Attention: TDR Forum Junkies This last Monday night I filled up with over $50 of Shell premium diesel (whatever that is). About 1. 5 miles from the station my truck started to knock on one cylinder - sounded like the pilot injection was off on one cylinder. The next morning it would barely start - I couldn't tell if it was running on its own or on the starter, but finally it began coughing to life.
Took it to Huffines Dodge in Lewisville, TX and told my service advisor about what had transpired. One of their diesel techs though it might be a loose injector and would check it out. They put a fuel sample in a glass jar which shows that out of a 3" deep sample, the bottom inch is dark brown sludge with "stuff, dirt, junk" settling at the bottom and the top two inches of liquid looks like cloudy Mountain Dew.
$427 to drop the tank, flush the fuel system and injectors and buy 10 gallons of good Dodge dealership diesel.
Lessons learned:
1. ) Never let the tank get below 1/2 full before filling up again.
2. ) Always buy fuel from a station that has lots of diesel turnover.
3. ) The WIF indicator gave no alert.
4. ) Even the BIG fuel companies are only as good as their retail distribution point's quality.
5. ) I'm impressed with my dealership, service advisor, and my tech
6. ) Always keep your fuel receipts.
7. ) Shell stands behind their product and quickly admitted to having a problem at that station. They opened a claim number and have requested the fuel proof-of-purchase, a description of the incident, and the repair bill.
8. ) I would buy a quick-sample test kit to use before a fillup if it were available.
PM me if you work in the Lewisville, TX area and I'll give you the location of the station to avoid.
Took it to Huffines Dodge in Lewisville, TX and told my service advisor about what had transpired. One of their diesel techs though it might be a loose injector and would check it out. They put a fuel sample in a glass jar which shows that out of a 3" deep sample, the bottom inch is dark brown sludge with "stuff, dirt, junk" settling at the bottom and the top two inches of liquid looks like cloudy Mountain Dew.
$427 to drop the tank, flush the fuel system and injectors and buy 10 gallons of good Dodge dealership diesel.
Lessons learned:
1. ) Never let the tank get below 1/2 full before filling up again.
2. ) Always buy fuel from a station that has lots of diesel turnover.
3. ) The WIF indicator gave no alert.
4. ) Even the BIG fuel companies are only as good as their retail distribution point's quality.
5. ) I'm impressed with my dealership, service advisor, and my tech
6. ) Always keep your fuel receipts.
7. ) Shell stands behind their product and quickly admitted to having a problem at that station. They opened a claim number and have requested the fuel proof-of-purchase, a description of the incident, and the repair bill.
8. ) I would buy a quick-sample test kit to use before a fillup if it were available.
PM me if you work in the Lewisville, TX area and I'll give you the location of the station to avoid.
when it is the same stuff. 
