Gas issues arise at Bend, Redmond stations

A state agency is investigating complaints of water in gas from a Central Oregon gas station.

Steve Harrington, a program manager with the Oregon Department of Agriculture’s Weights and Measures Division, confirmed Tuesday there have been two complaints about gas from the Chevron station on Highland Avenue in Redmond.

Specifically, the complaints say there was water in the gas, which may have caused drivers to experience car trouble.

Meanwhile, NewsChannel 21 received complaints from customers at the Space Age gas station on Grandview Avenue at Bend’s north end.

Officials with Space Age said diesel fuel was accidentally unloaded into the premium tank.

That means anyone who filled up with premium between last Wednesday night and Friday actually was getting some diesel put in their car before the station shut off the premium tank.

Quentin Stanko of Bend described his experience after getting the wrong gas put in his car.

“We had an engine light on, it wouldn’t start up,” he said. “It would barely, barely run and I had to really pump the gas to get lots of gas flow through it so it would run.”

Space Age said it is working with its insurance company and gathering information from affected drivers. So far, at least 14 drivers have filed claims.

Officials with Space Age also said they were able to pump out the premium tank Monday.

They’ve refilled it and will start selling premium gas once tests come back showing there’s no more diesel in the tank.

A Space Age Fuel retail manager, Chris Huiard, said there’s an active insurance claim open in regards to the incident.

“Customers can contact our corporate office at 503-212-3900 and we will facilitate getting them into the claim,” Huiard said.

Motorists who believe they’re the victim of a fuel quality issue should report their complaint to ODA’s Weights and Measures Program at (503) 986-4670 or online at https://oda.direct/ISCPComplaint.