Water in Diesel Fuel from Flying J Pilot Knoxville, Tn

[Star_Gazer]

Hi All,

I just returned a day late after having my fuel tank removed, drained, new pump, and new sending unit. Tech found plenty of water in my tank, as in a couple gallons.

Long story but I need opinions and will try just giving facts.

I pulled in to this place Saturday evening after driving 300+ miles with no issues. Next morning I top off with 19.6 gals, about 1/2 of tank, in the RV lane. Get on the road right away, and stall out 25 miles up the road. Drain lots of water our to seperator. Had to get towed.

Was on Sunday so they towed me, and my Casita to a pep boys where I was hoping filter change would help. No luck. Yesterday morning I was towed to the local Ford Dealer.

Spent all day there while they did their job. He showed me the pumped out fuel and water, locked up pump, sender, etc.. Filled a gallon jug with the fuel out of the fuel rail and line(?), it had about 1"+ of water in the bottom. He said the rest of the tank had about the same %. This was well above the intake line of the sending unit. Had some junk and crud in the tank but he said normal for this age of truck and had nothing to do with the water issue.

This is about the extent of my knowledge of how these things work.

I called the corp office of this well known company and started a complaint. I actually called the store immediately after I broke down along the hwy the day before too. They researched the time and pump according to my receipt. After a couple hours they called me back and said they indicated no water was was saying my water problem did not come from them. I called back and talked to someone else, they said the same thing. Not their fault even after I explained I drove in with no issues at all.

This corp office just happened to be 1 mile from this large Ford Dealer and I offered to bring a sample, they said don't bother as the front doors are locked! Seriously he did say that! At that point I hung up and made a factual post to their facebook page. Soon after someone from there wanted my contact information but I have heard nothing yet.

I want to give them an opportunity to do what I think is right before I publicly put the name out. Hope they do but after getting blown off by 2 customer reps on the phone I doubt it.

So they said if I had bad fuel I would have not even been able to drive off the lot even. However I had half a tank of good stuff, plus what was already in the fuel system. The gal jug showed that it holds about that so I know I had at least that much clean fuel. Then it probably took a few minutes for the contaminated fuel to mix with the good stuff too, and the water to sink, fill up my seperator, and stall me out? So driving 25 miles seems likely? I am only guessing as I am not a mechanic.

Before I left on this trip, which was about 1200 miles so far, I drained the seperator, and used Sea Foam in the tank. Always do this before a trip, or when letting the truck sit between trips.

So anyone care to comment? Do I have a right to complain and get some help from them? After counting my towing, repair, new fuel, I have over $2500 in this experience. Not even counting my lost day of work yesterday.

Thanks for listening.

Dean

[Star_Gazer]

Chris Bryant wrote:

Star Gazer wrote:
He certainly did not bring up the fact that a contractor had drilled a hole in a tank a few weeks earlier and got water in the tank. When I mentioned that he said it was taken care of and had nothing to do with my situation.

My friendly tow truck driver said they got a few tows from that 😉

Why didn't you mention this in the first post?

Trying to keep to the facts of my case. They do seem to have a reputation in the area from what I could tell.

[Star_Gazer]

Thanks Hawk, I'll check with my company insurance agent.

Dean

Done, they took my info and an adjustor will be getting all my paperwork to look into it.

Thanks for the tip.

[Chris_Bryant]

Star Gazer wrote:
He certainly did not bring up the fact that a contractor had drilled a hole in a tank a few weeks earlier and got water in the tank. When I mentioned that he said it was taken care of and had nothing to do with my situation.

My friendly tow truck driver said they got a few tows from that 😉

Why didn't you mention this in the first post?

[hawkhill]

Had something similar happen to mine. There should be a form that you can complete to file your WIF complaint with the main corporate office. If you have comprehensive coverage on your truck, you can file a claim on your insurance. Submit to them a copy of the compliant form, receipt for diesel fuel that caused the issue, and Ford repair invoice. They will typically pay the claim and then pursue the station. If you don't have comprehensive coverage, your only alternative is to find an attorney to pursue the issue. It is a long and difficult process that way with no guaranteed resolution.

