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September 6, 2006
Bad gas problem!
I purchased fuel from the 7-11 gas station on Post Road in Indianapolis, Indiana back in October 2005 while on my way to New York. I put about 13 gallons of gas in my 2004 Isuzu Rodeo, bought some refreshments and got back on the interstate. Less than 3 miles down the road my car began to lurch and billow thick clouds of white smoke out of the exhaust. I nursed my vehicle to the next exit and stopped at a Shell station where my vehicle died and would not start again. Luckily there was an Advanced Auto Parts store nearby and Travis was of superb assistance. He quickly diagnosed the problem as being bad gas and recommended HEET water remover and Lucas fuel additive. After some time and two bottles of HEET, one bottle of octane booster, and a small bottle of Lucas Fuel Treatment, it started up again. Still smoking like crazy. We drove down to the Advanced Auto Parts store and purchased another bottle of HEET. Travis tried to find us a fuel filter, but they didn't carry one that would fit my truck, but advised there was an Auto Zone in Greenfield which was on our way. My truck barely drove at 40mph on the interstate and everyone behind us backed off because of all the smoke. By the time we reached Greenfield, Auto Zone was closed and we had depleted an entire tank of gas (in 42 miles). We pulled into the Wal Mart Super Center parking lot and went in to finda fuel filter and something to drain the remaining contents of our tank into. After 5 or 6 different fuel filters we gave up for finding one, but bought a dishpan and drained the contents of the fuel tank. What came out was nothing short of sludge. It looked like bloody diahrrea. The next morning at daybreak we walked to the Auto Zone and they had the right fuel filter, or so we thought, until we got back to my Rodeo. Apparently there is a huge difference between the regular 3.2 liter and the 3.5 direct injection motor that I have. To make a long story short, I have accumulated several repair bills since, including catalytic converters, fuel pumps and lines, injectors (5 went bad), and now the motor has completely seized from the crystallization of the seals from the contaminants. All together the total is just over $14,000 and John Reinartz from Arthur J. Gallagher Risk Management thought it to be funny to offer me the $34.21 for the bad tank of gas and call it even. If anyone else has had a similar problem with fuel from any of the gas stations in Indianapolis, please contact me by email. I am a professional investigator and intend to lodge a major complaint, if not a class action lawsuit, against this store. I will respond to all inquiries or complaints.
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