Heads-Up East Side: Circle K on Zaragoza May Have Had a Fuel Mix-Up Last Week

If you filled up at the Circle K at 1239 N. Zaragoza Road near Viva Mazda sometime last week and your car has been acting up since, you are going to want to read this.

UPDATE: An official spokesperson for Circle K has confirmed this one location did indeed deliver diesel to an underground tank of premium, not unleaded. Only vehicles filled with premium at this location would be affected by the fuel mixup. 

According to a post that popped up on FitFam El Paso, unverified sources are claiming that underground fuel tanks at that location may have been misfilled with diesel instead of unleaded gasoline at some point last week. If accurate, that would mean anyone who pumped what they believed was regular unleaded could have unknowingly put diesel into a gas-powered engine.

Why Does Diesel in a Gas Tank Cause Problems?

Diesel fuel in a gasoline engine can cause serious damage fast. In many cases, affected vehicles will stall, misfire, or refuse to start altogether. The longer diesel runs through a gas engine, the more expensive the repair gets.

Signs Your Car May Have Been Filled With Diesel

Not everyone will notice right away, but diesel in a gasoline engine typically produces some pretty hard-to-miss warning signs. Here is what to watch for:

• Trouble starting - The engine may crank but struggle to turn over, or refuse to start at all.
• Thick white or gray exhaust smoke - One of the most common and visible signs. If your tailpipe is putting out heavy smoke you do not normally see, that is a red flag.
• Rough idling or misfiring - The engine may sputter, shake, or feel unstable even when sitting still.
• Sudden stalling - The car may cut out completely while driving or at a stop, with no warning.
• Check engine light - In many cases the onboard system will flag something is wrong, though not always immediately.
• Loss of power - The vehicle may feel sluggish or unresponsive when accelerating.

The tricky part is that some drivers may not notice anything immediately after filling up. Symptoms can take miles to fully surface depending on how much diesel entered the tank and how much old fuel was already in it. That is why if you filled up at that station last week, it is worth paying attention even if your car has seemed fine so far.

The moment any of these symptoms appear, pull over safely and do not attempt to keep driving. Call a tow and get to a mechanic.

What Are People Reportedly Experiencing?

FitFam's post points to reports of vehicles shutting down following fill-ups at that station. No official confirmation from Circle K, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, or any city agency has been issued at this time. This is still developing though there is what seems to be a potential representative in the comments of the FitFam post that is giving people a number and references to contact if their vehicles are affected by this Circle K mix-up.

What You Should Do Right Now

• If you filled up at that Circle K on N. Zaragoza last week and your vehicle has been struggling, stalling, or refusing to start, do not continue driving it.
• Get to a mechanic as soon as possible. A fuel flush before the engine sustains serious damage can save you thousands.
• Hold onto your receipt if you still have it. If this is confirmed, you will want documentation.
• Keep an eye on official statements from Circle K corporate or local authorities.

If you are one of the people who experienced the fuel mixup firsthand, Circle K suggests calling the number to their claims department as soon as possible: 1-855-276-1947