Fuel tank expansion class action lawsuit issue

[chelseaboy]

that kind of bubbling is indicative of tank expansion, you can see pics of other tanks affected if you google the US law suit.

So your bike is not under warranty any more I assume? You may need to have a lawyer contact your dealer on your behalf to try get them to take action.

[pmarangoni]

Originally Posted by caferacermike

Seriously, what else do you want them to do?

I want them to do the right thing. A permanent fix. A tank that doesn't need replacing every few years.

[kittay]

Do they replace it on any bike, or just ones under warranty?

[philb]

Originally Posted by kittay

Do they replace it on any bike, or just ones under warranty?

They extend the warranty for that part, basically.

PhilB

[kittay]

That's good to know.. so even if you're not the original owner?
It's kind of a shame that they don't just fix the initial problem, rather then just bandaid the current one. But I'm also sure that they had alot of plastic ones left over, so why not use them up for expenditure reasons on their part. If they were manufacturing new plastic ones to use as the replacement, then that's just beyond me why they don't go new material!

[philb]

Originally Posted by kittay

That's good to know.. so even if you're not the original owner?
It's kind of a shame that they don't just fix the initial problem, rather then just bandaid the current one. But I'm also sure that they had alot of plastic ones left over, so why not use them up for expenditure reasons on their part. If they were manufacturing new plastic ones to use as the replacement, then that's just beyond me why they don't go new material!

Unfortunately, their hands are somewhat tied. The root of this problem (as is so often the case) is the government, which mandates ethanol in the fuel, and only allows a couple of government-approved choices for making plastic gas tanks out of, neither of which is fully compatible with the fuel they mandate. So the only way that Ducati can actually fix the problem permanently would be with a metal tank, which would be ridiculous to try to design and manufacture and retrofit to every plastic tanked model.

If I was Ducati, I would be (a) gathering with the several other manufacturers who are also having this problem and lobby hard for more legal choices for materials, and/or (b) planning not to use plastic tanks on future models.

PhilB

[caferacermike]

As Phil stated it becomes an extension of the warranty. My dealer said that Ducati really isn't enforcing any sort of cut off with their shop. A bike comes in with a claim, Ducati asks them to try and "shim" the tank (some bikes like the sport classics just had an expanding tank that wouldn't sit on the mounts any more) If the shim kit wasn't enough, had significant cosmetic issues, or won't stay in place anymore they send them a new tank. Ducati hasn't tried to say "no" to any tank replacements as they already have a black eye from the issue and don't want it to become more of an issue.

Phil did a great job of explaining (as usual) the issue that the manufacturers are up against and how they might change it in the future. One thing Ducati has done was to stop producing the tank as a cosmetic piece and instead have begun to "hide" the actual tank and mold aesthetic pieces to cover the actual tank.

[busta8184]

You guys have to appreciate that ethanol based fuels were in the very early stages of production when the plastic tanks came out and as such Ducati could never have known this was going to happen. In the bigger scheme of things its not Ducati's fault as Acerbis are the ones that make the tanks to start with. Now that ethanol fuel is the norm I am sure they have come up with a solution to fix the ethanol attacking the plastic.

I am not sure what everyone is complaining about, Ducati are giving everyone in America a FREE plastic fuel tank to those that have genuinely had a problem with there's weather it be 10 years or 10 months old. I would not look a gift horse in the mouth. Find a solution to coat the inside of your tank and you will be fine. Its the 21st century I am sure with a little research someone will find something.

[Bully]

I hope Ducati designs against the ethanol issue as caferacermike suggests. Any articles on new tank designs?

Has anyone heard of potential adverse effects to other parts?

[MDO]

Investigating replacement with local dealer now. They suggest I bring the bike in for inpspection, but won't say what the current policy is exactly. Stand by for more.

(I'm original owner of '06 S2R, and the tank has been replaced once already)