Trucks were experiencing mechanical issues and breakdowns after fueling up at a Pilot Flying J travel center. At least four trucks couldn’t even make it off the lot after filling up and other drivers were complaining that their vehicles were running poorly.
The Pilot Flying J location with the issue was the Von Ormy station on I-35 in Texas. The problem was brought to the attention of the general manager by a driver who was having an issue with his truck after filling up. The manager called the corporate office and the pumps in question were shut down.
The issue was with contaminated biodiesel, but a new release published by Pilot Flying J claims that the issue has been solved and the pumps are back on.
If you filled up at the Von Ormy station between 2:40 p.m. and 3:50 p.m. on Tuesday, October 14th and are having issues with your truck, contact Pilot Flying J’s customer service department at (877) 866-7378.
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Source: thetrucker, kens5
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I hope Flying J covered the repairs.
When I was in high school I worked at a TA. We had this occur and simply had the drivers pull around into the service bay where we repaired them no charge. It will be interesting to see how things may have changed all these years later.
They more than likely “cried” as you say, after pilot told them not our fault.
Causing smoke, and completely disabled, well that’s just way different.
We had this issue last year with the winter blends containing biodiesel. We use the Davco 382 fuel filters and we can actually see the fuel turning black and having to change filter at 5000 mile or less intravels. We have begun see this already here in October.
Didn’t really notice any sensationalization going on in that news story. Looked to me like the journalist reported some facts in a professional manner. When factual reporting about a company does not happen to portray that company in a positive light doesn’t mean the reporting should be suppressed. Quite frankly, that would be about as un-American as it gets.
Fuel problems happen from time to time. I remember when the Ghost Town truck stop in Casper,WY had an issue with water in their fuel. They paid the tow bills and replaced all the bad fuel free of charge to all affected drivers. In the dead of winter, no less. These problems arise because there is no way to totally clean fuel tanks, either in the ground or on a truck. As a former fuel hauler I can say with absolute certainty that the fuel from the rack at the refinery isn’t free of dirt and water. Try looking in the bottom of an empty tanker sometime and you will see what I mean. Kudos to the guys who do the right thing at the right time.
These drivers will want new trucks now. And ten times what they earn in lost wages.
Are you a driver?
It is called a fuel filter, they have been around for a long time, and they work.
Why is it the report tells us it was the flying J and not which company sold the fuel and who shipped it. Getting gasoline in diesel fuel is quite common. a simple test is to put it in a sterifoam cup, if it eats the cup it has gas in it
Well fuel filters are great but apparently not worth a damn against biodesiel. I maintain my truck very well. Recently I had my truck serviced because my check engine light came on and was giving me after treatment codes. I fueled at a Pilot within 30 miles light came on again. I was planning on putting truck in shop when I got home. Since the 140 gallons I purchased at Pilot didn’t get me home. I hat to stop at the TA to fuel again. Within 50 miles check engine light went out. For the next week I only fueled at TA or Petro. Surprisingly the light never came on and my fuel economy went from 4.4 to 6.3. I thought maybe it’s just a quencidence . So I fueled at a Flying J. Within 40 miles light came on. Within 100 miles fuel economy dropped to 4.3. Say way you want about drivers. Blame and accuse us all of being lazy and to stupid to change a fuel filter. I can’t speak for all drivers. But as a man who carries extra filters, belts, hoses, clamps, tools and can change his own tires on the side of the road and has a computer to diagnose and track the performance of my vehicle. Sometimes the stories are true. Corporate America cares more about their profit than my expense do to their shit product. Have a great day.
I would like to know why no one is saying anything about the price of the diesel at the truck stops. Why is it you can go around the corner at a gas station and it’s .30 cheaper for the same fuel. Why is it that everyone feels it’s okay to rip of the truckers and that don’t make the news.
Tanker drivers routinely drain up to 600 gal of water from bio loads to refiners
Huh? What? Where did you hear that? I haul bio to the Loves everyday and I’ve never heard or seen such a thing. Don’t spread false information.
the main reason they don’t say who sold and shipped the bad fuel is because they don’t know. that station is serviced primarily by their own fleet but also bolstered by no less than 5 other companies. they may have pulled the fuel from any of at least 6 different racks in the city.they all combine in the same tank.
Several stories from owner operators I’m sure over this one but their reputation (Flying J and Pilot) already tarnished maybe they won’t fight tooth and nail like the $10,000 dollar repair bill I had to pay after bad fuel from a petro on I-39 in Ill. one year. They always claim the damage and bad fuel come from another truck stop and without proper proof by way of nailing it down, the driver is stuck with it or company.
Price difference in auto and big truck fuel is your road taxes.
Anyone notice the price of the fuel cost it at a 14 year low now I sure this want be the last story of bad fuel
News Flash.. The price of fuel is not at a 14 year low.. 2009 the price of fuel dropped down to about $ 2.40 a gallon at the pump.. I’ve got fuel receipts to prove it..
I don’t know, but all of the sudden I am changing fuel filters after poor performance on my 2013 International like crazy. I get 6000 miles on a International filter and 4000 miles on a NAPA filter. I only fuel up at Pilot and I swear it is because of the bio0deisel that they use. Now my truck is at the dealer being diagnosed for 6 days now.
There is a standard for Biodiesal. That is why bio is more expensive to make. every bach has to pass the test the only reason it is cheaper is 1 dollar tax credit per gal. As for what happen more than likely thy got a summer blend bio with has more animal fats in it
Most bio is made from waste oil that would normally go to the landfill
got that yellow crap fuel Dec 15 & less than 30 mi down the road I lost all my injectors & god only knows what else in my 2015 with only 35,000 mi We ALL need to LOOK at the fuel before putting it in our trucks. Got my Yellow crap Fuel at the New Milford pa Flying J. Don’t know whats in it But it destroyed my engine & may have lost my business. No Xmas for my family this year. Be Careful Drivers. That Bright Yellow Fuel is Dangerous!!!
October 8 2014, i got contaminated fuel at flying j at Brintles flying j in Mt Airy NC. Took two different dealerships to determine that the reason I had complete engine failure was due to an excessive amount of gasoline in my tank. I’m a commercial operator and have been out of business since then. Oh, by the way, flying j says they’re not responsible for my claim. I would like some kind of resolution if anybody can help. Thanks.
I purchased 60 gallons of #2 desiel on pump 7 that was mixed with gas on 03/30/20 at Superior, Montana Town&Pump Pilot location off I-90 exit 47. Has anyone else purchased desiel on this day that was mixed; or had their truck breakdown shortly after fueling and not sure why? This post serves as a public announcement in an attempt to coordinate with others that have gotten the same mixed fuel on 03/30/2020. Please post a response here and/or call Kpax news @ (406) 542-4400 to make a report.
Is there any way to delete a post?
Heading home from Florida in our rv, running great til we fueled at Flying J in Latta, SC, immediately started sputtering and blowing black smoke. Pulled off next exit and had to get towed to Fayetteville NC. We have been here since Tues. April 29th. 2020. Now waiting for a high pressure fuel injector to be installed. They showed us there was 5 gallons of water in our fuel! Called Flying J and they said they checked and they weren’t responsible. They don’t know what we put in our tank. We now have a $4000. Repair and still not able to get home. So much for the customer. They told us it couldn’t be them or they would have more complaints.
Fueled up at Flying J @ Checotah, Oklahoma pump #23 on 9/12/20
Fuel tank now contaminated with water, told management, dont know what they did. Clerk mentioned another customer had same issue several weeks ago, state came abd checked.