“These gas stations need to take responsibility.”
A routine fill-up turned into drama for a Phoenix driver who says contaminated gasoline from a flooded Chevron station allegedly destroyed his engine. Now he’s warning others and contemplating legal action against the gas station that he says is dodging responsibility.
TikToker 2j.angel shared his experience in a video that has racked up more than 314,200 views since being posted on Nov. 26. The clip shows severe local flooding at a Chevron gas station that he says is on 35th Avenue and Union Hills in Phoenix, Arizona, with water visibly pooling around the pumps and forecourt area.
“THIS IS THE GAS STATION TO AVOID,” reads text overlaid on the nighttime footage as 2j.angel walks around the flooded station. “BLEW UP MY ENGINE AND ARE AVOIDING LIABILITIES. THEY ARE NOT EVEN SORRY!!”
According to the TikToker, he filled up his Lexus at the station on the morning of Nov. 19 at 7am, before the flooding became apparent. He includes a photo of his car at a gas station with metadata showing the exact time and date, saying, “I always take photos of my car when I fuel up because I love my car and this was the moment before disaster.”
The timing of 2j.angel’s fuel purchase coincides with severe weather that hit Phoenix on Nov. 19. While the station appeared normal during his morning visit, he claims water was already leaking into the underground fuel tanks, contaminating the gasoline with water that would later cause catastrophic engine damage.
“The gas station on 35th ave and union hills, it wasn’t this flooded in the morning when i fueled up but they definitely have water leaking into their tanks; don’t fuel up here!!!” he writes in an insert in the video.
The flooding visible in his nighttime footage tells the story of how the contamination may have occurred. When storm water infiltrates underground storage tanks through compromised seals, faulty caps, or overflow systems, it can mix with gasoline and create a cocktail that’s devastating to modern engines.
Water-contaminated fuel can cause immediate engine problems, including rough idling, stalling, and complete engine failure. In severe cases, water can cause hydrolock, where incompressible water enters the combustion chamber and prevents the piston from completing its stroke, potentially bending connecting rods or cracking the engine block.
In his video, 2j.angel reveals in an insert that his engine is “blown” and confirms he’s seeking legal representation. “If any lawyers want to step in pls let me know,” he writes. “I think this is a pretty clear case with the right lawyer.”
The TikToker also shows himself exchanging contact information with another allegedly affected motorist at the flooded station. “These gas stations need to take responsibility for what they did to our cars,” he states. “Imagine all the people that fueled up this day and never found out that the problem was the gas.”
The video’s comment section has become a hub for both support and horror stories from other drivers who’ve dealt with contaminated fuel.
“I think you can sue them for damages caused by water in gasoline,” wrote one commenter.
Several users shared their own experiences with successful legal action. “I sued Circle K about my engine n I won,” commented user Huncho, adding, “make sure you keep all the documents that’s the key part then get a lawyer asap.”
Another commenter, Sun Devil Studios, recounted a similar incident, “A Valero had this happen near me and it happened to about 15 people before they had people warning you not to get gas. And months later you see in the newspaper they had to pay out for 15 new cars.”
One self-identified lawyer in the comments suggested the liability might not be straightforward, writing, “Chevron is actually NOT liable. Seek local legal advice on why.” However, another commenter claiming to be an attorney disagreed, “I’m also a lawyer and Chevron is 100% liable.”
The legal landscape for contaminated fuel cases is complex but established. Gas stations can be held liable for damage if they were aware of contamination issues and failed to take corrective action, such as withdrawing contaminated fuel or warning customers. Proving liability requires showing the fuel was tainted at the time of purchase and that contamination caused the damage—which typically requires prompt fuel sample testing and documentation.
Modern gas stations are equipped with systems designed to detect water in fuel tanks. Underground storage tanks typically have monitoring systems that can detect both fuel levels and water contamination. These Veeder-Root systems are designed to alert station operators when water levels exceed safe thresholds.
“Idk how they didn’t catch they had an issue,” commented Durk92. “The Veeder Root systems that read the tanks fuel levels also detect for water levels within the fuel too. I wouldn’t doubt if they just kept hitting clear when the alarms would go off on them.”
When these safety systems are ignored or malfunctioning, contaminated fuel can be dispensed to unsuspecting customers. The results can be expensive: engine repairs for water damage typically range from thousands of dollars for fuel system cleaning to complete engine replacement costing $15,000 or more for luxury vehicles.
The incident highlights the importance of avoiding gas stations during or immediately after severe weather events. Flooding can compromise underground storage tank integrity, leading to water contamination that may not be immediately apparent. Similar incidents have occurred at gas stations affected by flooding, with dozens of vehicles damaged before stations realized their fuel was contaminated.
For drivers who suspect fuel contamination, experts recommend stopping driving immediately, documenting everything with photos and receipts, and seeking professional diagnosis before attempting any repairs. Proper documentation is crucial for any potential legal claims, as proving the fuel was contaminated at the time of purchase requires samples, mechanical analysis, and a clear causal chain linking the contaminated fuel to engine damage.
2j.angel’s case shows how a routine gas station visit can turn into an expensive nightmare when the weather compromises fuel quality.
Motor1 reached out to 2j.angel via TikTok direct message and to Chevron via their website’s media contact form. Motor1 also left a voicemail with the consumer complaint department with Chevron corporate at the phone number listed for a station located at an address that appears to match 2j.angel’s description. We’ll be sure to update this if they respond.
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