Bad gas

Lakesrider · 10-12-2010, 07:11 PM

One thing I always remind my wife of is to NEVER gas up at ANY gas station that has a delivery truck at it. When the delivery is made it makes all of the water and sediment stir up. There are supposed to be filters in the pumps. Now how often do you think those get cleaned? Yep Once a year.
I also tell my wife to always buy from the pump closest to the tanks. If you are buying premium.
One other thing If you believe you got water in your tank from their tanks, You are within your rights to have them do a stick test of the tank. Any reputable gas station will have a stick that they smear a paste onto. They put the stick into the tank. If there is water the paste will change color. If the paste changes color, You can get your refund or let them know you will be letting the division of standards know. Yes the same people that calibrate the pumps.
That in mind...cars today are notorious for computer malfunctions. My '06 Rav4 has 27 different computers. On winter mornings I had a hard time getting the thing to run and it would do what yours did. Several lights came on. even the traction control light. What would that have to do with the engine...who knows. Looks like you in for some fun at the dealers...

hancoveguy · 10-13-2010, 03:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lakesrider

One thing I always remind my wife of is to NEVER gas up at ANY gas station that has a delivery truck at it. When the delivery is made it makes all of the water and sediment stir up. There are supposed to be filters in the pumps. Now how often do you think those get cleaned? Yep Once a year.
I also tell my wife to always buy from the pump closest to the tanks. If you are buying premium.
One other thing If you believe you got water in your tank from their tanks, You are within your rights to have them do a stick test of the tank. Any reputable gas station will have a stick that they smear a paste onto. They put the stick into the tank. If there is water the paste will change color. If the paste changes color, You can get your refund or let them know you will be letting the division of standards know. Yes the same people that calibrate the pumps.
That in mind...cars today are notorious for computer malfunctions. My '06 Rav4 has 27 different computers. On winter mornings I had a hard time getting the thing to run and it would do what yours did. Several lights came on. even the traction control light. What would that have to do with the engine...who knows. Looks like you in for some fun at the dealers...

As I have posted here before... I have hauled gas in bulk for many many years. I have loaded from almost every wholesaler in New England (Mobil, Valero, Irving, Shell etc) and delivered to hundreds of stations as well as pumping out (removing gas) from quite a few as well. The theory that you shouldn't get gas at a station when the truck is delivering is unfounded. the tanks are so big (in excess of 10k gallons usually) and the filtration systems are so closely monitored and regulated that it makes no difference if there is a truck delivering or not.

As far as water is concerned... there is an acceptable amount of water allowed in a tank before the company is required to remove it. In non ethanol stations it is not uncommon to have 2" of gas on the bottom of the tank. This will not effect the gas dispensed because the stem that feeds the pumps sits several inches off the bottom. The same is true for ethanol stations (99% of gas stations in New Hampshire and Mass) except the amount of allowable water is much much less because water/condensation in ethanol gas causes phase separation in the gas which chemically changes the compound from gas to a varnish like substance. This means different paste for the stick and a different level of filtration. As far as the gas at Murphy's goes... I fuel their almost exclusively and I have never had a problem but that is not to say that the original poster didn't have a water problem as a result of Murphy's gas. It sounds rather probable to me that something went wrong during the changeover and too much water got into the gas. If it was me I would pursue the matter with the station.

My .02 cents
HCG

secondcurve · 10-13-2010, 06:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lakesrider

One thing I always remind my wife of is to NEVER gas up at ANY gas station that has a delivery truck at it. When the delivery is made it makes all of the water and sediment stir up. There are supposed to be filters in the pumps. Now how often do you think those get cleaned? Yep Once a year.
I also tell my wife to always buy from the pump closest to the tanks. If you are buying premium.
One other thing If you believe you got water in your tank from their tanks, You are within your rights to have them do a stick test of the tank. Any reputable gas station will have a stick that they smear a paste onto. They put the stick into the tank. If there is water the paste will change color. If the paste changes color, You can get your refund or let them know you will be letting the division of standards know. Yes the same people that calibrate the pumps.
That in mind...cars today are notorious for computer malfunctions. My '06 Rav4 has 27 different computers. On winter mornings I had a hard time getting the thing to run and it would do what yours did. Several lights came on. even the traction control light. What would that have to do with the engine...who knows. Looks like you in for some fun at the dealers...

Lakesider:

Hopefully, your wife will be able to grasp your advice soon. Keep reminding her. Your post makes it sound like she is a real slow top.

Lakesrider · 10-13-2010, 09:00 AM

Actually she is quite smart, just not good with car mechanical stuff....

RI Swamp Yankee · 10-13-2010, 09:25 AM

Formula,
Could she have filled with the wrong fuel? It seems they now have diesel where they didn't before. People will often pull up to "the same old pump" which may now be the diesel pump. A station near me has 2 double sided pumps on each island, 4 islands (4 cars per island) and one pump in one island is diesel. I have seen cars pull up to the wrong pump. Someone usually stops them before they get the wrong fuel. The owner did put an added sign to warn "diesel only" but that doesn't stop everybody.

