LONGVIEW, Texas — A Longview gas station is receiving backlash for allegedly having the wrong fuel in its tanks.
"I noticed my car was stalling like you give it gas (and) it just wants to shut off. So, I come to another red light when I take off, I noticed it was hard to take off. I'm really trying to give it gas and stuff," said Tonya, one of the customers at the Murphy USA, located at 301 E Loop 281 in Longview.
And then when she tried to start her car again.
"It said *chchchchchc*... it would catch engine," Tonya said.
Tonya got this surprise after she says the wrong fuel was placed in the tank. But she wasn’t the only one. Imagine not even being able to leave the gas station parking lot, that's what Jason Brown experienced.
"I made an initial first post in All Things Longview, and I asked, has anybody else got gas at this gas station today? I had so many people comment on it," Brown said.
Murphy USA told Brown stating they will be investigating the situation to determine if the fuel dispensed from the location was subject to any type of contamination, Brown said.
He also said if he takes his car to a mechanic shop, and the shop said the gas was the issue. He will be reimbursed for the damage, and this goes for all customers affected.
"I'm very upset because I don't have a second car. I don't know how people's jobs are. My job let me leave today; I don't know how other people's jobs are. Some people might end up losing their jobs behind this. They don't have no vehicle; they have no way around," Tonya said.
Many of these victims are receiving quotes from car dealerships for more than $4,000 to replace fuel tanks, fuel injectors and direct reduction injections.
"There's so many people that probably pulled out of here yesterday and made it a half a mile down the road and just thought their car was messed up and didn't think it was the gas. My first thought was not the gas, but I made the post out of curiosity and once I made the post and seen all these people comment on there - it's the gas," Tonya said.
For those who receive the wrong fuel type or contaminated fuel, they are encouraged to contact the gas station where it happened and file a complaint with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation.
This agency regulates the quality of motor fuel and registers the facilities that sell motor fuels. According to TDLR, one of the best ways for people to protect themselves when filling up their tank is to keep their receipt, which has the date, time, pump number and station location in case they need to file a complaint.
To file a complaint with TDLR, click here. People should be ready to provide the date of the incident, gas station pump number, the name and address of the gas station, and a description of what happened. Supporting documentation that would helpful includes pictures and receipt.