Seven Circle K stations across Southwest Florida quietly shut down their pumps after drivers started complaining their cars were choking on bad fuel, with the chain confirming its Bradenton location was among those hit. Crews were sent out to drain, scrub and refill the affected underground tanks, and the company says the sites only reopened once testing showed the problem had been fixed. In the meantime, some unlucky motorists reported smoking engines, stalling and breakdowns that turned into pricey repair jobs.
In a statement to Gulf Coast News Now, Circle K blamed a fuel-quality issue on a third-party supplier, saying several of its retail locations were affected. According to the company, it halted fuel sales at those sites while the storage tanks were emptied, cleaned and refilled with fresh product, then resumed normal operations once testing confirmed the fix. Drivers who ran into car trouble after filling up were told to call Circle K’s claims line at 1-855-276-1947.
As reported by Englewood Review, the problem stations stretch from Bradenton through Fort Myers down to Punta Gorda. The outlet urges anyone who thinks they pumped contaminated fuel to hang on to receipts and any diagnostic paperwork from repair shops. Local mechanics told reporters they are seeing misfiring, heavy exhaust smoke and cars that simply will not stay running, and that fuel-system flushes and tank cleanings can be slow, labor-intensive and expensive…