[midnightsadie]

I would not drop this , in my opinion you got the water from the station, absolutly everything in writing, and go get them ,you are not the only one .

[Dave_H_M]

Man what happened to you sucks.

I was thinking (and that is dangerous) about some things that says Morphy's law got you.

I noticed you have a 2000 ford in the sig. My 99 WIF light would have come on just as soon as there was enough water in the filter bowl to make the contact. Also, something seems to be amiss with the filtration system at the station.

Good luck.

as stated before I would turn it over to the insurance company if possible

[Star_Gazer]

He certainly did not bring up the fact that a contractor had drilled a hole in a tank a few weeks earlier and got water in the tank. When I mentioned that he said it was taken care of and had nothing to do with my situation.

My friendly tow truck driver said they got a few tows from that 😉

[mockturtle]

They said the monitoring system showed no water in their system. Said they pumped 4000 gals out of that tank on Sunday and no one else reported a problem.

Have you ever known a business to admit to prior complaints? A Google search might turn something up.

[Star_Gazer]

RJsfishin wrote:
Maybe not so sure about the whole thing ?? 2 gallons of water in 19 gallons of fuel ? A bit much to believe ??

Can't explain it either, obviously enough to go over the draw tube and pull mostly water. Just going from what the dealer said, and showed me. I suppose there could have been a small amount in the bottom before getting there but no signs.

A couple tanks earlier I had gone down to about 34 gals before I filled up. No problems then when I got it low in the tank. Filled up next at a BP, then a Marathon. Both looked well run and busy. I don't stop a junky looking places to avoid poor quality.

Sure wished I had used this brand the whole trip but not always where, and when you need them. When I spend the night at one I always buy their fuel.

[Star_Gazer]

Corp headquarters in Knoxville, Tn. FJ Truck Stop was on I40/I75 #369 Funny how I ended up at a Ford Dealer just a mile away.

They said the monitoring system showed no water in their system. Said they pumped 4000 gals out of that tank on Sunday and no one else reported a problem. But someone has to be the first, and I filled up very early if that makes a difference.

They acted like I was trying to scam them. Yea like I put a water in my fuel on purpose????

Tow truck driver said it happens all the time, and not only at this particular station.

While waiting at the dealership I talked with many locals and was surprised at how some felt about this company. I had never had a problem over about 8 years of stopping there myself.

Dean

[RJsfishin]

Maybe not so sure about the whole thing ?? 2 gallons of water in 19 gallons of fuel ? A bit much to believe ??

[2oldman]

It might be helpful to others to know which place this is.

I don't know a lot about water in fuel, but it's hard to imagine you were the only one.

[NeverHome2]

Star Gazer wrote:

So they said if I had bad fuel I would have not even been able to drive off the lot even. However I had half a tank of good stuff, plus what was already in the fuel system. The gal jug showed that it holds about that so I know I had at least that much clean fuel. Then it probably took a few minutes for the contaminated fuel to mix with the good stuff too, and the water to sink, fill up my seperator, and stall me out? So driving 25 miles seems likely? I am only guessing as I am not a mechanic.

They have it wrong. While pumping fuel you are mixing the old with the new. As you drive away, the water & fuel are still mixed and the fuel separator would still be able to handle the water because of the lower concentration of water per gallon. As you drive down the road (maybe 25 miles) the water would begin to settle to the bottom. Then the problems begin.

I am wondering if you could work with the station manager and/or corporate to be there when they test the water level in their underground tank. I think they are supposed to do that on a regular basis.

[Star_Gazer]

The mechanic said there was no way I would have made it there with near that much water in my tank.

Not a mechanic but sounds hard to believe it was not from the top off at their pump.

Thanks

[bgum]

If it was their fuel you won't be the only one and if so you have every right to expect them to fix the problem.