Grrrrr - bad load of fuel

[Steve St.Laurent]

Well I got my first bad load of fuel this weekend #ad
. I put 19 gallons in at a Shell station and within 2 miles of leaving the place the truck started hesitating and I checked my fuel pressures - 2 psi differential across the filter whereas I had none before the fill up. I drained some fuel out of the water seperator and it ran ok for a little while then started hesitating again. I stopped back by the station on my way back home and got the managers phone number and let them know about the situation. I changed my fuel filter that night and had no restriction across the filter after getting the engine going again. Within 2 miles I had a 2 psi restriction again! Talked with Dave's Diesel (a GLTDR supporter and where I was on Saturday for their grand opening) and with their advice it looks like I've got algae or bugs in the fuel (there is a sulfur smell and the fuel is brown). They recommended draining the fuel out of the tank by running the engine and opening the drain valve to pump most of the fuel out of it, then once the tank is down close to empty to turn off the engine and bump the starter to just run the lift pump and get the rest out. Then put in fresh fuel, treat it with a biocide, and a double dose of stanadyne fuel treatment and change the filter again. I'm going to be doing all that in about an hour here.

Now the bad part - talked with the fuel supplier and they say they pumped 450 gallons this weekend and noone else has complained so they don't want to do anything. I'm going to send in a sample of the fuel I drain out tonight and send it in for an analysis and will go back to them with those results. Anyone have any other ideas on how to deal with them? Thanks in advance!



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-Steve St. Laurent - President of the Great Lakes TDR
'98 QC LB (CMNSPWR), 4x4, ISB, 5sp, 4. 10 LSD, TST Powermax3, 275hp RV injectors, Joe Donnelly modifed Sachs Clutch, SS ladder bars, SW fuel pressure gauge, BD exhaust brake, Isspro turbo temp monitor, front Draw-Tite receiver, rear Draw-Tite class V receiver, BFG 285/75R16 AT KO's, (all the common stuff clipped)

 

[EMDDIESEL]

Definatley get a sample anylyzed and bring it them. Tell them you will call Shell headquarters and the BBB if they dont deal with this properly. If they know you mean it, they may do something. Also, hopefully others will have a similar problems and come back and complain too.
OR: Once you get your Ram running right again, drive it THROUGH the office.
That should get there attention.

 

[illflem]

Or pour the drained off diesel in their office.

 

[Steve St.Laurent]

Once you get your Ram running right again, drive it THROUGH the office.
That should get there attention.

EMDDIESEL - are you sure you're not one of my brothers (GLTDR)? That sounds like something one of us would come up with!! Your post gave me an idea though - if it comes down to it I'll bet I could come up with enough GLTDR members to completely fill their parking lot so noone could fill up and I could stand there with a big sign that says "this station sold bad diesel fuel and won't stand behind it!" Shut em down for an entire Saturday while we sit around and BS. If it comes down to it I think I'll threaten that!! Thanks for the idea! #ad


-Steve

 

[EMDDIESEL]

HELL YEAH!!, get a few dozen Turbo Rams to drive around the office like in the movie "Maximum overdrive" and shut the whole place down. Dont leave untill they get on there knees and BEG you. If you have never seen that movie, go rent it now!

 

[gitchesum]

Originally posted by EMDDIESEL:
HELL YEAH!!, get a few dozen Turbo Rams to drive around the office like in the movie "Maximum overdrive" and shut the whole place down. Dont leave untill they get on there knees and BEG you. If you have never seen that movie, go rent it now!

"Are ya Dead Curtis?" that's my favorite line.



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Curtis Harris
1997 3500 Club Cab
"CASPER"
Check out the Lone Star TDR

 

[Steve St.Laurent]

I just got done for tonight, drained the entire tank until it was dry, refilled it with premium diesel. I put 36 gallons into my 34 gallon tank, btw - and after pulling 5 gallons into it from a can (the rest was 5 miles down the road) my gauge was still WELL below the E mark. Treated it with a shock treatment of biocide (1. 7 ounces for 34 gallons), and a double dose of Stanadyne performance formula. After all of that and then changing the fuel filter YET AGAIN and driving 15 miles I saw no hesitation but at the end of it saw a 1 psi restriction again (0 psi up till that point) - looks like one more fuel filter change and hopefully I'll be done with this episode other than recouping my costs! I'm just REALLY glad I had my fuel pressure gauge on the truck and was able to read pre and post filter pressures! Without that data and having changed the filter 3 times now (4 times total when I change it again in a couple of days) I would have been second guessing myself big time! I'll be VERY interested to hear the suppliers thoughts tomorrow and I'm sure he'll be VERY surprised to hear my response back if I don't like what I hear! I never thought I'd have to deal with bad fuel (it ALWAYS happens to the other guy, right?) but I've learned my lesson - truck stops only from now on period, I may even buy a bigger tank to be sure I can always buy at a truck stop.

