DISASTER! Got a load of contaminated FUEL

[PeteB88]

I just got my 4 Runner, you guys have been great. I was on my way from West Michigan to Toledo to pickup my new (used) Boston Whaler Outrage, stopped to top off the fuel tank in Jackson, MI - Meijer Gas - added 15 gallons to the 98 4 Runner, paid up, got in, drove 50 yards and the rig stopped - tried to start it, puking and grunting, no way. Walked back to the station and the gas pump tech, I noticed when I pulled in, confirmed there was water in the undergound tanks - "a lot of it"

Meijer is a big, reputable company and the management came immediately to help with towing and rental cars. There were at least 10 other vehicles stopped like mine, all requiring tows somehwere.

The closset dealer was about 30 miles so I convinced the people to take my car to a dealer.

What exactly can this do? How bad? I understand they have to drain the tank and somehow cleanout the fuel systme. What a mess.

Can there be permanent damage?

What should I do? what needs to be done so no screwups. I love that 4 Runner

Thanks

 

[Jordan Petry]

If it wouldn't run at all then it sounds like that was a pretty badly contaminated tank of gas. Anytime you get water in the engine it's bad juju. Since water doesn't compress, it will either do one of two things: blow past your rings and get inside your motor, or it will bend a valve. Either way your in deep trouble because once water makes it's way inside the motor it gets everywhere. The only way to fix that is to change the oil out aprx. 8-10 times with cheap and crappy oil until the oil is no longer milky. Either way it's the gas station's fault and they should fix everything regardless of the problem.

 

[Thai]

I don't have any advice, but please keep us posted on what the dealer found and what the gas station is doing to fix it.

Good luck.

 

[maine runner]

Pete -

Sorry to hear your trip got trashed. :bash:

I would guess the station's tank has a leak (remote) or the E-10 went through "phase separation." While the station has filters and water separators, they could be dirty or full and it got past them and into the vehicles.

While not common, it happens. Patience my friend, you will get her home soon.

Keep us informed.

 

[riverider]

Your gas tank must be removed and flushed out and dryad really good, not just drained. All fuel lines must be blown out. I would want a new fuel pump and any filters installed replaced. Fuel injectors given a major full cleaning. Change oil and filter.

Don't allow a quick and dirty fix it deal, make sure your getting a really complete fix to this water problem.:

 

[PeteB88]

Thanks you guys, Please keep your comments coming. I am going to be at the dealer first thing in the morning, no games. I can tell you this, that dealer has some awesome folks on the parts and service crew. I am not playing with this issue at all but all the advice you can post would be totally appreciated.

 

[alaskaman]

The oil company has a deep pocket. get an attorney. no games.

 

[PeteB88]

What we're hearing now is the attendants got a water in the gas alarm and called the pump tech company but continued selling gas. Pump tech was there when I rolled in and I figured he was doing a routine check or calibration. Michigan had major thaw yesterday up from teens and 20s to over 50 and sunny. Snow mountains in parking lots were melting fast.

My habit is to never buy gas if I see a tanker truck in the lot - was told years ago by a petroleum engineer when they fill underground tanks it causes water in bottom of tanks to mix with fuel.

In any case, I filled up and all the pumps were in use, lines to pay and they knew they had an alarm and a problem yet they continued to sell, sell, sell.

What else I am hearing is water infiltation could be from underground not the parking lot.

Can lawyer be effective if company is going the extra mile? or does that just piss them off more? Don't want my 4 Runner "stuck" in litigation but ready to go to the hoop if it will really accomplish something .

I'm listening Alaskaman loud and clear.

 

[riverider]

First off I would see what they offer to do and what they will or won't pay for. They may really wish to do the correct thing then again they might not.

I would not hold off getting your 4Runner fixed as your dealer recommends, then when you submit the bills for payment if they say they won't cover parts. Then look at other legal options.

Wife got knocked to the pavement Thursday in a shopping center right as she stepped out of a shops door. Kid on a skate board hit her from behind, tried grabbing her handbag did not get it.

Wife got her glass's busted a broken front tooth hurt knee skinned fingers. slight concussion.

All that the shopping center did was call their security guy from his office. All he did was tell her how sorry he was.

They did nothing just let her leave and drive home in a hurt shocked condition.'

We called the Police from home gave the report. I sent the shopping center notice via e-mail and wife called them in morning the next day.

They say they have called their insurance carrier. I am giving them two weeks take the needed action.

Meaning payment for wife's glass's replacement and paying her dental bill for tooth repair.

If they don't feel like doing this we will see them in Court. This is not the first time I have needed to get someones attention with Court action.

Hope you don't need to do so much but I would be ready to take them on if needed.

