So the Wife Went and Filled Up Her Tank......

[Willers]

Ahhh, I didn't think about the catalytic converter, I suppose that could be damaged by a mix, I don't know (but just read some sites saying it can - in addition to the O2 sensors).



-ERD50

Yeah, it absolutely can. We got one bad tank of gas in our Audi and it took out both the high pressure fuel pump and the catalytic converter. Thankfully the cat was covered under the emissions warranty. The fuel pump was on our dime…very expensive.

 

[RobbieB]

Oh yeah, the cat can be fried easy with an overdose of "fuel"

I arrived at the dealer once to exchange one lease car for another and they left to "gas it up" before I picked it up. When they returned limping in smoke pouring from the car it was obvious I wasn't picking up that day.

When I did a few days later the cause was 3 (out of 6) cylinders not firing and so pumping pure unburned gas-air mix into the hot cat which did what it is supposed to do, burn unburned hydrocarbons. Probably melted in the process.

 

[njhowie]

The repair was nearly $1400 and the Escape runs fine in the aftermath. Unfortunately, the car only had 22k miles on it. The repair (basically a deep cleaning) would have been great maintenance for a high-mileage vehicle! I am going to present the paperwork to the owner next week. If he is unresponsive, I will attempt to contact someone at the oil company, but how do you navigate that? The company is BP.

Start here:
https://www.bp.com/en_us/united-states/home/who-we-are/contact-us.html

For comments or complaints about our gas stations, BPme Rewards, BPme app, offers or promotions in the U.S., please contact us.

Email: bpconsumer@bp.com
Phone: +1 800 333 3991

 

[erkevin]

Thanks njhowie

 

[Texan2]

BP website

Consumers can call us at 1-800-333-3991 to report a problem. Fuel receipt and mechanic’s repair bill are required. We’ll review the claim, and any BP fuel-related repairs will be reimbursed

 

[SonofCohoes]

Your receipt from the gas station (not the Ford dealership) is your proof. That indicates the in-ground tanks were incorrectly filled with diesel. And while BP corporate may in fact end up paying for all this, your transaction was with the station owner so it's his responsibility.

There’s a long list here. BP, the facility where the tanker filled up, the fuel delivery company, the delivery driver and the station owner. Someone needs a good attorney.

 

[njhowie]

There’s a long list here. BP, the facility where the tanker filled up, the fuel delivery company, the delivery driver and the station owner. Someone needs a good attorney.

None of that needs to happen before contacting the company and seeing if they will take care of the reimbursement, assuming station owner does not.

Considering the total is $1400, it's likely not going to pay to have an attorney involved. OP can simply go to small claims court, present what evidence he currently has, and likely get judgement in his favor.

 

[COcheesehead]

None of that needs to happen before contacting the company and seeing if they will take care of the reimbursement, assuming station owner does not.

Considering the total is $1400, it's likely not going to pay to have an attorney involved. OP can simply go to small claims court, present what evidence he currently has, and likely get judgement in his favor.

And then they just have to collect after the judgement.

 

[njhowie]

And then they just have to collect after the judgement.

I have a feeling that if OP doesn't get anywhere with the station owner, that the corporate contact will work with him. I cannot believe this is an isolated incident, and stuff like this happens time to time. They likely have insurance to cover it.

A few years back, DW was driving behind a dump truck and a rock flew off and broke her windshield. DD quickly snapped a picture of the back of the truck and the company phone number. They directed us to their insurance company and they took care of the reimbursement for replacement.

 

[erkevin]

OP here: I called BP customer service number (thanks Texan2) and was surprised to be immediately connected with a human (expected telephone menu hell). They were very helpful, took my specific info and are sending me an email to file a claim. We will see.

 

[jollystomper]

OP here: I called BP customer service number (thanks Texan2) and was surprised to be immediately connected with a human (expected telephone menu hell). They were very helpful, took my specific info and are sending me an email to file a claim. We will see.

That is great news! In my experience an outfit that gets you quickly to a real person when you have an issue is much more likely to treat you fairly. Good luck.

 

[Walt34]

OP here: I called BP customer service number (thanks Texan2) and was surprised to be immediately connected with a human (expected telephone menu hell). They were very helpful, took my specific info and are sending me an email to file a claim. We will see.

Please do post a follow-up about what happened. As jollystomper noted that sounds like grounds for cautious optimism.

