[Southsider2k12]

http://www.suntimes.com/news/metro/1462106...UTg3vM.facebook

BP recalling gas sold in Northwest Indiana after drivers report problems

By Carrie Napoleon Sun-Times Media August 20, 2012 5:56PM

Updated: August 21, 2012 7:48AM


BP is recalling unleaded regular gasoline that was shipped from the company’s Whiting fuel storage terminal between Aug. 13 and 17 after motorists throughout the region began experiencing problems with hard starting or getting their cars to start at all.

According to a statement from BP, the company believes fuel stored in a tank at the storage depot could cause hard starting, stalling and other issues. The gas may have been bought by motorists patronizing BP and other retail outlets in Northwest Indiana during the past seven days.

The issue surfaced Monday as dealerships and service shops throughout the region were inundated with motorists having difficulty starting their vehicles.

Tony James, owner of Northwest Indiana Auto Supply in Merrillville, said calls from dealerships and customers began rolling in Monday morning about cars having trouble starting or not starting at all. The business is an AC/Delco and Motorcraft distributor that, along with its retail parts business, supplies parts to a large number of local dealerships.

James said Schepel Buick GMC in Merrillville had 30 service inquiries Monday morning and Mike Anderson Chevrolet had eight vehicles towed in by noon.

“That’s pretty unheard of. It’s pretty widespread,” James said.

[Southsider2k12]

This also explains why our Meijer gas station was completely shutdown last night.

http://www.nwitimes.com/business/local/bp-...602f01504c.html

14 hours ago • By Bowdeya Tweh bowdeya.tweh@nwi.com, (219) 933-3316
(72) Comments
Having issues?

BP Customer Service Hotline

(800) 333-3991

Details about BP's fuel guarantee can be found at mybpstation.com/fuels/bp-fuels-guarantee

BP America issued a recall Monday for unleaded regular gasoline from Northwest Indiana fuel distributors that was shipped from the company's Whiting fuel storage terminal between Aug. 13 and Friday.

A statement issued by the company indicates officials believe fuel stored in a tank at the storage depot could cause hard starting, stalling and other vehicle problems.

Consumers may have bought the fuel at BP-brand or other fuel retail outlets in the past seven days, according to the company. BP said customers experiencing the problems described should call its customer service hotline at (800) 333-3991.

Several people contacted The Times on Monday about problems their cars and trucks have experienced. Among the stations those consumers named were BP, Costco, Luke Oil, Meijer and Thorntons and in municipalities including Hammond, Highland, Lansing, Merrillville and Valparaiso.

"It's frustrating because gas is already expensive, and not being able to fill up around here, you don't know if the gas you're gonna get is safe or not now," said Nick West, of Crown Point.

Walter Kucharski, a structural engineer from St. John, said he filled up his 2003 GMC Envoy on Thursday at a station in Highland. Vehicle problems began to surface Friday, but Saturday was worse with the vehicle shaking uncontrollably for a few minutes and his check engine light coming on, he said.

When Kucharski contacted a service technician at Circle Buick GMC in Highland, he was told he was one of several people who reported the problem.

"It underscores just how fragile our transportation system is," Kucharski said.

Eric Mayro, of Crown Point, said he may be facing a $1,200 bill from a Merrillville automobile dealership to have his gas tank cleaned, fuel line purged and spark plugs replaced as a result of the gasoline issues.

Representatives from more than a half-dozen local automobile dealerships and independent automobile repair shops said they have received a deluge of service calls since last week related to the gasoline problem.

Bob Van Ramshorst, owner of Ridgeway Chevrolet in Lansing, said his dealership handled more than 60 calls Monday from customers dealing with vehicle problems from the gasoline used.

Lee Stahr, a shop foreman at Mike Anderson Chevrolet in Merrillville, said technicians have worked to dilute or drain the bad gas from tanks depending on the severity of the situation with each vehicle.

Jennifer Whitson, an employee of Shaffer Hyundai in Merrillville, said service representatives have done additional cleaning within vehicle fuel systems and added premium fuel in vehicles to help remedy problems.

In its statement, BP said it "is committed to fuel quality and guarantees every gallon of gasoline we sell."

"The company is going through its shipping records and contacting Northwest Indiana customers who may have loaded tanker trucks at the storage terminal during this period -- and is replacing the contaminated fuel with fresh product," the statement said.

"We would like to apologize for the inconvenience this has caused some of our customers."