-Steve

 

[illflem]

When traveling in Mexico I carried a very fine mesh paint strainer bag in a glass jar, placed it over the fill nozzle while filling. Only caught a bunch of crud twice but it was well worth it.

 

[Andy Perreault]

If you talk to these people in person, bring the last TDR with you and a printout of some pages off this website. Open the page to the article you wrote or to where it lists the staff members, and say, "I think you should know that I write for a magazine for Dodge diesel owners, there are xx,xxx* subscribers, and they will all know about your business practices. Already over 7,000 know about this incident from my report on the website. " Mention the GLTDR, too, and how you will make sure every diesel (Ford & Chevy, too) owner in town will know not to buy fuel at that place.
It's situations like this where we diesel owners, regardless of our brand preference, need to band together to help each other. We like our Dodges, and they like their Fords and GMC's/Chevys, but we're ALL diesel owners. I would like to think that our rivalry is a friendly one and we'd all come to each other's aid to fight a common enemy.
Just MHO.
Andy
(* see if you can get the latest number of members from Robin or Robert Patton)

 

[americana]

civil disobediance!!! i love it. i wish i was closer! documentation like what you've got is great in small claims court. i beat chrysler on my jeep paint. in the last few years i make sure i make a point of bad and good service. things won't change unless people know they are giving bad or good service.

fight the power!!

 

[Dr.Evil]

Andy P. - BAD fuel screws up a PSD or a GM every bit as bad as a CTD. The Station Manager Has a problem! As Steve found out it costs BIG $$$$ to fix the algea problem. Combine That with the fact that no one will buy fuel from him again at least for a LONG time, He's probably trying to cut His losses. The fact He sold 450 gal. to others proves nothing. I think It's only fair to other TDR members to post Specifics about the dealer & station. Show the manager the cost of poor Customer Service!
DENNY... ... ... .....

 

[BillH]

What a bummer Steve, but count me in as one GLTDR member who will help fill their lot, wherever it is.

Bill

 

[Steve St.Laurent]

Thanks Bill, I'll keep you guys up to date on it. I don't have any problem posting the station - it's the Shell station in Charlotte, MI right on M-50 downtown. So far so good with the fix, talked with Dave's Diesel again this morning and he said I'll probably go through two or three more fuel filters before I'm done - sure am glad to have had their advice through this. One positive thing I've gotten out of it is I have the fuel filter change down to about 10 minutes #ad
- if I didn't laugh about it I'd probably cry!

-Steve

 

[Okie-Go]

I had the same problem about 3 years ago. Night before opening weekend of deer season. I got so much water in mine the engine quit running. Called a wrecker and sister in law, took truck to dealer and sure enough,full of water. I took the jar to the station and showed it the the cashier. by this time they had checked for water and shut the pumps down. Didn't want to pay cause no-one else had complained,but they shut down the pumps. It cost me 800. 00 for the truck to get right again. Had to drain tank and clean lines all the way to the pump. After this I made a sign and took the jar of colored water that was supposed to be diesel up there and told them if I didn't hear from Diamond Shamrock as to when I get my money back I was going to walk around the parking lot telling everyone about the water in the fuel while carrying a sign. My sign read Are you thirsty? Buy some diesel, it's got lots of water in it!!!! Got my money the next morning at 8:00.

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2001 quadcab slt 2500 HO 6spd. LWB,2wd,dk garnett red, trailer tow package,camper special, lock-right locker, 3. 54 gears,ez edge, speed liner,oversized stainless steel chicken slide,66 gallon in bed aux. tank,K&N air filter,Reese 20k hitch, Terry 2000 EX 30ft. double slide 5er, 2000 20ft gooseneck for haulin jeep, firewood and huntin stuff. 5X12 tagalong for haulin the 4 wheeler. Okie Newton

 

[samb]

Steve;
You might want to clean your pre screen fuel filter also because it could be pretty well gloded up to.

