Community Chat

[Duckncover]

Wanted to alert those who may be looking to save some money buying their gas at some discount convenience store-type places...in our area there have been numerous problems at the QT and RaceTrac gas stations with them diluting their gas with methanol, ethanol,  and even plain alcohol. One driver had an immediate problem with her car after filling up at QT and took her car to her dealer...they found only 25% in her tank was actual gasoline...the rest was alcohol!  She contacted QT and they actually have a Bad Gas department where you file a claim....she was told she didnt put her gas cap back on properly so moisture got inside and diluted the gas....nonsense. They refunded her the cost of her fill-up and that's it. She has to replace her catalytic converter and some smaller parts. Expensive.

Stick with top tier gas companies like Costco, Chevron,Texaco etc. that put additives in that protect the engine rather than damaging it. 

[On It]

@Duckncover You are so right! Discounted gas is not worth the discount. It costs more on the back side.

[Duckncover]

When I lived in NMex years ago, they required insanely high amounts of ethanol in the gas and my car always ran rough and shaky. Whenever I was in El Paso I would fill up there and the difference was amazing.

[Kachina624]

@Duckncover    She could have and should have sued them for damages.

[Duckncover]

I think one of the drivers who has damage from the gas is an attorney.....he is going to town! I don't know how they are allowed to stay in business....apparently this issue is nation-wide and is happening at many different places that sell gas.

[gidgetgh]

Interesting. QT and RaceTrac are very popular stations in the Atlanta area.  They aren't considered discount or off brand.  They are mainstream gas stations.

[Duckncover]

QT and RaceTrac aren't the only places doing this. We have them everywhere also. I used to get gas at one of them because it was right across the street from my office. Those who have had the problem said it was easy to connect the bad gas with how their car started running rough....but some damage to the engine may not show up until its been driven for a while....then it could be impossible to connect it with the place that sold you the gas. Fuel pumps are not cheap to replace either. 

[Mz iMac]

@Duckncover    "She has to replace her catalytic converter and some smaller parts. Expensive."

Why not summit a claim to her auto ins co.?  Seems to me something like that would be covered under her Comp coverage if she has it.

I live in N.J. where it is illegal to pump our own gas.  I've never heard of those gas stations you fonted about.

[smoochy]

We have never had a problem regardless of the type of gas we use, whether "top tier" or discount like Racetrac. 

[Kachina624]

I haven't heard of it happening here.  I'm sure someone would be yelling and screaming on the NextDoor app if it was.