[Southsider2k12]

http://www.nwitimes.com/business/local/cal...5aebaa9c5e.html

Be prepared for long wait times or difficulty connecting to BP customer service phone lines following the gas recall the company initiated Monday, according to people who reached The Times on Tuesday.

BP said that it would recall unleaded regular gasoline from its Whiting fuel storage terminal sent to Northwest Indiana fuel distributors between Aug. 13 and Aug. 17.

The statement said the fuel stored there could cause problems with vehicles including hard stalling and stopping.

The company's customer service line, (800) 333-3991, is handling complaints from people who bought gas and are experiencing problems with their vehicles.

However Pat Cappo of Munster said the hotline had a wait time of 100 minutes when she called before 7 a.m.

The Times made multiple attempts to call the hotline between 6:45 a.m. and 7 a.m. but only received a busy signal.

Cappo said she bought gas from Meijer on Thursday and her vehicle began to have problems starting up Saturday, Sunday and Monday after the vehicle was left parked overnight.

Cappo said she planned on calling a customer service number for Meijer later today.

Customers could also reach out to non-BP outlets that sold gas that may have caused vehicle problems.

[Southsider2k12]

GasBuddy
BREAKING: BP discloses that 2.1 million gallons of gasoline are impacted in its recall in the Great Lakes region, due to "a higher-than-normal level of polymeric residue". This is larger than I would have guessed and could pose a greater problem for BP than I initially expected. We're continuing to work this story. If you've been impacted us, please write on our wall!

[Southsider2k12]

I did finally hear back from a representative with Meijer corporate, and they are stating that the maintenance at the gas station was NOT related to the BP gas recall.

[Southsider2k12]

http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2012/08/22/mor...campaign=342159

CHICAGO (CBS) — Another torrent of complaints are expected to cascade into the petroleum giant BP – in the wake of a bad batch of gas that was sold in at least three states.

As WBBM Newsradio’s Bob Roberts reports, BP spokesman Scott Dean said Tuesday that Northwest Indiana continues to be the “epicenter” of the problem. BP initially said the product in question is regular unleaded gasoline that came from the Whiting facility between Monday, Aug. 13 and Friday, Aug. 17.

LISTEN: WBBM Newsradio’s Bob Roberts reports

But Dean later said some tankers filled up for points in Illinois, and said some bad medium- and premium-grade gas was sold briefly Sunday night and Monday in the Milwaukee area.

Some of the fuel was sold at stations that do not fly the BP flag but are supplied by its trucks, including Thornton and Costco, Dean said.

Wait times were so bad that the petroleum giant has now assigned 90 operators to receiving complaints, but callers to WBBM Newsradio report long wait times.

South Sider Chris Payne said when he finally connected with a BP customer service operator, she took basic information and then told him it would be five to seven business days before someone would get back to him.

“It’s not like I’m rolling in dough to come up to say, ‘Here, fix my car,’” said Payne, who works near O’Hare International Airport and said his attempts to find a rental car failed – in part because the rental fleets had been sidelined by bad gas, as well.

He said he has a “very understanding boss” who has excused hi from work so far.

Dean said BP is blaming a higher-than-normal level of a residue in the fuel, which makes it more difficult to combust. It is telling motorists to save fuel receipts or attempt to obtain a copy of the transaction from a debit or credit card issuers, to establish proof of purchase, and have all repair bills.

“BP stands behind every gallon of gas it sells,” Dean said.

It’s of little consolation to Payne.

“They should have a better contingency plan in place,” he said.

Dean said that to avoid long waits on BP’s toll-free complaint line, (800) 333-3391, claims can be filed online at www.bpresponse.com or by e-mailing bpconsum@bp.com.

[Southsider2k12]

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/b...0,5669526.story

Associated Press AP

10:24 a.m. CDT, August 22, 2012
The Indiana attorney general is opening an investigation into BP's recall of gasoline produced at its refinery in Whiting.

Attorney General Greg Zoeller said he wants to make sure consumers' rights are taken into consideration amid complaints from some BP customers. Some have said they called BP customer service phone lines on Tuesday and were placed on hold for two hours. Others said BP was making it difficult for them to receive compensation.

BP spokesman Scott Dean didn't immediately return a message from The Associated Press seeking comment Wednesday.

BP has said it believes a 50,000-barrel batch of gasoline shipped from its Whiting fuel storage terminal Aug. 13-17 contained a higher level of a polymeric residue.

The company says it has heard from more than 5,000 customers whose cars have required repairs because of the bad batch of gasoline. BP spokesman Scott Dead said Tuesday it had received 4,500 calls and 800 email messages since announcing the recall a day earlier.

