Echo string trimmer warranty

I purchased a new echo 225 3 years ago. Today I took it to the dealer as gas was leaking out while it was running. They examined it and called me with what it would take to repair it. New fuel lines, fuel tank, gasket and carburetor. Bill would be 165 dollars if I approved the work. A new one costs 219 dollars.
Echo has a a five year warranty for a unit that is not used by a business. When I asked if this would be covered by the warranty I was told no because gas with ethanol (10%) was used. As I told them all gas in our area has ethanol in it and since it was built recently when all gas had ethanol in it, it should be able to handle 10% ethanol. Has anyone else run into this?
 
If the warranty doesn't specifically say it is voided using ethanol blended gas, then it most definitely should be covered or it's false advertising. I think they could be trying to pull a fast one and get you to buy a new one.
 
I bought mine from a factory rep at a local open house, he told me to run high test only, never said anything about no ethanol. I would check at the factory web site, maybe complain to the pr people and see what they say.
 
A written copoy of the warranty was probably provided with the machine. Request one from the web site if it was not.

If the warranty says nothing about the use of gasoline with ethanol the company should repair the unit under warranty.

If the warranty states that the use of gasoline with ethanol voids the warranty, you are on your own.

Dean
 
Something doesn't sound right. I wouldn't think you would have to replace all that. Sounds like they want to sell new trimmer.
 
If it is thus Echo trimmer: http://www.echo-usa.com/getattachment/7011c2f4-035a-47cb-82e5-cf7038faee8e/SRM225es1112_022014_2.pdf

Page 17 states, "Fuel Requirements
Gasoline - Use 89 Octane [R+M/2] (mid grade or higher) gasoline known to be good quality. Gasoline may contain up to 10% Ethanol (grain alcohol) or 15% MTBE (methyl tertiary-butyl ether)."

I think your dealer is full of it.
 
Utter nonsense.

They don't want to honor the warranty, pure and simple. Call Echo USA at 1-800-432-ECHO.

Given that this is clearly also a safety issue, if you don't like the response from Echo you can file a complaint with the Consumer Product Safety Commission <a href="http://www.cpsc.gov/">http://www.cpsc.gov/</a>
 
While Echo builds a decent product the dealer network stinks for the most part. I would at least call them and see what they say about the warranty. That being denied remove the carburetor yourself, blow it off, get the numbers and order a kit on-line for about $10, instructions to rebuild it are everywhere on line and on Youtube. Don't tear it apart until you have the kit. A hint is to use your phone to take pictures as you take it apart, can save a lot of guesswork later. you can get fuel lines at any auto parts store ask for Tygon. If rebuilding the carb is beyond what you are comfortable with take same part number and punch it into Ebay, most of the m can be had for less than $50 shipped to your door.
 
I have called Echo's customer service and they also said that their warranty does not cover anything to do with the fuel system. They say they only cover manufacturing defects and not damage to parts due to using Ethanol blended gasoline.
 
Interestingly, their warranty as published on their own web site says no such thing. The closest thing is this:

"Damage caused by use of gasohol, containing ethanol (wood alcohol), or gasoline containing less than 89 octane. Only use gasoline which contains 89 octane or higher. Gasohol which contains a maximum 10% ethanol (grain alcohol) or 15% MTBE (methyl/tertiary/butyl/ether) is also approved."

Interestingly, there is also this statement which I suspect is mandated by federal law:

"Emission related parts are covered for 5 years residential use..."

Surely a hose that is leaking raw gas is violating evaporative emission standards, not to mention presenting a serious safety hazard.

Now it seems to me that they have no out under their own warranty, and the burden of proof is on them to prove you used fuel with more than 10 percent ethanol. Regardless, I don't think I'll be buying any Echo power tools.
Echo consumer warranty.
 
Fuel has become regional, in SROW (Socialist Republic of Wisconsin) most name brand premium fuel is labeled no ethanol, when I lived there most dealers recommended using premium. Here in Iowa some stations have regular (no ethanol) and premium (10% ethanol), but that appears to be changing and some stations now have regular (10% ethanol) and Premium (10% ethanol). Friends in lower Michigan inform me all their gasoline is 10 or 15% ethanol.
 
We had something similar happen on a set of echo shears once. Ours is commercial but it was within the warranty. When I raised a little more of a stink they fixed it for no charge. They are just trying to get out of it on yours I would guess. I don't know, but the dealer probably doesn't make too much on a smaller claim like this so they may be trying to aim you towards a new one!
 
I have a pretty old Sthil chainsaw got to be over 25 yrs. plus and as far as I can remember Ohio has always had 10% ethanol in the gas for even longer. In all these years it held up fine until recently I did have to put diaphrams in the carbs. The in tank hose was still fine. I replaced the external ones too.
 
If it were mine I'd take it down myself, see what's wrong with the tank as I doubt anything is. Install new fuel line and clunk and get back to work. Replace the primer bulb too as that eventually splits and will leak while running should you be able to start it. Ethanol in fuel can speed it up and it can damage seals in any brand and type of engine. Just because something or someone else hasn't had it happen to them in years of use means they've been very fortunate. Try this link to see if any ethanol free stations are listed in your area:
http://pure-gas.org/index.jsp?stateprov=SC
Yours is old enough to possibly have been built before ethanol tolerant seals were utilized in its assembly.

Best of luck.

Regards,

Clay
 
Clay, I place zero credibility on the pure-gas.org listings. Anyone can add a station and anyone can remove a station. What is the criterion for adding a station: is a pump sticker sufficient, or does a sample of the station's fuel have to pass an ethanol test? (The answer is neither; the station can be selling nothing but E10, its pumps can be labeled as E10, and it can still be on the list.) How often do stations get removed from the list?

I would be more comfortable if the operator of each station was required to self-certify. That is, make a statement that they are selling ethanol-free fuel and will continue to do so until such-and-such date. If they don't recertify by that date, they should come off the list. And of course if a customer finds they are selling gasohol, the customer can ask for them to be pulled from the list.

Looking at nearby stations listed on pure-gas.org , I was surprised to see one station listed that often has no gas at all! Then I checked the comments, and two people had commented that they did not sell ethanol-free. (Presumably when they have gas to sell; air is usually free of ethanol.) Why is this station still on the list?

The reality is that 99.999 percent of all gasoline sold in the US contains a significant amount of ethanol. And the only way a station is going to sell ethanol-free gas is if they can charge a premium for it. Few motorists will pay extra for ethanol-free fuel, and since most fuel goes into cars (rather than small engines and boats), there is no incentive for stations to sell ethanol-free fuel.
 

We sell tractor parts! We have the parts you need to repair your tractor - the right parts. Our low prices and years of research make us your best choice when you need parts. Shop Online Today.

Back
Top