Complaint Review: Citgo Contaminants in Gasoline

On August 17, 2019 we arrived to Citgo Store 14247080 the Manhattan Citgo at 4532 S Manhattan Ave, Tampa, Fl. We filled the tank on pump # 3 mostly full about ¾ full.  It was an average day and the weather was clear and wet. The poor maintenance from the gas station was clear. Trash on the floor, windows blocked with decals, we could not see the Citgo clerk behind the register and the areas near pumps 1 and 2 and 4 where full of water and junk. 

We drove southbound and about quarter mile into the drive the car stalled.  We though a number of things lead to the car stalling. For example, tinted gasoline, maybe we may have added diesel or maybe something else.  The car would not turn on from the stall and our safety came first. We were almost hit by a speeding car behind us and our only option was to pull aside onto the side of the street.  

We contacted Citgo moments later to ask if there was diesel inside of pump 3.  We later saw there was no diesel flowing through pump 3 so we ruled that out. The car was towed to the auto shop for repairs.  Upon diagnosing the car, the repair_men noticed over a cup of water was in the fuel tank. Apparently, the poor maintenance at the Citgo on Manhattan had been kept in poor maintenance. The roof was kept poorly insulated from water and debris and that may have been the cause.  This was obviously a problem without safety most importantly. And we were unaware the poor-quality gasoline station would return bad vibes and jeopardize our most important thing (I.e., safety).   

Also, the clerk inside the Citgo was really mean and not to pleasant to talk to over the phone.  We simply asked a couple questions regarding safety protocol and he hung up multiple times when asked to confirm type of gasoline that was used at pump 3 which resulted in a total cost of gasoline for the amount $31.61. This poor service alone is grounds for unsatisfactory customer support and he also may have avoided to provide information as means to prolong our side of the story!

Water in gasoline doesn't just cause issues in the cylinder; it can easily damage automobile body parts like injectors if it expands into the injector tip (due to the inherent heat of the automobile injector). Water from poor ceiling structure and poor anti-weather infrastructure set large amount of water into the fuel system on August 19, 2019 at the Manhattan Citgo. This water in the gas tank caused serious damage to the car.

The problem started with a small might annoying trouble and lead to engine damage. According to the repairment a new engine and fuel injectors are needed.  This is why it is important to address the issue of poor station maintenance to immediately create closure and or readable signs that express the poor quality of the gas station.   Upon checking the water dripped into the hose chamber was dripping in large quantities from poor inspection fails. It eventually reached the cylinder preventing the piston from completing its rotation.  The car even stalled hindering therefor the combustibility of the true automobile gasoline.    

Additionally, Modern gas pumps have a filter in them that will shut off the gas pumps if water is detected passing through the pumps. Modern gas pumps have a filter in them that will shut off the gas pumps if water is detected passing through the pumps. 

Also, the Florida Department of Natural Resources information oversee gas station inspections and so gas pumps at every gas station in the state will have a small sticker in the shape of the state of Florida indicating when the last inspection was done. The Manhattan Citgo pump 3 didn’t follow that and during these inspections they test for water in the gasoline and make sure that the pumps are dispensing automobile gasoline properly. Every gas station in the state is inspected at least once, most twice a year. They are required by law to keep a record of their leak checks and polluted water checks. This is clearly an issue associated to safety. 

Photograph from birds-eye-view locations of Citgo Gas Station about 8 meters or less not flying over Lee Roy Expressway 618 or over any dangerous conditions like for example people and landmarks. Images will be used to cover research and reports about possible water H2O inside gas pumps and to secure safety-first protocol.