The oil company says customers whose vehicles have experienced hard starting or other problems caused by the fuel should send it an email at bpconsum@bp.com or call 1-800-333-3991. Dean said customers should provide receipts for the repairs and fuel purchase, if available, or credit card bills showing the fuel purchase at affected retailers.

The company apologized for inconveniences caused to customers.

[MCRogers1974]

And now BP is the first one to raise prices to $3.99 in MC.

[Southsider2k12]

http://autos.yahoo.com/blogs/motoramic/bp-...-191835064.html

BP recalls bad gasoline in Indiana, but after $1,200 repair bills for some drivers
By Justin Hyde | Motoramic – Tue, Aug 21, 2012 3:18 PM EDT

Thousands of drivers in northwest Indiana face hefty car repair bills after BP sold some 2.1 million gallons of contaminated gasoline that can foul their engines. BP has recalled the bad fuel and says it will pay for repairs -- but first drivers have to get it out of their tanks.

BP says "a higher than normal level of polymeric residue" contaminated 50,000 barrels of regular unleaded gasoline from its Whiting, Ind., refinery shipped between Aug. 13 and Aug. 17. That fuel went to hundreds of gas stations in northern Indiana -- some under the BP brand, but many independent stations as well. Soon after, scores of drivers began coming to repair shops reporting hard-starting and stalling engines, "check engine" lights, odd noises and other signs of engine trouble.

Getting contaminated fuel out of a vehicle isn't as easy as just draining the gas tank. Every part that the gas touched between the tank and the engine has to be flushed and cleaned as well, and bad fuel has been known to ruin higher-pressure fuel injectors common to newer vehicles. Not every car will need a mechanic; people who bought only a few gallons could try to dilute their bad gas with premium unleaded and get by. A simple fix might run $200 to $300, but a few owners have already said their repair bills have topped $1,200.

[Southsider2k12]

http://www.businessweek.com/ap/2012-08-21/...r-recalled-fuel

WHITING, Ind. (AP) — BP has heard from more than 5,000 customers whose cars have required repairs associated with recalled regular gasoline in northwestern Indiana.

BP spokesman Scott Dead said Tuesday it's received 4,500 calls and 800 email messages since announcing the recall a day earlier.

The oil company says customers whose vehicles have experienced hard starting or other problems caused by the fuel should send it an email at bpconsum(at)bp.com or call 1-800-333-3991. Dean says customers should provide receipts for the repairs and fuel purchase, if available, or credit card bills showing the fuel purchase at affected retailers.

BP believes a 50,000-barrel batch of gasoline shipped from its Whiting fuel storage terminal Aug. 13-17 contained a higher level of a polymeric residue.

The company apologized for inconveniences caused to customers.

[Southsider2k12]

http://www.in.gov/activecalendar/EventList...icate=syndicate

INDIANAPOLIS – Indiana Attorney General Greg Zoeller announced that his office has opened an investigation into the BP gasoline recall to make sure consumers’ rights are protected.

Motorists who purchased regular grade gasoline in Northwest Indiana at BP and other retail outlets including Luke Oil, Thornton’s and others have reported car problems as a result of tainted gasoline.

“Our office opened an investigation regarding the BP gasoline recall in order to protect the significant number of consumers impacted," Zoeller said. “We are closely monitoring the response by BP and will be reviewing their claims and reimbursement processes. As the watchdog for Indiana consumers my office has a duty to ensure consumer's rights are protected and that there is no undue delay in appropriate reimbursements.”

According to a statement released by BP on Tuesday, the company believes 2.1 million gallons of regular grade gasoline blended at BP’s Whiting, Indiana gasoline storage terminal between Aug. 13 and 17 contained a “higher than normal level of polymeric residue” which can cause drivability issues. This contaminant may cause hard starting, shaking of the engine, non-starting or the check engine light to illuminate.

Zoeller said consumers who purchased fuel in Northwest Indiana at BP and other retail outlets during the past week could be impacted.

BP asks customers to call their hotline at 1-800-333-3991 or email bpconsum@bp.com if their vehicles were affected by the tainted gasoline.

Consumers can also file a separate complaint with the Attorney General’s Office by visiting www.indianaconsumer.com or by calling 1-800-382-5516 to request a hard copy of the form. Zoeller said customers are not required to file a complaint with the Attorney General’s Office to take part in the BP claims process, but complaints regarding BP's responses are particularly appropriate.

