I was filling up with B20 this evening and mentioned to the attendant how slow the pump was running. He said the filter might be clogged, so he got a new one and swapped it out. I noticed it dripping and it was cloudy and yellow/green. I should have panicked right then and there, but I drove off and the Jeep died on the highway at 75mph. Would not restart and the gas station was closed by then (~15 min later). I had it towed to the dealership, but am I right that the fuel vendor's responsibility is to pay for fuel related repairs, and not the vehicle manufacturers? Where is this written? I'll need to have the tank drained, filter swapped, and biocide added. I think they had a severely contaminated tank. I just need some legal type ammo to use against these guys.

Thanks!

First of all take a sample of the fuel and have it analyzed - AV Lube is one place that can do it. Keep the filter because you might need that later for your case. Call the owner and explain what happened, the data you have, and ask for the money to cover the repairs.

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2005 Liberty Limited CRD

If you read thru the warranty, you'll see that problems due to contaminated fuel are not covered. Been there, done that.

Besides having a sample of the fuel analyzed, make sure that you save your receipt from the station. If you used a debit/credit card, where it shows up on a monthly statement, you're covered. That's legal proof you bought the fuel there.

Also, have whoever is doing the repairs fully document everything they find and have to do to restore the vehicle to running condition because of the contaminated fuel. If having other work done at the same time, make sure they break out the fuel related items separately.

Armed with the above - an analysis of the fuel, proof of purchase, and documentation of repairs - you shouldn't have any problem talking with the station owner and being reimbursed for the repairs.

Matter of fact, you should go ahead and contact the station owner NOW! Let him know what happened and that he needs to check his fuel to prevent other customers from having problems. This will actually save him money, not having to pay for repair bills for several other vehicles as well. If you're civil about it, and he's anywhere remotely decent, he'll appreciate the heads up and it'll be that much easier getting reimbursed for your vehicle.

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Mitchell Oates
'87 MB 300D Diamond Blue Metallic
'87 MB 300D - R.I.P. 12/08
'05 Sport CRD Stone White
Provent CCV Filter/AT2525 Muffler
Stanadyne 30 u/Cat 2 u Fuel Filters
Fumoto Drain/Fleetguard LF3487 Oil filter
V6 Airbox/Amsoil EAA Air Filter
Suncoast TC/Shift Kit/Aux Cooler
Kennedy Lift Pump/Return Fuel Cooler

Thanks for the replies. I called the station that night and left a message saying they had a problem with their fuel, and to shut down that pump and add some biocide. This morning I called back and spoke with them about the problem. They said that if it was indeed bad fuel they would pay for repairs. The dealership told me this morning at 8 they would get in touch with me before writing up the repair ticket, but still no word.

Well the dealer had to drop the tank and clean it out, purge the fuel system and change the whole filter assembly. They saved a bottle of the stuff they took out - after a day of settling the top 50% was golden colored and clear, and the bottom 50% was cloudy chunky grey stuff. They said they had 3 other diesels there victims of the same gas station, and so much of the fuel that the station was coming to get it. One Cummins there wasn't even running yet it was so clogged.

So the station realizes they had a problem, and cut me an $880 check for repairs and towing. The dealers part was $750. They were both very cooperative, and the dealership didn't give me a hassle about using biodiesel, at least yet. They may try to use that on me at a later date.

Lesson learned: if the fuel is pumping really slow like the filter is clogged, it probably is! Be suspicious!

This just happened to me yesterday (the VERY slow pumping fuel situation). It was a Sunoco station at a very high traffic intersection, so they have good turnover of their diesel. Regular #2 diesel, should I be concerned? I added a little Power Service in, as usual. I've run about 40 miles now with no problems yet...

They may have been running low on fuel themselves, the pumps slow down as the tank starts getting close to empty, seen it many times over the years both at the gas and diesel pumps.

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91 MB 300D 2.5L Turbo. Her's

05 MB E320 CDI. Mine

Just a piece of friendly advice. If the pump is going slow STOP!!!! It is either close to empty and sucking all kinds of crap off the bottom of the tank or the pump filter is plugged. If the filter is plugged it could be from severe contamination, from lack of service or both. Either way you don't need fuel from this station at this time. I know when our pump gets empty here at work it WILL plug the filter fast. Pump filters only filter out the larger micron particles and are not 100% effective. Let someone else clean their tanks for them.

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2005 sport crd-SOLD No regrets

He's very correct, and generally those filters at the pump are 20 micron and some will plug with water from the bottom of the tank. Hey if you see them filling the tanks leave and and don't come back for at least 24 hrs or go somewhere else.

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91 MB 300D 2.5L Turbo. Her's

05 MB E320 CDI. Mine

Was this a station in fort collins?

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http://www.Colorado4Wheel.com
"Its not about what you can DO with your Jeep, its about where you can GO with your Jeep."
Knowledgeable - But Caustic

I've heard this before as well, but the place I go is a high-volume truck stop and gets a load of fuel at least once a day. Kinda hard to wait 24 hours... I won't fillup if they're filling the tanks, though.

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2006 Liberty Sport CRD

Wonder why they fuel isn't filtered when it's refined, then again when the undergroud tank is filled, then again at the pump, then again at the vehicle fuel filter?

Seems like if it had to pass through all those filters then you'd pretty much catch everything.

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Chad Hargis
Nashville, TN
2008 Grand Cherokee CRD
2005 Liberty CRD *SOLD*

Yes, it was the co-op out by 14 and I-25.

any problem with them in the year since this happened?

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http://www.Colorado4Wheel.com
"Its not about what you can DO with your Jeep, its about where you can GO with your Jeep."
Knowledgeable - But Caustic

I haven't been back since. I got B20 a few more times at Team Petroleum but it was always 20 cents or so more than regular diesel so that got old, plus the card filling BS. I figured it was safer there because its where all the city vehicles get B20, and the city fleet was bound to connect the dots sooner if a load of bad fuel got out.