I Jumped In The Car To Start It Up, And It Just Started Sputtering. Lights Started Flashing, And There Was A Giant Puff Of White Smoke ―Fuel Receipt Helps Save 2022 Jeep Wagoneer Owner Thousands of Dollars in Repairs

A recent fuel mix-up at a Circle K gas station in Ohio resulted in thousands of dollars in repairs for at least a few vehicles identified thus far from pumps that inadvertently had diesel fuel pumped into them rather than gasoline.

Imagine, if you will, as several car owners recently experienced this past Sunday, a situation in which your car, which until sometime after a visit to a gas station ran perfectly fine, is now demonstrating difficulties with sputtering engine sounds and white smoke billowing from the exhaust pipe. A sign that bad fuel may be the problem.

In an earlier article, we reported on the prevalent problem of bad gasoline with water contamination in Ohio. Recent news reports cite a similar problem with tanker trucks putting the wrong fuel types in gas station underground fuel storage tanks.

Here is the breaking news report:

Customers of this Northeast Ohio gas station say they're out thousands of dollars in repairs

Concerns That This Story Will Get Worse

The most recent news stories following this incident state that 14 vehicles have been identified thus far suffering from having diesel fuel pumped into their gasoline-only vehicles. Referred to as a "cross drop," where diesel was accidentally put into the unleaded gas storage tanks and unleaded gasoline was put into the diesel storage tanks, officials from Circle K responded that this was the case at the storied gas station.

According to Circle K representatives per news sources currently following the story:

"At Circle K, we guarantee and stand by the quality of our fuels. However, issues sometimes arise, and customers should report them as soon as possible to us for review by our claims department. The car troubles experienced by some customers who purchased fuel at our location in Avon on January 19 resulted from fuels being delivered inadvertently into the wrong underground storage tanks. As soon as we became aware of the situation, we shut down fuel pumps at this location. We apologize to any customers affected by this issue, and we are working to assist them with their claims. In the meantime, we have removed and replaced the fuel in the affected storage tanks, and our pumps are once again operational. Customers whose vehicles may have been impacted at this location may contact Circle K Customer Service toll-free at 1-855-276-1947. We will help them through the claims process, including the necessary documentation. After reviewing and verifying the claim, we'll reimburse customers for any repairs or associated costs related to this issue."

―Circle K spokesperson

The owner of the 2022 Jeep Wagoneer is seeking reimbursement of repairs that will cost him $1,100, plus the costs of renting a car and the tow.

While Circle K's statement is reassuring, more problems may develop as the numbers are expected to rise. The gas station is predicted to have had a significant number of customers over the busy weekend when the fuel was cross dropped.

One of these problems is unscrupulous car owners who may attempt to take advantage of the incident to file false claims and scam Circle K out of thousands of dollars.

However, if Circle K officials decide that all claimants must provide proof of purchasing fuel from the gas station during the period when diesel was in the gas pumps and fed into the cars of unsuspecting owners, this would affect not just Circle K but true claimants as well.

That proof would typically be your credit card receipt provided at the pump after the transaction was completed.

And therein lies the problem:

1. Not everyone prints out a receipt after refueling their vehicle.
2. Oftentimes, gas pumps fail to print a receipt, and car owners skip asking for one inside the gas station because it is inconvenient.
3. Many people pay with cash at the register before pumping the gas and might not ask for a receipt.

While practically any credit card transaction should be made available afterward, this might not always be simple and could delay repairs and payments and cause even further personal and legal discord.

For a take on one lawyer's experience with fuel problems at gas stations, here is a Steve Lehto YouTube channel episode released today. It discusses the can of worms these kinds of incidences incur and why it is a good idea to always have a receipt following any service involving your vehicle.

Gas Station Fuel Mix-Up Damages at Least 14 Vehicles

For additional articles related to fuel and your car, here are two recommendations for your consideration:

1. Automotive Expert Explains Why Car Owners Should Not Use E10 Fuel
2. How 85 Octane Fuel Can Destroy Your Engine And Void Your Warranty

Timothy Boyer is an automotive reporter based in Cincinnati who currently researches and works on restoring older vehicles with engine modifications for improved performance. He also reports on modern cars (including EVs) with a focus on DIY mechanics, buying and using tools, and other related topical automotive repair news. Follow Tim on Twitter at @TimBoyerWrites as well as on Facebook and his automotive blog "Zen and the Art of DIY Car Repair" for useful daily news and topics related to new and used cars and trucks.

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