FYI- Fuel Safe Defects- What you need to know.(Long)

[Plavan]

Hi Guys,
I just got around to posting this info. It seems that Fuel Safe knows about this problem/defect but does not want to inform their customers about it. It is the rubber "flapper" that is causing the problem. It deteriorates when it comes in contact with fuel.

Here is what happened. In Feb. 2001, I bought a brand new 12 gallon cell from Fuel Safe. This was because I was building my new Porsche race car. I did not end up using the Fuel Cell until my first race in the new car in Sept 2001. It worked fine for 2 or 3 races (hind sight).
In Feb 2002 race, I noticed the car stumbling a bit but ended up loosing a tranny (of course not related).
In March 2002 I had my new tranny and was racing in Las Vegas where I again noticed some stumbling. I then just adjusted the fuel pressure so it would go away. It was a temporary fix.
In April 2002 at a race the car ran so poorly I never finished a heat or race because I pulled in to check the problem. The problem was the car would run fine for 4 or 5 laps then start to stutter. I changed the fuel filter (numerous times) and that did not seem to help.
In June 2002 race I moved the fuel lines around thinking they were getting hot from the oil lines with no luck and had the same problem.
In July 2002, I rebuilt the Webers, reset the timing (a few times) and all seemed to be temp fixes.
In August 2002, I raced again and after a few changes and it came back after 5 or so laps.
In Sept 2002, I took it to a dyno so we could recreate the problem. The car was fine on the first few runs but when it got hot the stuttering problem happened again. The mechanic suggested we change the jets because the car was leaning out on the dyno. He thought (and the graph showed) as the car got warmer the engine got leaner.
In Sept 2002, I was racing again and the damn thing happened again (after changing the jets)!
Well I had enough, I decided to look inside the fuel cell at the track and this is what I saw! I was horrified and PISSED!


There was the rubber flap in pieces sitting in the fuel and shoved down the hole inside where the pickup was. You can see all the pieces I dug out on the right of the fuel cell. Also the blue rubber pickup lines were cracking and flaking! This was my problem! A Fuel Safe cell that is only 1 year old! I was using normal 110 race gas! I was so mad.
That next Monday I called Fuel Safe and asked to talk with the quality control manager to report a defect. I talked to a guy named Dan. I started to describe what happened and he says he was aware of the problem!!!! I said thanks for informing your customers!
Dan informed me that they switched suppliers of the rubber flap and did not know when they started using them in the fuel cells. He said they were tracking the complaints (great... after the fact). I asked why they did not put something on their website or send out letters. He did not answer why they didn't. I told him, don't worry- about 80 racers at the track saw your product defect in person and another 5000+ or so will see it when I post pictures of it on the web. I can do alot of advertising for you or against you. I then asked for a new cell and for him to pay for the $2000+ dollars in entry fees, Dyno time, Labor, new parts etc. He did send me a new pro cell with a baffle (worth about $500 more that the one it replaced) He also let me keep the old cell. I just have to get the rebuild kit for it. They still have yet to pay for any of my other fees.

Moral of the story- Fuel Safe sucks in customer service, they have a known faulty/defective product and do not inform anyone about it. CHECK YOUR CELLS. The rubber flap is the flap under the fuel cap. If you do not see it, or it looks chunky, call Dan for replacement. Let him know you saw this on the web.

[jpachard]

Thanks alot for the heads up!!! I'm planning on purchasing a Fuel cell soon, I appreciate the info. Also, please secure your positive lead better, if that chafes through you will have quite a fireworks display!!!!

Cheers, James

[Plavan]

I was made aware of that from another post I do not want fireworks! Like I said in the other post, posting pictures here is like having someone proofread a paper for you, They find your mistakes. The scary thing is that I just had the car tech'ed last weekend and it passed. I'm going to clamp it down right now.

[Vintage911Racer]

Chad,

How did Kevin do on Sunday? I left to go to my daughters Soccer Tournament.

[Plavan]

Hey Mark,
He did ok but his car got close to 250 degrees again. He is gonna have the thermostats checked.

[Vintage911Racer]

Yeah, he needs to do that. Also, Change oil and filter, duct cooler better.
alignment, take out free play in clutch. He needs to this before fontana.
Let him know and maybe go help the guy. Nice guy.

[cstreit]

Thanks for the info. I'll spread the word around as well, and check mine.

[MotoSook]

That sucks! I worked in a place once upon a time where marketing and sales dictated the development and testing of products. I ran the testing department ... not for very long. The VP of Engineering came into my lab and changed my testing to yield results he wanted to see so that Sales could keep their performance promises. It wasn't long after that I left the company.

Poor Dan may have been aware of the situation, but he was probably better off keeping his mouth shut. That's no excuse and certainly not enough to make you happy about a wasted season.

Thanks for posting Plavan...

[Plavan]

Wow Souk, that sounds like a very ethical company. I will never do any business with them ever again. I'm making sure this goes on every race site so people do not run into the problems I did.
I would suggest doing business with ATL.

[Vintage911Racer]

You should start your own talk show. "Don't "F" with Chad"
You are viscious. Do we know ATL is any better?

[MMARSH]

Good Info, Thanks for posting.

[BGCarrera32]

What a joke. Just like the segmented spray painted on letters to give it that image of a military-tough product.

Thanks for posting...hope things get resolved.

[mm86911]

No problems with my ATL and their customer service has been exceptional on the two occassions I have dealt with them.