Drivers say contaminated diesel causing thousands of dollars in damage
When you fill up at the pump, you expect the fuel to be clean, so it doesn't damage your engine.
At least a dozen of you called KAKE News On Your Side Investigates, saying the fuel at one pump is costing them thousands and thousands of dollars in damage.
Jeff Akins' 2014 Dodge diesel truck has been sitting in the shop for nearly two months now. He's trying to save up enough money to get it fixed.
"I had to buy another vehicle to get around," Akins said.
Akins says it all started when he filled up at a South Hutchinson Kwik Shop at Main and Blanchard.
"My vehicle started running rough, It didn't seem to have any power," said Akins.
His trip down the highway turned into a nightmare.
"I was just crossing my fingers. I wasn't sure if I was going to make it or not."
Akins quickly took his truck to diesel specialist Marc Stum.
"Figured out something was wrong with the fuel," said Stum.
Stum has at least a dozen diesel vehicles sitting in his shop.
When working on Akin's truck, all broken down, he blames one thing: "contaminants, it's got contaminants in it."
Contaminated diesel from that same gas station.
"Contamination of some sort, foreign material opaque and non clear over a half dozen," says Stum.
"We noticed a different odor and it was happening daily, we got calls from other repair shops, this blew up all of a sudden," Stum goes on to say.
So what happens when this contaminated fuel runs through your car's engine, it plugs everything up and it's going to cost you a bundle to fix?
Akin's can give car owners an idea. "Ended up being a $10,684 estimate, that scares the heck out of me, that's a lot of money."
More than 15 people have submitted their mounting bills, business losses and photos to KAKE News On Your Side Investigates.
They all say their problems started when they filled up with diesel at this same South Hutch Kwik Shop. Stum took samples.
We took diesel fuel samples from the Kwik Shop along with other local gas stations to Wichita State's chemistry lab for testing. We're waiting for the results.
In late May, the Kwik Shop in South Hutchinson shut down its pumps for several weeks and brought in an underground storage tank cleaning service.
"They came through and said there's no water in the diesel...but they have admitted that there are other things wrong with the tank" said Akins.
Kwik Shop would only say it's working to help its customers.
"Kwik Shop we do stand behind all of our fuel and if there's issues we always make it right."
Stum and his mechanics are busy trying to fix these engines but many of the truck owners simply can't afford the repairs.
"People have to take loans out or abandoned the vehicle this pickup's been here over a month waiting for an answer." said Akins.
An answer Akins would like as well, so he can get back on the road again.
It's my stuff, it's my truck, it's my livelihood," Akins said.