If you recently stopped at the Sam’s Club gas station in St. Clairsville, Ohio, and your car suddenly won’t start—well, you’re not alone. But it’s not your car’s fault and, no, you didn’t suddenly forget how engines work. It’s just another fuel pump fiasco.
Fuel pump fiasco: That’s not a “Tiger in your tank” – it’s diesel
Turns out, the station is temporarily out of regular 87 octane gas, but not because of high demand. Over the weekend, a fuel delivery mix-up led to diesel fuel being pumped into the unleaded tanks. Yep—you read that right. Diesel in your gas burner—not ideal.
Sam’s Club says the mistake came from a third-party supplier who confused the tanks while restocking fuel. Everything seemed fine—until folks took to Facebook to ask why their cars were turning into expensive paperweights.
“If you’re lucky, you didn’t break anything—yet”
Jerry Witzberger, owner of ASAP Auto Care, explained to News Nation Now what happens when diesel goes into a car meant to run on unleaded:
“Diesel is really, really thick for gasoline engines,” Witzberger said. “Hopefully it didn’t go through the whole system. But if your car won’t start, the whole thing’s going to have to be flushed. And if you’re lucky, you didn’t break anything—yet.”
Translation? Your car didn’t die—It’s just very, very upset.
Good news: Most of these engines can be saved. Bad news: It might cost you, and your car could be spending the night at the shop.
One of the affected gas pumps now sports an “Out of Service” sign, which feels like the pump equivalent of a guilty apology.
Sam’s Club says they jumped into action as soon as they were made aware of the problem
“We are actively working to address this situation and are dedicated to making things right for our affected members,” said Steven Zapata, Sam’s Club’s director of corporate communications.
If you were one of the unlucky few (or many), you’re encouraged to contact the store directly and file a claim. Sam’s Club says they’re doing their best to take care of everyone impacted.
As of now, it’s unclear how many cars were filled with the wrong fuel. But if your car’s been giving you the silent treatment after a trip to Sam’s Club this weekend, you may already know the answer.
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Thank you for the news, Russ and Tina! Perhaps one could distinguish diesel from gasoline by smell, but wouldn’t likely pay close attention unless were concerned that fuels might be mixed up. Have a great day and safe travels!
I wonder if this has something to do with the truck drivers who can’t read English. I understand this is a real problem on our roads.