 

[alaskaman]

Many options are open to you and you have probably already done this. Call your car insurance company. they should cover this under a comprehensive portion of your policy. get it fixed immediately by a dealer.

If the lanes were full of cars two things will happen. someone is getting fired and there is going to be a payout by the company. Your insurance company does not cost you anything for their representation and is going to call the gas company.

You may/may not want an attorney. Remember it's an oil company. SOMEONE who got bad gas WILL call an attorney ( I can hear the shark's teeth already) as many people will be affected by their error. If you contact an attorney, he or she is going to call around to see who else is handling this and gang up on the oil company and yes that could take a while. If your auto insurance company balks then you will most definitely want an attorney in my opinion.

 

[EH007]

The good news is that your engine stopped running almost right away. That means there was a fairly high concentration of water mixed in with your fuel. Seems bad at first, but not really. You'll definitely need to have the tank drained and the fuel filter changed, but there shouldn't be any damage to the engine, based upon your description of the incident.

Water is a byproduct of combustion, so it's not like water will kill your engine components. The other guy who said that water is not compressible is correct. The only thing is that water in your fuel tank is not the same as ingesting water into the air intake. At most, the water will be sprayed in as a fine mist through the fuel injectors. No big deal, really. Once you get the tank drained and replace the fuel filter, you should be okay. I'd probably change the oil just as a precaution, but chances are good that no water got mixed into your oil.

 

[alaskaman]

First off I would see what they offer to do and what they will or won't pay for. They may really wish to do the correct thing then again they might not.

I would not hold off getting your 4Runner fixed as your dealer recommends, then when you submit the bills for payment if they say they won't cover parts. Then look at other legal options.

Wife got knocked to the pavement Thursday in a shopping center right as she stepped out of a shops door. Kid on a skate board hit her from behind, tried grabbing her handbag did not get it.

Wife got her glass's busted a broken front tooth hurt knee skinned fingers. slight concussion.

All that the shopping center did was call their security guy from his office. All he did was tell her how sorry he was.

They did nothing just let her leave and drive home in a hurt shocked condition.'

We called the Police from home gave the report. I sent the shopping center notice via e-mail and wife called them in morning the next day.

They say they have called their insurance carrier. I am giving them two weeks take the needed action.

Meaning payment for wife's glass's replacement and paying her dental bill for tooth repair.

If they don't feel like doing this we will see them in Court. This is not the first time I have needed to get someones attention with Court action.

Hope you don't need to do so much but I would be ready to take them on if needed.

Dang. I do hope she is ok physically and emotionally........that's quite a hit.....

 

[PeteB88]

I hope your wife is okay too. Similar thing happened to my mom, she was in her 70s walking to the parking lot in a big mall from her job (Marshal Field) and got knocked down by a teenage driver hot rodding a van - she broke her hip and went to court. Reasonable settlement and she recovered pretty well.

I think the shopping center has a duty to be more compassionate - I would see if they have No Skateboarding signs posted AND if there is a local public skatepark open for skating. We do skatepark and action sports facilities and if those two things exist you have a very strong case. Public parks are built to accommodate skaters and if private property is posted OR public property for that matter the assumption is the community recognizes action sports can be hazardous to participant and others and they have responsibly provided appropriate skateable area. I am not a lawyer but deal with this stuff when doing our projects.

Serious skaters are athletes and proud of what they do - it's the punks that get kicked out of the malls that cause trouble.

Good luck

 

[riverider]

Dang. I do hope she is ok physically and emotionally........that's quite a hit.....

This kid on the skate board hit her with such force she hit the sidewalk with just her face. She hurt her knee and skinned her fingers defending her handbag.

Her face looked like she was hit with a ball bat. Her lip was really cut on the inside.

We got her glass's replaced yesterday and she is feeling much better. She still is hurting and on Monday morning she has to start getting the broken tooth fixed. And she fears dental work.

The one time she go's shopping alone she get hit on. I wanted to go with her but she said I want to shop alone today.

 

[PeteB88]

Take lots of photos - - extremely important, not flattering for sure but you need them

 

[riverider]

Take lots of photos - - extremely important, not flattering for sure but you need them

I have taken a bunch of pictures. My Wife under normal conditions hates to have her picture taken. But this time she asked me to take them.

 

[alaskaman]

sounds like the punk who hit her deserves a few years in prison with the big boys

 

[riverider]

Sorry to have taken the thread off base.

 

[maine runner]

Pete -

I agree with AK man and also about contacting your auto insurance policy.

Let's not forget the primary part, getting the truck repaired correctly.

If you have the truck at the dealer you trust, great. If not, get a second option for repairs.

 

[alaskaman]

Sorry to have taken the thread off base.

it is all good here. =) hope she feels very good very soon.