Tainted BP gas not in Michigan

WHITING, Ind. (WOOD) - About 200 retail outlets in northwest Indiana and the Chicago area were supplied with BP gas over the past week that did not meet specifications, and about 20 retail sites in Milwaukee also received it, the company said in a release late Wednesday afternoon.

Earlier reports that the gasoline was delivered to four states was not verified. Michigan is not among the states that received the tainted gas.

The company said, "This fuel, sourced from BP’s Whiting, Indiana and Milwaukee, Wisconsin gasoline storage terminals, contained a higher than normal level of polymeric residue, which can lead to hard starting and other driveability issues."

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Earlier report:

A 50,000-barrel batch of contaminated fuel from a BP refinery in northwest Indiana has fouled countless vehicles in as many as four states since last week, The Chicago Tribune reports.

About 2.1 million gallons have been recalled by BP's Whiting refinery after hundreds of people reported their vehicles were hard to start and stalling the past few days.

The Chicago Tribune reports while the problem is centered in Lake County, Ind., BP executives said the fuel has made its way across state lines into Illinois and Wisconsin, with unconfirmed reports that stations in southwest Michigan may also be affected.

BP believes the batch of gasoline shipped from its Whiting fuel storage terminal Aug. 13-17 contained a higher level of a polymeric residue.

BP spokesman Scott Dean said Tuesday it has received 4,500 calls and 800 email messages from affected Indiana motorists since announcing the recall a day earlier, according to the Associated Press.

The oil company says customers whose vehicles have experienced such problems caused by the fuel should send it an email at bpconsum@bp.com or call 1-800-333-3991. Dean says customers should provide receipts for the repairs and fuel purchase, if available, or credit card bills showing the fuel purchase at affected retailers.

BP has apologized for inconveniences caused to customers and set up a website explaining the situation.