The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services has launched an investigation into a gas station in Westlake for allegedly dispensing diesel fuel in a premium gasoline pump.
The state agency said the probe began on July 21 after seven residents reported engine damage to their vehicles after filling them up at the Mobil gas station located on the intersection of Persimmon Boulevard and Seminole Pratt Road.
"The station manager admitted to our inspector that diesel was accidentally placed into the premium tank," FDACS said in a statement. "Once the station realized this and before our inspector arrived, the tank was pumped out and replaced with a new delivery of premium gas."
An FDACS spokesperson said the agency is awaiting a lab analysis
to determine if any diesel fuel was still in the tank but it did not appear to be so upon visual inspection in the field.
Drivers who believe their vehicles were affected can file a claim through FDAC's website or click here.
What happens to if you fill a gas vehicle with diesel?
Putting diesel into a gas-powered car can lead to serious engine damage, according to Kelly Blue Book.
Diesel is thicker and more viscous than gasoline, which can clog and damage a gasoline-powered engine.
The extent of the damage depends on how much diesel was pumped into the tank and whether the vehicle was started. Diesel will clog fuel injectors and foul spark plugs. As a result, the vehicle may lose power, stall and eventually fail to restart.
Unburned diesel can also reach the exhaust system and damage the catalytic converter, which helps reduce emissions.
If diesel is mistakenly pumped into a gasoline-powered vehicle, experts recommend not starting the engine. Instead, contact a repair shop to have the fuel tank drained and cleaned. Driving the vehicle with diesel in the tank can lead to additional repairs and higher costs.
Valentina Palm covers immigration and breaking news for The Palm Beach Post. Email her at vpalm@pbpost.com and follow her on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, at @ValenPalmB. Support local journalism: Subscribe today
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: State investigates Westlake gas station over diesel in gas pump
