Contaminated Fuel!! - Montana Owners Club

Drifty1 · 07-03-2012, 12:59 PM

My Dodge is in the shop and has been for the last week. They called today to tell me they have found contaminated fuel in the filter that was bad enough to cause the pleats in the filter to stick together. So they recommended I call my insurance company to open a claim on this issue. So I called my Allstate agent to get the ball rolling and was told someone would call me to get more info so they could send a adjuster to look at my truck. I was impressed that I received a call back within 10 minutes from Allstate asking for the name of the dealer so they could set a time to look at the filter and fuel. I told them it could be bad fuel from a service station or my truck was vandalized so we will see what the out come is later in the week.
The funny thing is I did not get any warning lights indicating there was any problems with anything. I guess that I am taking a gamble every time I fuel!!

DonandJudy_12 · 07-03-2012, 01:11 PM

Sorry to hear y'all are having a problem with fuel- We buy all our diesel fuel at major truck stops- We feel this is the safest way to get "good" fuel- We are considering installing a locking fuel door but haven't found the right one yet- JMHO- Don

CamillaMichael · 07-03-2012, 02:14 PM

Please post outcome...had a "neighbor" last year at the campground we are currently staying at who suffered a load of bad fuel which resulted in some costly repairs ($4,000). The really bad news for him was that his insurance company claimed it was not liable for bad fuel issues...neighbor got stuck with the bill. If Allstate covers your claim, we might consider a switch!

mlh · 07-03-2012, 03:17 PM

Usually the insurance company will claim it is not responsible. Dodge is not responsible. Sometimes you can get the oil company to pay for the fix. Bad news most of the time it is your baby. You need to document where you got the fuel. This fix can be in the thousands. On a Ford you would be looking at about $8000. You would be replacing the high pressure fuel pump the injector lines and all the injectors. These pumps work at up to 25,000 PSI and are extremely fragile, a little dirt or water and they are history. On a Dodge I'm not sure. GOOD LUCK.
Lynwood

Drifty1 · 07-03-2012, 05:16 PM

I have a little more info to post. I received a call from the adjuster earlier and he had talked to Rainer Dodge already and told me he would be looking at the filter and truck on Thursday afternoon. After he talked to Dodge they seem to think it was Vandals as is not just bad fuel but something black that was probably put it the tank. We will have to see after he gets a better look at the filter. I will post when I get more info. And for general info it might cost $10,000 plus.

bullroc3 · 07-04-2012, 02:43 AM

You can't do much about bad fuel but vandals!!! I have a locking fuel cap on the truck. Also, I keep the Pace Arrow Rollup Cover locked so no one can get at the in-the-bed tank. Well, they could if they destroyed it.

It is no laughing matter when this stuff happens. A $10,000 fix?? WOW. It would be a REAL test of my patience.

1retired06 · 07-04-2012, 03:42 AM

One thing I do, although a pain sometimes, when not around familiar locations, is to always refill before I hit the halfway mark; often if you get some contaminated fuel, if it mixes with sufficient good fuel the engine will escape damage, although you may have to bleed the filter. Reference locking gas caps, I have seen two Ford Superduty King Ranch trucks with external locking doors. When I bought my 2011 lariat, was told no option, but these guys had them. Sorry about your experience.

Fire5er · 07-04-2012, 04:03 AM

1retired06,
For my 2011 F350 I put an AMI locking fuel door on. Here is a link with a picture of the door on a 2011 truck http://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/10...11-f350-5.html AMI sell locking doors for all brands of trucks.

Drifty1 · 07-04-2012, 08:49 AM

I will be looking into those locking caps. At least it will slow the bandits down!

richfaa · 07-04-2012, 10:54 AM

We have been told that the manufacturer will not cover cost associated with bad fuel with the warranty.that is bad fuel oiut of a fuel station tank..However vandalism is a different story. lets hope that holds up. Black stuff =-Molasses??????

Drifty1 · 07-04-2012, 11:58 AM

Richffa, I have not see the filter yet. I can not think of anything that could get in there that was that heavy so will have to wait till tomorrow afternoon to see what the adjuster has to say. When I talked to him yesterday he was on the road but had talked to the dealers service rep and seem to agree it was Vandals.

mobilcastle · 07-04-2012, 12:15 PM

Stant locking fuel cap-less than $20-might deter a vandal.

mlh · 07-04-2012, 02:53 PM

Some of the new Fords don't have fuel caps. You open the fuel door insert the fuel pump nozzle, pump gas. Our 2012 Edge is like that, and there is no way to lock the fuel door. There is asmall round spring loaded door you push down with the fuel pump nozzle. My wife loves it, she has arthritis in her hands. This makes putting gas in her car much easier.
Lynwood

Drifty1 · 07-05-2012, 10:14 AM

Well I have a little more info on my fuel problem. Allstate called around noon tell inform me that it is a bad batch of fuel and it is from a fueling station. The sample Dodge pull from my tank shows good green fuel on top with a band of probably bio diesel in the middle and another grade on the bottom. He also said the refinery's have been putting out some lower quality bio diesel lately and it has a tougher time blending correctly. He mention I should call DOT to have them take a fuel sample to check for quality at the last station I got fuel.
I called the Weights and Measures division of the Dept. of Agriculture in Washington State and filed a complaint with them. The gal I talked to said she would have a inspector go right out to get a sample to see if it is contaminated. It is to bad it is over a week ago when I fueled up but I do not think they sell as much fuel as the Pilot truck stop. We will have to wait and see what he has to say. I did ask the gal if she has had many complaints about bad fuel lately and she responded that there has been none.
As for my truck Dodge is starting to clean the bad fuel out today so it will be a couple of days before I get it back to do a test run before I hook on to the Montana. Price for the first phase $1,250.

richfaa · 07-05-2012, 12:14 PM

That is not good news. You will no doubt be stuck with the repair bill. we always check for bio diesel fuel when refueling and will not put any of that stuff in our tank. Even if the fuel is contaminated you are stuck with the bill.

Recumbent · 07-05-2012, 05:53 PM

Just learned today while getting oil changed at local Ford store that one of their customers put DEF in the diesel and it cost $10K to repair, and it was an insurance claim.

bighornram · 07-06-2012, 02:15 PM

Dodge Diesel Forum
Mopar Parts

I just put this on my truck. Mounts under the truck on mounts that are already there. Has a fuel heater and water in filter sensor. I don't know if it would have saved you on this issue though double filtration is never a bad idea and this unit is made by Mopar and is warranty friendly.

I still have to connect the heater sensor wire to complete the install. Heater isn't used unless fuel is < 43*F so it wouldn't activate this time of year anyway. I will snap a few pictures and write up a howto in a new thread since this is really a thread about fuel contamination :|

1retired06 · 07-06-2012, 02:18 PM

Fire5er, thanks for the link!

K&Gs3400RL · 07-08-2012, 03:36 PM

Where did you buy your last fuel from so I can avoid them. Thanks George

Never mind just re-read your post and see it was from the Pilot Truck stop I know not to stop there now.

Good luck I hope it all works out well for you.

K&Gs3400RL · 07-08-2012, 03:41 PM

Where did you buy your last fuel from so I can avoid them. Thanks George

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