Toyota Fuel Tank

Summary

• Toyota currently has over a hundred OEM parts suppliers, all of which are based either in the Kanto or Kansai region in Japan.
• The official supplier of fuel tanks for Toyota is FTS Co., Ltd.
• OEM parts are often more expensive than OE replacements because OEMs have exclusive licenses to produce corresponding parts.
• OE replacements come from third-party manufacturers and are made by carefully examining and creating an exact copy of the OEM part.
• Toyota fuel tanks vary in shapes and sizes, depending on the model of vehicle you’ll be installing it.
• OE Toyota fuel tank replacements on CarParts.com cost around $70 to $1,200.

Apart from the select few purebred American car manufacturers, the automotive market in the country is partly dominated by foreign names. One of these is Toyota, which has been benchmarking car quality by consecutively topping American charts for years. It is widely known for its successful passenger midsize and compact cars such as Camry and Corolla, respectively.

Toyota vehicles, even those from 10 or 20 years ago, are acclaimed for their long and reliable life spans—thanks to easy-to-find and inexpensive replacement parts. If you’re looking for a Toyota fuel tank replacement, you’ve come to the right place. Below is a quick guideline about OEM and OE replacement fuel tanks for your Toyota vehicle. 

Who Manufactures Genuine Toyota Parts?

Toyota currently has over a hundred OEM parts suppliers, all of which are based either in the Kanto or Kansai region in Japan. In the United States, Toyota manufactures vehicles in six plants and manufacturing heavily relies on the parts coming from hundreds of OEMs overseas. The official supplier of fuel tanks for Toyota is FTS Co., Ltd.

The Difference Between OEM and OE Replacement Fuel Tanks

When shopping for a replacement fuel tank or any other part, it is almost impossible not to stumble upon the terms OEM and OE replacement parts. For first-time shoppers, it’s easy to interchange and mistake one for the other.

To begin with, OEM parts are often more expensive than OE replacements. This is because OEMs are officially acknowledged by a car manufacturer and have the license to produce corresponding parts under contract. This and the fact that OEM brands carry the car manufacturer’s logo and name add up to its cost.

Meanwhile, OE replacements are parts that come from third-party manufacturers. These components are made by carefully examining the OEM product and creating an exact copy. Aftermarket fuel tanks for your Toyota vehicle are guaranteed to have a snug fit. They are also relatively cheaper and easier to find, as there are more than just one OE replacement parts manufacturer making them.

OE Toyota Fuel Tank Replacements

Toyota fuel tanks vary in shapes and sizes, depending on the model of vehicle you’ll be installing it in. Of course, fuel tanks for pickup trucks are larger than those that are meant to fit compact sedans. For a clearer illustration, a Toyota Tundra fuel tank is naturally larger compared to a fuel tank of a Corolla.

You may use the old fuel tank as a reference when buying an OE replacement. It should fit and install in the same manner as the original fuel tank, as OE replacement parts are designed to function similarly to their OEM counterparts.

Finding the Right Fit

OE Toyota fuel tank replacements on CarParts.com cost around $70 to $1,200. They are sold as an assembly or as part of a more complete kit. To make your search easier and faster, you can narrow down the result by specifying the year, make, and model of your vehicle in the filter tab. You can use the “Refine By” section on the left-hand side to further customize the list according to your preference.

The main function of your Toyota fuel tank is to hold the fuel, which makes the vehicle run. The fuel tank is one of the parts of the fuel system that makes the engine run and perform smoothly. The tank can be made of plastic high-density polyethylene; this is designed with complex shapes to save space and improve crash safety. Some tanks can be made out of steel or aluminum and welded from stamped sheets. Although not very prone to failure, fuel tank problems can still arise from time to time. Below are some commonly encountered issues with tanks:

Fuel tank that refuses top off

This is the most common complaint of drivers when it comes to the gas tank. Have you tried topping off your Toyota fuel tank so you can save the trip back to the gas station, but it won't let you? First of all, your vehicle's fuel tank is designed so that it only allows for 90% of the liquid in the compartment. The remaining 10% should be free for expansion and movement of the fuel inside the tank. Check your fuel gauge and make sure it doesn't say full.

If not, you may want to check the fuel filler tube. When this gets damaged or crushed, gasoline will not flow quickly enough into the tank and the safety feature of the gas station pump will kick off and prevent fuel to flow. The venting system in your vehicle can also malfunction and make it hard for you to put gas in the tank.

Check engine light turns on and a leak is detected

Another problem that you might encounter with your Toyota fuel tank is the evaporative leak. Evaporative emissions are caused by fuel volatility or the fuel's tendency to change from liquid to gas. When there is a rise in outside temperature, it can cause an increase in pressure inside the fuel tank and this must be vented to prevent the tank from deforming.

The pressure is vented from the tank into a charcoal canister in the vehicle, which absorbs the vapor and stores it until it can be purged when the engine is started. If such a leak is detected, the check engine light will turn on. You need to check your gas tank cap as this is the most common cause of gas leaks. If you are driving an older vehicle, you should also check for a cracked hose.

Hesitation and trouble with acceleration

If you are having trouble getting up to highway speed and nothing is wrong with the rest of the vehicle, there is a possibility that you have water in the fuel tank. This is also one of the common causes of fuel tank problems. Water can enter the tank either when you fill up or from condensation within the tank due to weather.

When there is water in the tank, you may also experience volatile changes of speed without applying pressure on the gas pedal. You may also experience sputtering. You can solve this problem by adding fuel additives that are meant to remove water from the tank. However, if there is more water than the additive can handle, your only solution is to replace all the fuel inside the tank. It would be costly, but you will also save your vehicle from further and more expensive damage.