A FURIOUS driver has been hit with a $700 bill trying to fix an issue with her gas tank after mechanics discovered something much worse.
The driver said the issues started just minutes after pulling out of the gas station.
A driver face a $700 bill over an issue with her fuel tank[/caption]
The fuel in her tank was found to be contaminated with water[/caption]
Carole Moore from Tallahassee, Florida, got the shock of her life when she took her car into a local dealership.
Moore said her husband pulled out of the gas station and was trying to merge lanes when the vehicle suddenly rolled to a halt.
Looking around, they realized they weren’t the only customers from the gas station facing issues.
Around half a dozen disabled cars were scattered around them.
“It was like oh my gosh what’s going on,” she said in an interview with CBS affiliate WCTV.
“Everyone is breaking down today. And at that point we still didn’t know it was gas.”
A Tallahassee-based mechanic said the issues were consistent with water in the fuel.
The mechanic couldn’t speculate on what the source of the water in the gas tanks was.
But they added that multiple cars dying just feet from a station pointed to contaminated gas at the station.
Parkway Wrecker Service said they had to tow several cars from a Circle K gas station.
Now Moore and her husband are facing a $700 bill to solve the issue.
If further damage is found, the price tag is set to keep rising.
Circle K did not immediately respond to The U.S. Sun’s requests for comment.
What happens if you put the wrong fuel in your tank?
Dwanye Saunders, the owner of Genuine Automotive & Diesel in Austin, Texas, said the common mix up isn’t as dire as people think.
He told The U.S. Sun in an exclusive interview there are things drivers should look out for at the pumps to avoid putting the wrong fuel in your tank, and what to do if it happens.
The first thing he noted is that most gas stations make it very difficult to fill a gas-powered car with diesel. At the pumps, size does matter.
“The nozzle for the diesel pump is usually much bigger than a gasoline pump,” he said.
“So, it’s pretty hard to put diesel in a gas tank, it’s actually easier to accidentally put gasoline in a diesel engine.”
If the wrong fuel type is used, drivers will know right away, as the engine will run incredibly rough before shutting off. When that happens, it’s important to not try and start the vehicle again, as it pushes the fuel further into the system. Forcing the wrong fuel through an ill-equipped engine can cost thousands in repairs, or even merit an engine replacement.
Instead, it’s best to have your vehicle towed to a trusted mechanic, where they’ll begin repairs.
“A good mechanic would drain the fuel tank and flush the lines with fresh gasoline, maybe run some fuel system cleaner through it and it’s usually not detrimental,” said Saunders.
Read more here.
Earlier, a spokesperson for the company put out a statement.
“At Circle K, we guarantee and stand by the quality of our fuels,” the statement read.
“We apologize to the customers affected by the recent issue at our store on Timberlane Rd. in Tallahassee, and we are committed to helping them with their claims.
“Customers who may have been impacted at this location may contact Circle K Customer Service at 1-855-276-1947.”
Putting the wrong fuel in your car can be deadly for your engine.
You should call for help and contact a professional mechanic or auto repair service to drain your fuel tank immediately.
A professional will be needed to clean the fuel lines and flush the system.
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