3 Things to Do When a Vehicle Gas Tank Is Contaminated

By Admin
•
12 Jan, 2018

A contaminated fuel tank is annoying at best and a danger to your vehicle's engine at worst. If you suspect your gas tank has been contaminated or vandalized, then there are three things you can do to remedy the situation. Here's what to do right away.

1. Know the Signs of a Contaminated Fuel Tank

A clear indication that something may be wrong with your radiator is if you

Bad gas is one of many contaminants that negatively affect engines. Signs of contaminated gas-station fuel include:

Sputtering engine
Stalling on idle
Failure to start
Whitish exhaust

Other contaminants cause the same issues. If you're not sure how or why your vehicle was contaminated, check out a few things. Look for the following:

Fuel-lubricant cross-contamination from collision damage
Undercarriage scrapes on tank or fuel lines
Signs of tampering at gas cap
Dusting of sugar or sand at gas cap
Smell of bleach or improper fuel

If you loaned your car to someone, did the borrower put diesel in a gasoline tank? Did they attempt to use flexible fuel vehicle (FFV) gas in an engine not equipped for E85 gas? Has condensation formed from using standard-grade ethanol gas? Did DEF contaminate a tank of diesel fuel?

Is someone feeling animosity toward you? A common myth is that placing sugar in a vehicle's gas tank will destroy the engine. If caught in time, the damage is not so severe.

After sugar contamination, the gas tank is removed, cleaned, and replaced. Fuel lines are completely flushed or replaced with new lines. The fuel filters are replaced. Fuel injectors are cleaned or replaced, but the engine should be fine — as long as you stopped driving the car immediately after noticing signs of sugar contamination.

2. Don't Drive the Vehicle

When you know your fuel tank has been contaminated, stop driving the vehicle immediately. Some contaminants will only gum up your vehicle's fuel filters. Other contaminants cause permanent damage.

Water infiltration can corrode parts or cause improper fuel delivery for combustion. If light condensation is the issue, you can drain your own tank and add fresh gas. Purchase a syphon designed for the job and follow all directions carefully.

Chemical contaminants left in your tank can cause extensive damage to your engine. It's better to be safe than sorry in the case of unknown contaminants. Call for a tow to your gas-tank specialist and let the professionals discover the problem.

Document the evidence of contamination. If you suspect that you received contaminated fuel from a gas station, then locate the receipt as proof of your purchase. Keep a notebook detailing the vehicle symptoms. Include the date and time when you first noticed the problem.

3. Call Your Auto Insurance Agent

Call your insurance agent after you have the vehicle towed to a gas-tank specialist. Instruct the mechanic to check out the damage and provide you with an estimate. Let the gas-tank repair shop know that you need authorization from your claims adjuster to approve any repairs.

Your vehicle or business insurance may cover the cost of a new replacement gas tank and fuel lines. Acts of vandalism are often covered under a comprehensive auto policy. If bad gas is the cause of contamination, then your insurance company may reimburse you, and then hold the gas station liable for the damages.

To process your claim, your claims adjuster will need all of your receipts and notes about the contamination. Save any emails or communications relating to the incident. For example, save threatening texts and surveillance video of gas-tank tampering. Save news stories about contaminated gas at the location and e-mails from the gas station that admit to selling contaminated gasoline or diesel.

A contaminated gas tank can be repaired as good as new. Trust all of your gas-tank repairs, replacement, and service to the experts at Kell Radiator Service. We have gas tanks and accessories in stock and ready to install. We also offer flushing, deep-cleaning, and lining of fuel tanks of all kinds.