May 3rd I was headed to the Ram Dealership in Texarkana TX to get an oil change. I had less than a quarter tank of fuel (I drain it this low every time to avoid any trash build up) so I stopped and got fuel. As I got on the highway, my water in fuel light come on. I got to the dealership and they drained the water from the separators and sent me to the oil changing station. As I pulled in, my light come back on and the truck started sputtering. Apparently, the fuel station had a lot of water in their system and it is now in my tank. Dealership said I have about 90% water in the tank. After a lot of stress, my insurance is going to cover the damage and go after the fuel station. The cost of everything is $19,888.00. They are replacing injectors, lift pump, high pressure pump, some tubes, fuel filters, and cleaning out the lines and tank.


2014 Ram 3500 Tradesman 4X4 with 25K miles

 

Why would you not directly file a claim with the retailer of the fuel??? There's ZERO reason your insurance company should have to persue this repair bill.........

 

I get my truck back a lot faster going through insurance and the insurance has the money and resources to go after the fuel station. If I try to go directly after the fuel station, they could drag out the process over a long period of time. I would much rather have them deal with this. The insurance company is going to get their money back when they sue the fuel station.

 

Your insurance company has ZERO reason to pay a claim where you introduced the water into the fuel system.

 

Are you ignorant? This was a not at fault comprehension claim that the insurance company covers. They recoup the loss by suing the fuel station. If this type of accident doesn't get covered by insurance then why waste the money and pay for insurance? Any argument you have against this is invalid and will only show your ignorance to the matter.

 

You post an issue on a public forum then get upset because the replies are not what you want to hear......welcome to reality. People have opinions, it may not be the same as yours but they have the right to comment as long as they are civil...you sir are not.

Leave the name calling where it belongs on the grade school playground if you can't make your point without calling someone names then you are on the WRONG forum.

Consider this the only warning you will receive.

 

Mr. EllisI was not calling anyone names just making an observation. I made a post to help anyone that may have the same problem so they would know what to do. The first time it was replied to I was nice and explained a little better. When the second comment was made it turned this whole thing into an argument. I don't mind different opinions unless someone is attacking me. If you think I am unfit for this forum then by all means delete my account, no hard feelings. Just trying to help, not argue with someone. You should consider booting people that are trying to start arguments and not those that are defending themselves. If the person posting on my post wasn't trying to help in anyway then why post unless they are trying to start an argument.

 

The only one trying to argue is you... they simply asked a valid question and made a valid point....we have seen this many times before and most guys deal with the gas station themselves so their premiums don't go up.

Your choice to do it any way you want, but you can NOT call people ignorant just because they see it differently than you.

 

I experienced a water-in-fuel situation on my 2007.5 RAM 3500 MegaCab back in 2011 or 2012. Fortunately, it never escalated to the $19k mark as I assume it was a smaller percentage of water (WIF light came on about every 40 miles or so, drain, drive, repeat). In a nutshell, I always document ALL of my fuel receipts with odometer and engine hours, as well as trip A totals. When I called the retailer of the fuel to explain my problem, they were not surprised, as they'd received other phone calls. Later that day, the fuel WHOLESALER called me and picked my brain, asking me what I wanted to do. I told them I wanted the tank dropped, cleaned, re-installed, and I also wanted the fuel rail & injectors flushed, along with a new fuel filter AND two more fuel filters to change over the next two tanks of fuel. I obviously sought reimbursement for the fuel I bought, as well as a tank of new fuel. All of the above was based on the condition that if a problem arose over the next 5k miles----they'd be responsible for it. They agreed. When I mentioned I wasn't trying to "hose" them, he understood, and appreciated that fact. He also knew that the repair could go as high as $16k at that time.

The system was flushed, and I never experienced any problem with the fuel system through 114k when I sold it. It was still going strong the last I checked on it at 163k---several years ago.

I think your dealership is exaggerating about the 90% water content, as I'm sure the truck would have stopped completely at that time.

I also think your issue would never had escalated to the "I'm gonna sue you" level. Fuel retailers AND fuel wholesalers carry insurance just for these reasons. Any reputable fuel retailer / wholesaler would have not left you walking (you'd received a rental) and I'm sure you'll incur a deductible now of some sort as well.