Drivers face costly repairs after diesel, unleaded fuel swap at Circle K near Cleveland

Customers at a Circle K in northeast Ohio who recently went to gas up their vehicles filled their tanks not with the unleaded fuel they had selected but diesel.

The mishap, which was first reported Friday by WIOIO in Cleveland, occurred Jan. 19 in Avon, Ohio, part of the Cleveland metropolitan area about 20 miles west of the city.

In a statement Monday to USA TODAY, Circle K acknowledged the mistake and said it was working with customers who submitted insurance claims.

Diesel fuel, which is meant for specialized engines most commonly found in commercial vehicles, can cause significant damage if used in cars that run on traditional gasoline. Now, local outlets, including WKYC and WOIO, have reported that customers who unwittingly refueled with diesel face thousands of dollars in repairs.

Diesel fuel added to unleaded underground tanks at Ohio Circle K

The trouble arose because diesel fuel was "delivered inadvertently into the wrong underground storage tanks," Circle K said in its statement. At the same time, unleaded fuel was added into the diesel storage tanks.

Circle K shut down the pumps until the problem was fixed, but not before at least 14 customers fueled their vehicles with diesel.

The company said it plans to reimburse customers for any repairs and other costs associated with the mix-up after reviewing and verifying claims.

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"We apologize to any customers affected by this issue, and we are working to assist them with their claims," Circle K said in the statement. "In the meantime, we have removed and replaced the fuel in the affected storage tanks, and our pumps are once again operational."

Motorist describes costly repairs

One man who filled up his 2022 Jeep Wagoneer Jan. 19 at the Circle K told WOIO he didn't notice any problems until the following day.

When he went to start his vehicle, "it just started sputtering. Lights started flashing, and there was a giant puff of white smoke,” he told the outlet.

The car was towed to a Jeep dealership, where a mechanic found diesel in the vehicle's gas tank and fuel lines. While the repair would be fairly simple, it wouldn't be cheap: Flushing out the gas tank, replacing spark plugs and running cleaner through the car was estimated to surpass $1,000.

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The television station also received a call from a pickup driver asking to remain anonymous who said his diesel vehicle needed repairs because he unknowingly fueled it with unleaded gasoline.