[diggler]

I once filled up with some 'bad' gas here locally, then drove to Chicago. I kept my fingers crossed going back home again, as the engine was sputtering....and sounding like a boat. Hope somebody puts up a list of all the stations that used the bad BP gas.

[diggler]

6,500 claims against BP over bad gas, 2 lawsuits filed

Associated Press

7:45 a.m. CDT, August 28, 2012
BP says it has received more than 6,500 claims from customers needing repairs after fueling up with some of the 2.1 million gallons of gasoline recalled in three states over high levels of a polymer residue.

The oil giant says Indiana residents filed more than 4,000 of the claims through Monday, Illinois residents filed about 2,000 and the rest came from residents of Wisconsin and other states.

Spokesman Scott Dean says BP isn't commenting on two lawsuits seeking class-action status in U.S. District Court in Hammond. Each lead plaintiff in the cases filed Friday alleges the recalled gas caused repair bills of nearly $1,000 or more.

Dean says BP has already begun paying claims and expects payments to accelerate as it receives copies of customers' repair receipts.

[Southsider2k12]

Stations are being listed for the BP gas recall. It doesn't appear that any Michigan City proper stations were affected, but one station in Beverly Shores, 10 in Valpo (9 of which were not BP stations) and 3 in Chesterton were. They don't actually give a regular list, you have to play in the search functions to see who was affected.

http://www.bpresponse.com/go/doc/5207/1525...on-List-Indiana

[Southsider2k12]

Stations are being listed for the BP gas recall. It doesn't appear that any Michigan City proper stations were affected, but one station in Beverly Shores, 10 in Valpo (9 of which were not BP stations) and 3 (2 non-BP) in Chesterton were. They don't actually give a regular list, you have to play in the search functions to see who was affected.

http://www.bpresponse.com/go/doc/5207/1525...on-List-Indiana

Looking closer, of course they cheat and don't actually list stations, they only list addresses. The station in Beverly Shores is the Dunes Mart station, on Highway 12, right next to the Beverly Shores train station.

[MCRogers1974]

Looking closer, of course they cheat and don't actually list stations, they only list addresses. The station in Beverly Shores is the Dunes Mart station, on Highway 12, right next to the Beverly Shores train station.

And the strange thing, that particular station in Beverly Shores is a Marathon branded station. They were selling BP gasoline? Who says there is a difference in gasoline!

[MCRogers1974]

And the strange thing, that particular station in Beverly Shores is a Marathon branded station. They were selling BP gasoline? Who says there is a difference in gasoline!

A quick search of a few addresses using Google Maps streetview reveals the following brand names of the stations selling bad BP gasoline:

1681 Pioneer Trl Chesterton IN ~ Family Express
525 INDIAN BOUNDARY CHESTERTON IN ~ Speedway
6250 Ameriplex Dr Portage IN ~ Family Express
6001 Melton Rd Portage IN ~ Marathon
5011 Central Ave Portage IN ~ Speedway
6370 Central Ave Portage IN ~ Speedway
3550 S. State Rd 2 Valparaiso IN ~ Family Express
1901 Burlington Beach Rd Valparaiso IN ~ Family Express
298 West US 6 Valparaiso IN ~ Family Express
151 E U.S. 6 Valparaiso IN ~ Mobile

Looks like Marathon, Mobile, Speedway and Family Express have been selling bad BP gasoline.

[Southsider2k12]

A quick search of a few addresses using Google Maps streetview reveals the following brand names of the stations selling bad BP gasoline:

1681 Pioneer Trl Chesterton IN ~ Family Express
525 INDIAN BOUNDARY CHESTERTON IN ~ Speedway
6250 Ameriplex Dr Portage IN ~ Family Express
6001 Melton Rd Portage IN ~ Marathon
5011 Central Ave Portage IN ~ Speedway
6370 Central Ave Portage IN ~ Speedway
3550 S. State Rd 2 Valparaiso IN ~ Family Express
1901 Burlington Beach Rd Valparaiso IN ~ Family Express
298 West US 6 Valparaiso IN ~ Family Express
151 E U.S. 6 Valparaiso IN ~ Mobile

Looks like Marathon, Mobile, Speedway and Family Express have been selling bad BP gasoline.

So people who were boycotting BP, weren't really boycotting it at all. Hopefully people keep this list in mind.

[diggler]

See all those non-BP stations ??

[MCRogers1974]

So people who were boycotting BP, weren't really boycotting it at all. Hopefully people keep this list in mind.

BP can simply sell their gasoline to Family Express and people never know the true origin if their fuel.