how poor my seal was on the fuel pump. does it need to be completely airtight? It sometimes even leaked gas out of the fuel tank when it was really full.

 

Yes the tank is meant to be completely sealed, it's only supposed to vent through the charcoal canister or if the pressure gets to high or low the fuel cap will also allow it to vent.
If you have a fuel leak on the tank that's likely where the water is getting in.

 

Ok sounds good. It should be sealed well now, and hopefully I won't be getting any problems. Thanks!

 

Never knew until recently that you cant switch back and forth between E10 and real gas...
It cause moisture problems in the tank....

I dont ever use e10.....so did not know this.....
only a few stations left here that sell the real stuff......

 

Friz had a good point......I made a drain hole in bed on each side up front...
making sure they didnt drain on any wiring or tank top.....

 

Was this problem resolved? I am dealing with a very similar problem, but without the milky oil. Sputtered and died while driving in a moderate rain. Crank, no start, but it will fire and turn over a few times with starting fluid. Gas from banjo bolt when I apply 12v to terminals 4 and 5 on the wire harness on top of the fuel tank. Circuit opening relay functioning as expected. I noticed earlier today that the purge hose on evap canister is not quite snug, I'll be securing that momentarily. Next on my list is to pull return hose from fuel pressure regulator and see if gas is making it there. After that, I'll test crank position sensor, and throttle position sensor (if there is one). I did discover an old school toggle switch in the glove box, wires leading to nowhere, so I'll eyeball that. In the past few months I've replaced an injector and rebuilt the other 3, new fuel filter, added cold air intake. I was supposed damn sure it was going to be the fuel pump, but it ain't that. One last thing, my fuel gauge didn't work for the first year I owned it. After hosting the truck and gaining access to the top of the fuel pump, I pulled the grey keystone shaped wiring harness and tested the circuit for resistance. When I clicked the harness back on, my fuel gauge started working. It worked all the way up until a day or two before she quit on me, when it went back to staying pegged on empty. Yes there is fuel in the tank. Any insight, direction or ideas would be greatly appreciated.

 

My problem ended up just being the water in the tank, once I drained the tank and put new gas in it it was fine, and it's been fine since. Takes a while to crank now but I think I basically killed my starter when I was trying to start it unsuccessfully so many times.

 

Taking the fuel line off of the FPR sounds like a good route to go. At least check to make sure that fuel is getting to it.

 

The last thing I did before I went to bed last night was have my wife crank it with the fuel return hose off the fuel pressure regulator. No gas came out. I had previously cracked open the banjo bolt at fuel rail and was getting fuel when pump was operated with battery voltage. What I didn't do was have her crank it while the banjo bolt was loose. If no fuel comes out then, I'm back to suspecting fuel sending unit. The pump itself could still operate with external voltage even if the sending until has failed, correct?

 

I’m guessing
If you confirmed water in fuel,
That water in tank failed to lubricate the FP properly
Kinda like the ‘straw tht broke the camels back’ as far as the FP