Car breaks down after gas tank filled

LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) -  It's the substance the makes a car move.

This time, it may be to blame for a car breaking down.

"I purchased about $77 worth of gas and pulled away," contaminated gas victim Billie Siegfred said. "(In) less than 10 minutes, my car started shaking, and it started stalling, and I kept pumping the gas. It just wouldn't go."

Siegfred of Wolcott said she bought bad fuel from the Lafayette Circle K located on State Road 26 near Interstate 65 Thursday morning.

She said five hours later, the grade of fuel she purchased had an "out of order" sign on it.

Siegfred said management told her the problem was her car and not the gas.

When her car was towed to Twin City Dodge, mechanics determined her gas had been contaminated with water.

"The mechanic brought it out to my husband and I and said, 'This is what was in your tank,'" Siegfred said. "They said, 'Your whole tank is full of this. They said that's why your vehicle is messed up.'"

Siegfried may not be the only victim.

Our sister station WLFI called several other Lafayette mechanics to see if anyone else had the same problem.

A mechanic at Bob Rohrman Subaru said a vehicle towed Thursday afternoon had the same issue, and the owner had just purchased gas from the same gas station around the same time.

Siegfred said $500 later, her car is fixed, but it still doesn't run the same.
   
"My car still isn't starting right, it's shaking still," Siegfred said.

She said her calls to corporate offices Thursday and Friday have not been returned.

A manager at Lafayette Circle K said she was not allowed to comment on the situation.

Multiple messages left with Circle K's corporate office have not been returned.