Woodsy · 10-13-2010, 09:59 AM

The diesel nozzle is MUCH larger than a gasoline nozzle.... the diesel nozzle will not fit into a gasoline only tank....

My guess is its bad gas.... the new Cumby's in the Weirs had an issue last year and made it right by covering the costs of the repairs. (at least thats what the LaSun article at the time stated)

Woodsy

NoBozo · 10-13-2010, 10:20 AM

The Pump Nozzle for Diesel fuel is usually "Clad" with a GREEN rubber protector boot. Gasoline nozzles are "Clad" with BLACK rubber.

NB

Mr. V · 10-13-2010, 09:28 AM

I got a load of bad gas one time, and the problem became evident not immediately, but about five or so miles down the road.

Got towed back to the small town I was visiting and left the car with a mechanic, who discovered a lot of water.

I'd just fueled up at a local station, and had a receipt.

With my receipt and the repair invoice from the mechanic I had little difficulty persuading the insurance carrier of the gas station to settle up with me for all of my damages caused by the bad gas, both actual and consequential.

As with most things in life, remember these two important words: "Just ask."

10-13-2010, 09:25 AM	#5
RI Swamp Yankee Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: North Kingstown RI Posts: 688 Thanks: 143 Thanked 83 Times in 55 Posts	Formula, Could she have filled with the wrong fuel? It seems they now have diesel where they didn't before. People will often pull up to "the same old pump" which may now be the diesel pump. A station near me has 2 double sided pumps on each island, 4 islands (4 cars per island) and one pump in one island is diesel. I have seen cars pull up to the wrong pump. Someone usually stops them before they get the wrong fuel. The owner did put an added sign to warn "diesel only" but that doesn't stop everybody. __________________ Gene ~ aka "another RI Swamp Yankee"

10-13-2010, 09:59 AM	#6
Woodsy Senior Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Weirs Beach Posts: 1,965 Thanks: 80 Thanked 980 Times in 440 Posts	The diesel nozzle is MUCH larger than a gasoline nozzle.... the diesel nozzle will not fit into a gasoline only tank.... My guess is its bad gas.... the new Cumby's in the Weirs had an issue last year and made it right by covering the costs of the repairs. (at least thats what the LaSun article at the time stated) Woodsy __________________ The only way to eliminate ignorant behavior is through education. You can't fix stupid.

10-12-2010, 07:11 PM	#1
Lakesrider Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 2,129 Thanks: 380 Thanked 1,016 Times in 345 Posts	One thing I always remind my wife of is to NEVER gas up at ANY gas station that has a delivery truck at it. When the delivery is made it makes all of the water and sediment stir up. There are supposed to be filters in the pumps. Now how often do you think those get cleaned? Yep Once a year. I also tell my wife to always buy from the pump closest to the tanks. If you are buying premium. One other thing If you believe you got water in your tank from their tanks, You are within your rights to have them do a stick test of the tank. Any reputable gas station will have a stick that they smear a paste onto. They put the stick into the tank. If there is water the paste will change color. If the paste changes color, You can get your refund or let them know you will be letting the division of standards know. Yes the same people that calibrate the pumps. That in mind...cars today are notorious for computer malfunctions. My '06 Rav4 has 27 different computers. On winter mornings I had a hard time getting the thing to run and it would do what yours did. Several lights came on. even the traction control light. What would that have to do with the engine...who knows. Looks like you in for some fun at the dealers...

The Following User Says Thank You to hancoveguy For This Useful Post:
Rattlesnake Guy (10-20-2010)

10-13-2010, 09:00 AM	#4
Lakesrider Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 2,129 Thanks: 380 Thanked 1,016 Times in 345 Posts	Actually she is quite smart, just not good with car mechanical stuff....

10-13-2010, 10:20 AM	#7
NoBozo Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Portsmouth. RI Posts: 2,231 Thanks: 400 Thanked 460 Times in 308 Posts	The Pump Nozzle for Diesel fuel is usually "Clad" with a GREEN rubber protector boot. Gasoline nozzles are "Clad" with BLACK rubber. NB

10-13-2010, 09:28 AM	#8
Mr. V Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: the left coast (Portland)and West Alton Posts: 1,395 Thanks: 63 Thanked 256 Times in 174 Posts	I got a load of bad gas one time, and the problem became evident not immediately, but about five or so miles down the road. Got towed back to the small town I was visiting and left the car with a mechanic, who discovered a lot of water. I'd just fueled up at a local station, and had a receipt. With my receipt and the repair invoice from the mechanic I had little difficulty persuading the insurance carrier of the gas station to settle up with me for all of my damages caused by the bad gas, both actual and consequential. As with most things in life, remember these two important words: "Just ask."