Contaminated Fuel Causes Stalled Engines for North Carolina Drivers

Drivers who recently filled up their tanks at a Circle K in Hillsborough, North Carolina, are now experiencing a myriad of issues due to contaminated fuel, the News of Orange County reports.

The Circle K compiled a list of several pages containing the names of people who filled up their vehicles at the station on Jan. 10 and shortly thereafter experienced problems. Upon an investigation of the gas station’s fuel tanks by field inspectors, they found phase separation, which is caused by water and ethanol mixing.

There are a variety of causes that could be cited for such an error: fuel caps that are inadequately secured, or cracks around the fuel pipes–and while it can often be an easy fix, one driver was faced with enormous damage to her 2003 Ford Focus Wagon after visiting the Circle K.

Jenna Hartley’s Ford began decelerating after filling up its tank, eventually failing to exceed 20 miles an hour before the steering wheel locked up and left her stranded on the interstate. Her father helped her to the closest service center, where seven other vehicles suffered the same fate.

Hartley had to have her fuel system cleaned, the fuel filter and spark plugs replaced, the ignition timing reset, and the fuel pump replaced. Along with additional repairs, she faced a bill amounting close to $1,300.

As Grant Edwards, a technician with Petty’s Garage in Randleman, points out, the problem can often be easily handled–but if left unattended by an unaware driver, it can quickly culminate in serious damage, making it worthwhile to educate drivers on the symptoms of faulty fuel in their vehicles.

“For the most part, it’s a simple fix. Mostly requires replacing contaminated fuel with good fuel,” explained Edwards. “It’ll cause starting and drivability issues if it’s bad enough, though it shouldn’t cause any serious damage unless the bad fuel is left in an older vehicle too long.”