 

[jazz4cash]

I am thinking the tanker delivery company is responsible. Usually an independent company delivers fuel to the station. Around here you never see a Shell or Exxon tanker but Sunoco runs their own fleet. Color coded caps identify various grades. It could be possible to mix up the color coded caps to the underground tanks. It’s great that BP seems to be stepping up and not pointing fingers. It’s the best approach for them to consolidate the claims, make it right for the customer and pursue the responsible party.

 

[Breedlove]

The product probably didn’t come direct from BP . The station gets his fuel from the rack . Then you find the rack guy who delivered o that day . The station should have a manifest . Go to the rack and explain , they will work with you .There will be others with your problem. I think the delivery guy messed up.

 

[HenryD]

I think you might live close to my youngest DD...Northern Suburb of MSP?


It was a brand new loves station just 10 minutes from her house. Luckily she did not buy fuel.

Yes, that was it. I was surprised at how responsive they were, but it was obviously their fault.

 

[erkevin]

I received the claim email from BP this morning. The documentation required is pretty standard and reasonable; all to be returned via email. I have little doubt that BP will honor the claim and reimburse us.

 

[ncbill]

Threads like this are why I now only buy gasoline at stations that do not offer diesel.

 

[Sunset]

Threads like this are why I now only buy gasoline at stations that do not offer diesel.

I've been nervous/wondering when I fill up at a pump that has both diesel and gas available, don't really know any that only offer gas that I've noticed.

 

[erkevin]

Docs have been sent: Personal statement, fuel receipt (cc receipt from cc website), repair bill, repair bill payment receipt. States up to 45 days for resolution.

 

[RunningBum]

Threads like this are why I now only buy gasoline at stations that do not offer diesel.

It's taught me to take the receipt every time. I stopped bothering a few years ago. Just a waste of paper and time. Now I'll take it and toss it in recycling when I get home. I should know if it's there's a problem by then.

 

[CardsFan]

It's taught me to take the receipt every time. I stopped bothering a few years ago. Just a waste of paper and time. Now I'll take it and toss it in recycling when I get home. I should know if it's there's a problem by then.

^^^This. I normally do take a reciept, but if the pump says go inside for it, I usually don't. Now, I will.

 

[MichealKnight]

True, But

Your transaction was with the station owner not the deep pocket oil company. They are responsible for the product they sell. Personal pet peeve with small business owners.

Many times if something bad happens at a McDonalds or Dominos - even if its an individually owned franchise - corporate gets involved if it goes public.

I owned a business that was franchised - - I owned it 100% - but in the end, yes I had corporate overlords. A few times - even if I follow the CORPORATE warranty policy to the letter of their law....if the customer raised enough hell with the right corporate person - - all of a sudden their corporate rules got put aside. (If it was a loyal customer - far be it from me to coach the customer on who exactly to contact at corporate, what to say, and what to threaten

 

[Sunset]

It's taught me to take the receipt every time. I stopped bothering a few years ago. Just a waste of paper and time. Now I'll take it and toss it in recycling when I get home. I should know if it's there's a problem by then.

I've always taken the receipt, because of the rare few cases I've read, where a person fills up and drives off. Police are called because the station thinks they didn't pay. It would have been much better for some of those folks if they had a receipt to show when stopped !

^^^This. I normally do take a reciept, but if the pump says go inside for it, I usually don't. Now, I will.

When this happens to me and I don't want to go inside, I take a photo of the pump - probably not as good as a receipt, so maybe I'll go inside now and tell the lazy person to put paper in the machine...

 

[ExFlyBoy5]

Please do post a follow-up about what happened. As jollystomper noted that sounds like grounds for cautious optimism.

It happens often enough that the claim will most surely be taken care of quickly. I had an oil leak issue when the local Valvoline place installed the filter wrong and well...my garage had a large puddle of oil on the floor. I contacted the store who put me in touch with the regional manager who sent me to Valvoline corporate. I told them I would be towing the vehicle to the dealership for corrective action and that I wanted a commercial service to clean the garage floor. They agreed to all of my claim and I had a check from them in about 2 weeks. I didn't even have to tell 'em I was an attorney.

 

[erkevin]

I received a call from a BP representative on Thursday; they are going to honor my claim and are issuing a check. Thank you everyone.