Sam B.

 

[Hammer]

Had a similar problem with a station here in my area as well Steve,,After having the contaminated fuel tested and papers in hand I went to the shop owner(it was a Citgo) and was told by him promptly things I can not type here,,A trip to local better business bureau and my attorney's,then a trip to court not only got my fuel money back,but,all incured costs(tow bill,parts and labor),,After meeting with the owner in court and his crappy attitude he got what he deserved,,The best part is,since this is a truck stop also and I do drive truck,CB radio word of mouth will kill his business and I'll warn everybody of this dump,,Word of mouth has killed many a business and I certainly hope this is one that goes down,,So if its trucks around the lot,signs and all warning of this fly-by-nite business,ITS TIME TO DON THE WAR BONNET AND JOIN THE PARADE!!!!!,,COUNT ME IN!!!!!!! #ad


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98, Flame Red, Quad Cab, 2500, 4x4, 5spd, Autometer and Cyberdyne gauges,Edelbrock Performer IAS shocks,TST#10 plate,16cm housing, B-D Exhaust Brake,Timing Advanced,K&N,Totally Amsoiled,Cat Muffler and Silencer ring ALL M. I. A. ,A BOMBING IN THE PROCESS!!

 

[illflem]

I've noticed when I've gone into stations while the pumps are being serviced that they have a large canister type filter inside them. Don't know how fine the filter is, it might be there just to protect the pump. Makes me wonder if the pump where Steve filled up hadn't had the filter changed in quite some time and the media fell apart giving him all the crud, still the stations fault though. It could be why Steve was the only one that got major contamination that day (so they say), hence no other complaints. Wrong place at the wrong time. Probably could tell if you found pieces of filter on the pickup screen in the tank. Just an idea.

[This message has been edited by illflem (edited 05-08-2001). ]

 

[lgibson]

If no one else had the problem it may be that you got fuel after they just filled the tank. I got a bad tank in my CJ-5 that I had to rebuild the carb. and take the tank out to clean it. I had to do this because they just filled their tanks and got the junk stired up in there tanks. I now ask when they last filled the tanks. If it has been filled within 2 hours I go somewhere else.

 

[Steve St.Laurent]

Good news to report - put 70 miles on the truck today with no misses or hesitation #ad
. I have a 1 psi restriction across the filter right now which is well within specs but I'm going to change it out once more in a week or two to get the last of the crud out. It think I'm going to add the biocide to the next couple of tankfulls too just to be sure. The station does have filters on the tanks but they didn't say when the last time they changed them was. I asked when they had been filled last and it was over 24 hours before I filled up. I left them a message today letting them know it was definately there fault and that the truck was running fine again and to call me so we can figure out how to remedy the situation by reimbursing me for my expenses. $290 in parts, supplies, and fuel plus about 7 hours of my time - I'll settle for $710 from them - if they aren't willing I'll be asking for your guys help (I'll pay for your fuel #ad
)!

-Steve

 

[Lukocs]

Just to note: When finish fueling, get recipt would sometime be handy.
A case of my friend, who was fueling unlead
gasoline on his Dodge lease truck. When
he finished fueling and get recipt. Then off
driving ride to home was doing speedy, and about 1/2 way middle on road. Start to shudder, water reading gauge turn to
very hot, he keep driving till it stop dead.
Just hopefully it make it home, but find it
died at middle of road. So he called towing
truck to tow it to Dodge dealer. His truck is
lease truck. #ad
But he forgot something.
When Dodge doing checking engine found that
the engine is pretty bad damage, and find out that
his fuel tank is diesel. And dealer
want have him to sign for repairs work
and he is reponsible for replace new engine not cover by warranty work. #ad

He refuse to sign. He has recipt to show dealer that he putting unlead gasoline in
his truck. And the Dodge dealer calling to Pet Canada station to find out who responible for engine repairs, at first they (Pet Canada) refused
for doing repairs work. Pet Canada station
checking sample from unlead gasoline storage tank from underground. And what is inside, it is diesel into gasoline storage tank. Must be some idot trucker dreaming baby girl in dreaming, #ad
and put diesel in
wrong storage. Then finally Pet Canada admit
they going take responible for cost to replace new
engine. Just on other hand if he doesn't take recipt when finish fueling, ouch #ad
$$$



[This message has been edited by Lukocs (edited 05-08-2001). ]