Hi everyone. I've fallen into something I'm not sure how to handle. Would like some advise from anyone who would like to weigh in on this.
Recently bought a gently used '16 f250 xlt from a dealer. They had a brochure printed explaining about the vehicle and its features, of which I have one. The truck is actually an f250 crew cab 4x4 xlt with a 6.7 and a short bed. The brochure states the truck has a 35 gal fuel tank (I wanted as much as I could get) and a long bed. I even asked the sales person about the fuel tank capacity and she confirmed that it held 35 gallons. I didn't even mention the difference of bed length, as I didn't notice that. I'm retiring a 13 yo ranger and the short bed on the f250 looked huge to me.
Today, with the fuel gauge at about 1/8 of a tank, I stopped to fill up. The pump stopped at 21 gal. I thought the gauge must be hosed as it should have held about 30 gal. Checked the manual and it says tank sizes vary depending on several variations and styles. Mine with the 4 doors and short bed is supposed to have a 26-28 gal tank (which it does).
I don't want to be a total AH here, but I paid top dollar for a misrepresented vehicle and feel gouged. If it makes any difference, we're in South Carolina. Anyone have any thoughts on what I can/should do? I'm really puzzled. Thanks all, Jim.

 

The diesel, because of the DEF tank only has two tank sizes. The short bed has a 26 gallon tank and the long bed has a 37.5 gallon tank. I think if you check your owner's manual you will see the the 35 gallon tank is for gasoline.

From the 2016 Owner's Diesel supplement manual. You should have one in your glove box with the other info...

Fuel tank - Pickup regular cab long box and all short box - 26.0 gal (98.4 L)
Fuel tank - Pickup long box (except regular cab) - 37.5 gal (142 L)

regular cab has the 26 gallon tank even with long bed

See page 56 of your diesel supplement guide

 

Certainly understand the complaint and there isn't a great way to resolve it. I have found that I never trust anything but factory documentation, but a salesperson rarely has anything to rely on other than what a computer prints out, so I personally wouldn't take it out on him/her. The truck was not available with the short bed large tank, so you have to ask if the tank was worth the longer bed if the two were lined up side by side. I'm a young guy (33) and frankly the range is about as far as my bladder goes anyhow. If overall length was a concern of yours, I think you'll do just fine.

That being said, even though the option you thought you wanted isn't available in the configuration you wanted, you still had something misrepresented. I wouldn't call that getting gouged in this case (because options that don't exist don't affect it's market value, which a purchase decision is based on). The friendlier you are about it the better chances you have to "get something" back. Honestly, I'd try this with a very friendly face: "We had a misunderstanding about the size fuel tank I was getting with this truck. When I asked for a full tank, I was under the assumption I was getting 40 gallons. How about you fill my truck back up for me and toss in a diesel oil change". If that makes you a happy camper, they may just go for it. I wouldn't expect more than that, and if you got an incredibly good deal, even that may be a stretch. Really depends on how you handled the deal, how good your sales guy and the dealership are. What I proposed is about $250 in compensation. Good luck!

 

Frantz, all that is well and good, but it comes down to the old adage, "buyer be aware". No one has misrepresented anything. He read the wrong info in the literature about tank size and didn't see anything about it being gasoline or diesel associated with the 35 gallon size. The salesperson is probably not up on the Super Duties and does haven't any clue about the tank sizes. I think he is going to need to bite the bullet that he read the brochure and was not aware the section was about diesel or gasoline.

I highly doubt the dealer will give any "consideration" for this "misrepresentation" he is claiming.

 

Larry and Franz. Thank you for your opinions here. I'm not expecting to get much if anything from this issue as I did fall into the "buyer beware" pond. Although when a dealer hands you a printed sheet describing certain features, a prospective customer should be able to count on the described features as being accurate. I think I will try the fuel and free diesel service to see what shakes out. If anyone has any other suggestions, please let me know. Thanks again, Jim.

 

Yeah, that's why the 50 gallon Titan replacement diesel tanks exist. I did that swap on mine, not because I ever got stranded or got tired of refueling, but there were a few times towing very heavy with a load catching wind like a sail that the range was disappointing--and a couple times headed out toward El Paso that it was white-knuckle territory. But in the dealer's defense, the detailed specs are available to anyone with access to Google, http://www.ford.com/trucks/superduty...pecifications/ and the brochure you download from Ford definitely has the right information (PDF) http://www.ford.com/services/assets/...Duty&year=2016 and that information has been exactly the same since at least 2011, but I think back further than that. I'm not sure what you looked at, but if it's a proper brochure like you said, it's very possible it may have just been an honest mistake on your part.

It would be great if used car sales people really knew the ins and outs and specs for all the various possible options for all vehicles on the lot and could speak authoritatively on them. But that's not going to be the case even for old-timers and for "certified" vehicles sold off the lot of the same brand. There is no "option" or "package" that determines fuel tank size. That's purely the result of the fuel type and whether it's a short bed, long bed, or chassis cab. It doesn't even appear on the factory window sticker.

I know you're disappointed, but if that's the only problem in the transaction, then you might want to figure out whether it's worth more than just a quick letter/email to the dealership (sales person and management) to let them know what happened, how you feel, and that you want to make sure the next person on the lot will get better info.

If it's important enough that you're willing to spend the money like I did (see https://titanfueltanks.com/shop/ford...-super-series/) then you might be able to work a deal with them where you buy the tank and they install it for you without charging you labor. It might be something they'd agree to if that's the route you decided to go.

 

When you bought your truck, you paid a fuel fee.

This fee should have been used to fill your truck full of fuel prior to you leaving the lot or the salesperson going with you to pay for the fuel while dealer finished the paperwork.

The last 3 vehicles I have purchased new from a Ford dealer came with full tanks of fuel prior to final signing of the papers.

 

It wasn't a new truck, he said it was gently used. However, if it was a CPO then he should have gotten a full tank of fuel. I was trying to keep the proposed dialog light hearted. If a customer told me they though they were getting a 35 gallon tank (because I told them so) and then I only gave him 26 gallons of fuel, it'd be an amusing joke to complain that you were shorted on the fuel (rather than make a big deal about the tank size that is the actual concern). The brochures he was talking about didn't sound factory, I took that they were print outs for the used vehicle. We get print outs based on vin numbers all the time. It's very common to see incorrect info on them. It's a cost of customer satisfaction. If it's your local dealer they'll want to make it a good mistake. Folks remember how you handle mistakes more than when things go smoothly. There is no obligation, it was just what I would hope a customer would expect from me for such a mistake, and something I would find reasonable as a sales person myself (and I really don't have a clue how big fuel tanks are, it's not common enough of a question for me to memorize, I just look at a chart).

 

I like Firekite's proposal. If you are truly after a large capacity, this seems like a win-win. The dealership will only incur the true cost of the labor, while you save the markup.

I do not see them offering much more than either gesture mentioned.

 

Another vote for Titan fuel tanks. I ditched the OEM 29 gallon tank and installed a 52 gallon Titan tank. So much better.....

 

Yeah I don't see them doing much else, either. It would Jennings enof he still had whatever that print-out was to show it to them, though.

And to be fair, it's not just the cost of labor but the opportunity cost of that labor, what those techs and tools and that bay in the shop could be bringing in. Not sure what that is for that dealer, but I'm sure it would cross the mind of the service manager when he finds out the sales manager has volunteered his resources to fix a sales mistake