Experts say receipt key for reimbursement on car damage caused by bad gas

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- You have to do it, buy gasoline, but most of us do not keep the one thing that will help you if bad gas ruins your ride.

It's not what you want to find in your fuel tank. This is what mechanics drained from Hemali Patel's gas tank. She says the gas came from this Exxon on Scott Street and it stopped her within minutes.

"When I accelerated to go over the bridge, my car was just like, it stopped accelerating, it was just rolling down. There was no pressure on the accelerator," said Patel.

Patel says her car was towed to a mechanic who gave her the bad news: Bad gas in her tank was going to cost her $2,200 to fix. So Patel went back to gas station.

"I took the bottle with me and said, 'This is bad gas,' and then the boss ... spoke to me and he's like, 'what do you need?'" said Patel.

The gas station referred Hemali and us to their insurance company.

A spokesperson there said at least 10 people pumped fuel that had water in it. The insurance company says it will pay for repairs and even a rental car.

The lesson here is to always keep the receipt when you buy gas; because she had her receipt, Hemali proved when and where she bought the fuel and the station is going to pay to have her car fixed.