Gas station fuel mix-up to blame for damaged vehicles

Raleigh, N.C. — A fuel mix-up at a Raleigh gas station is to blame for damage to several vehicles this week.

Prashant Patel, who owns the Shell gas station at 6801 Glenwood Ave., said gasoline supplier Piedmont Transportation filled diesel tanks with unleaded premium gasoline and unleaded premium tanks with diesel fuel.

The owners of at least a half dozen vehicles reported problems.

Piedmont Transportation, based out of Charlotte, has agreed to pay for all damages as a result.

Jonathan Chanice said there was about $6,500 in damages to his truck, causing him to miss two days of work.

"It's my work vehicle. It shut me down for half a day, just getting it running, and now, it doesn't run right," he said.

The state Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services has been working with Patel to fix the problem and flush out the gas lines.

"This is strictly on the transport company," said Marcus Helfrich, a chemist with the agriculture department. "He closed the pumps as soon as he found out there was a problem after the first complaint."

Anyone with issues with their vehicles should contact the agriculture department at 919-733-7125 for assistance.

20 Comments

WRAL.com welcomes your comments on this story. All comments are moderated prior to publication based on our posting guidelines. Please review them prior to posting and if your message is not approved.

VIEW ALL 20 COMMENTS

This story is closed for comments. Comments on WRAL.com news stories are accepted and moderated between the hours of 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Latest Comments

Same here Freedomrings. Put diesel in my gas tank, but because all pump handles were colored the same. Luckily had two tanks on pickup.

The Fox
March 12, 2010 7:38 p.m.

I'm a dillhole that did it all by myself a few years ago. I filled up a diesel company work truck with gas. My boss said "The first time we smile, because we think it's cute...the second time we frown".

It was an expensive mistake to make. And my truck no more go vroom vroom.

freedomrings
March 12, 2010 7:22 p.m.

Diesel engines very strong compared to gasoline fueled engines.

Gas in Diesel tank will cause engine to run poorly, Diesels needs the midrange hydrocarbons, cetanes, compared to gas engines that use the higher hydrocarbons, octanes.

Octane is to gas what cetane is to diesel.

The gas and alcohol in blended gasoline will harm the diesel fuel pump but not the engine. Gas ignites easier under less compression then diesel. Diesel engines are high compression.

Depending on how much diesel was left in the truck before adding gasoline (by mistake) will determine what repairs are needed. Most of the time flushing the lines and replacing the diesel fuel filter will be all that is needed.

james27613
March 12, 2010 7:13 p.m.

Wonder when the tank trucks will use different nozzle for filling the Diesel tanks?

Would prevent things like this from happening.

Guess the driver for the fuel co. will be on unemployment.

james27613
March 12, 2010 7:00 p.m.

So how do all of the smartypants golo folks explain no damage = $6500?

larky74406
March 12, 2010 5:49 p.m.