DENVER — At least 19 gas stations, possibly more, in the Denver metro area received unleaded gasoline contaminated with diesel, according to Colorado’s Department of Labor and Employment.
The agency said Monday that it has received more than 400 consumer complaints about contaminated fuel.
The issue traces back to fuel loaded at the HF Sinclair terminal in Henderson on Thursday and Friday.
King Soopers was the first retailer to publicly confirm affected sites so far.
Impacted King Soopers locations include:
- 14967 Candelas Pkwy., Arvada
- 25701 E Smoky Hill Rd., Aurora
- 17000 E Iliff Ave., Aurora
- 3050 S Peoria St., Aurora
- 1045 S 1St St., Bennett
- 12167 Sheridan Blvd., Broomfield
- 2355 W 136Th Ave., Broomfield
- 7284 Lagae Rd., Castle Pines
- 750 N Ridge Rd., Castle Rock
- 5125 W Florida Ave., Denver
- 1611 Pace St., Longmont
- 12959 S Parker Rd., Parker
- 17761 Cottonwood Dr., Parker
On Monday, Safeway confirmed that some of its fuel centers were also impacted:
The Safeway locations that may have received this fuel include:
- 27152 Main Street, Conifer CO
- 2160 W. Drake Road, Fort Collins CO
- 731 Thornton Parkway, Thornton CO
- 8134 Colorado Blvd., Firestone CO
- 810 S. Greeley Hwy, Cheyenne WY
The Division of Oil and Public Safety (OPS) also confirmed contamination at a Costco in Sheridan, and complaints have come from both Costco and Murphy Express customers.
The division notified 3,000 gas station owners across the state. Inspectors are collecting additional samples to determine the full scope.
OPS has also requested that Sinclair produce a list of retailers that received the contaminated fuel. However, OPS said Sinclair has not yet produced such a list.
A spokesperson for King Soopers said that after learning of the contamination, it shut down the affected pumps immediately.
"We are aware that several of our locations recently received contaminated unleaded fuel from a third-party supplier that does not meet our quality standards. As soon as we became aware of the issue, we took immediate action by shutting down the impacted fuel lines and dispatching teams to perform thorough diagnostics. We are working diligently to complete the remediation process and get all pumps back online," King Soopers said in a statement.
A spokesperson for Safeway said that customers impacted by the fuel contamination can file a claim at the Safeway fuel location they filled up at.
"We have received a limited number of customer complaints, and we are committed to working directly with any customer who believes they may have been impacted. Customers who experienced engine issues after fueling at one of these locations on the morning of January 8th may stop by the fuel center or the store for information on filing a claim," a Safeway spokesperson said in a statement.
Officials expect 24–36 hours for stations to fully remove the contaminants from affected pumps.
What can diesel contamination do to a regular unleaded vehicle?
Diesel contamination will prevent proper combustion, clog fuel system components, foul spark plugs, and damage catalytic converters.
Denver area drivers reported engines stalling, shaking, losing power, or dying completely.
“He was driving into work down the highway, got about 15 miles away, and that's when it started to slow down. He was trying to accelerate. It just became really sluggish and then completely died," said Castle Pines resident MeiLon Dizmang, whose husband filled up at the King Soopers gas station on Lagae Road Thursday morning.
What can you do if you suspect diesel contamination?
If you bought regular unleaded after Wednesday afternoon and your vehicle is acting up, contact the gas station where you fueled.
Mechanics advise not driving the vehicle; have it towed to avoid further damage.
Consumers can also file a complaint with OPS.
The Rocky Mountain Insurance Association said an insurance company might pay for a tow, but insurance doesn’t cover mechanical issues.
How did this happen?
It's not yet clear how diesel got into the unleaded fuel supply at the HF Sinclair terminal in Henderson. State officials are still investigating, and OPS is considering appropriate enforcement mechanisms available in current OPS rules and regulations.
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