Viewers report problem gas

News 13 viewers around central New Mexico have reported problems after filling up their gas tanks over the past few days.

[KRQE]

Have you noticed vehicle problems after filling-up?

[Rush]

YES! In fact, I have.

[ASHLEY]

THERE HAS BEEN SEVERAL ISSUES WITH THE GAS. I WORK AT A LOCAL DEALERSHIP AND WE HAVE HAD 3 CUSTOMERS WITH THE SAME COMPLAINT THIS MORNING DUE TO THE GAS!

[Chris]

I have filled my truck at Shell and observed smoke
after starting my truck, this has had me wondering if I have a problem with my truck. It first appeared last week on Monday after filling up. The truck is well taken care of and it would not be a problem with the motor.. I guess the gas would be the culprit..

[C Smith]

FYI - Just found from my mechanic that two hundred tankers of bad unleaded fuel were delivered to ABQ and RR yesterday. The fuel is mixed with diesel, and will need to be flushed from the gas tank and engine if you have it. The signs of bad fuel are that the engine is difficult to start when it is cold, and pings when you drive.

Chevron is an independent refinery, and I’ve been told their gas is good. I purchased my gas at Allsups/Chevron at Ridgecrest in RR. Another customer I spoke to purchased her gas at Costco.

[Carl]

I just filled up my F-250 at Phillups 66 on 3/25 in the evening and the next day I had to take my truck in because it was hesitating. They drained my tank and put new fuel in and everything works. Now off to go and collect money from the gas station!!!!

[das]

If gasoline powered vehicles are stalling, hard to start, and smoking, it sounds like Western Refineries pumped diesel fuel into their tanker trucks bound for Shell station's underground gasoline tanks.

Has anyone taken a fuel sample to verify this? Diesel has a distinct odor and is slippery on the hands when compared to gasoline.

[Beverly Hodgson]

Filled up my 2004 Bravada at Costco on Renaissance Blvd. yesterday around 5:00 pm. This morning my car would not continue to run. After starting, it would just die. White smoke was seen coming from tail pipe.

[Craig]

Filled up my motorcycle at the Shell on 528. After limping home last night, I couldn't start my bike this morning. White smoke out the pipes that smells like spent diesel and stalled out when I gave it gas. Call your gas station and get the complaints department. I was able to get them to take care of everything, just had to keep receipts and invoices on the work. Good luck to those who have to get the work done on your vehicle. This smells like a class action lawsuit???

[Craig]

das,
Pretty sure it's diesel in the unleaded. That is what I guested from looking in my tank (thought it was a water/fuel mixture at first) and it was confirmed in a phone call I made to a Brewer Oil Company rep. who said it was Western Refinery problem.

[James]

filled up at the shell station on sarah and rio rancho blvd last night. this morning my car has a hard time starting and smokes heavily. Runs like crap too.

[Costco User]

I filled up at costco and had the same issues stated above. Luckily, they are covering all expenses to have the diesel mix removed from the vehicles.

[Karin]

We just got our gas at Costco on Eubank yesterday, and had the same problems. We called Costco and they have a form to fill out, and then they'll reimburse you for repair costs.

[karin]

I put gas yesterday morning at 1100 old coors and my car broke down .

[Judy]

Filled up our car with unleaded on 3/25 at Phillips 66, 5501 Alameda Blvd at 6:07 pm (have the receipt!) Drove home to East Mtns. This morning, our car "sputtered" and acted like it didn't want to run so we drove our "old beater" to work instead. Can't believe this - diesel mix??? Several co-workers also filled up at this station yesterday & this morning - having car problems also!!!! Definitely the liability of the station and/or the refinery - they have to be held responsible for our car damages!

[NICOLE CRAIG]

I FILLED UP MY JEEP CHEROKEE AT PHILLIPS 66 AT 5501 ALAMEDA ON 3/25 AT 4:30PM. THIS MORNING MY CAR IS SPUTTERING AND DOES NOT WANT TO GO. IT SMOKING BADLY. I HAVE HAD IT LOOKED AT AND WAS TOLD THAT I SHOULD NOT DRIVE IT DUE TO BAD GAS. I NEED TO HAVE THE GAS DRAINED AND MY CAR FLUSHED. I AM A SINGLE MOM WITH THREE KIDS. I WORK FULL TIME AND ATTEND SCHOOL FULL TIME. MY 15 YEAR OLD HAS A JOB THAT SHE HAS TO GET TO. MY 9 YEAR OLD HAS TO GET TO SCHOOL AS WELL. I CANT BELIEVE THIS! A DIESEL MIX??? OTHER COWORKERS ALSO FILLED UP THERE AND ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS. I DONT HAVE THE MONEY TO DROP TO HAVE THIS FIXED BECAUSE OF SOMEONE ELSES MISTAKE. I AM BARELY MAKING IT NOW. I HEAR OTHER PEOPLE TALKING ABOUT CLASS ACTION SUITS AND LAWYERS. I CANT AFFORD THAT. THIS IS A HUGE INCONVENIENCE FOR ME AND MY KIDS!!!!

[Dave Keiss]

I filled up at Costco on Eubank yesterday after work (3/25/08). I was having car problems today so I checked with my mechanic and he said that Costco mistakenly put diesel in the unleaded tank by mistake yesterday. If this happened to you or anyone you know, call Costco to tell them that you purchased gas at their location yesterday. Press 1 when prompted. You will need to tell them your Costco membership number and the make and model of your car. They will tell you to keep any receipts related to the repair of your car (including your gas purchase) and they will reimburse you for those expenses. My mechanic told me not to drive the car if at all possible. The local repair shops are filling up quickly. My mechanic couldn't take me until Monday because he doesn't have enough tanks to pump out the diesel to make the repairs. He has had several cars towed in today.
The person that I talked to at Costco said that the same company that delivered their gas also delivered to several other locations besides Costco before they realized the problem. I just thought that I would give everyone a heads up about this problem. Have a good day.

[Andrew]

Same issue here with fuel from Shell/Allsups in Rio Rancho. Ive been told by a friend/Local shop owner the cars are dropping dead all over town! They just came and towed mine into the shop.

[George]

I got gas at JJ's Country Mart on Hwy47 in Los Lunas and car would hardly run. Today I sucked out some gas and sure as rain its mixed with diesel, very oily with a very faint gas smell and light greenish in color

[Becca]

Is this only unleaded or is it all the gas.