WASHINGTON INFORMER: Not far from the local Six Flags America, a Sunoco gas station was closed for approximately one day last week while existing fuel was replaced due to customer complaints.
Jon Mack, a customer who pumped gas from this station into his new Mustang a few weeks ago, ended up with a $1,300 bill at the mechanic because of the gas content. According to his mechanic, it was 85% water. While Sunoco’s corporate headquarters did pay for the repairs, Mack still had concerns.
“I want to know how it happened because even when I called the Sunoco corporate headquarters, the guy I spoke to said this issue has been going on and it, supposedly, had been resolved. I want to know how this is even going on, to begin with,” said Mack. “I think they’re just putting a Band-Aid on the issue, and it’s not any kind of resolve. I think if I hadn’t come forward, this issue would have still been going on with other customers.”
The Comptroller’s Office, which regulates fuel sales, did a Stop Sale at this location until the fuel was replaced and tested.
“A Compliance Inspector was sent to the scene and conducted a test of the fuel to be analyzed. Upon the Inspector’s arrival, it was determined that Sunoco was already aware of contamination,” wrote a spokesperson with the Comptroller’s Office shortly after the incident.
A Stop Sale was ordered as Sunoco removed the contaminated fuel from their tanks.
The Sunoco station subsequently received a fresh load of fuel, and samples were collected for testing. Initial analysis of the new fuel shipment did not show any contamination, and the station was provided a conditional release from the Stop Sale order pending completion of all analyses next week.
Conditional release procedures are standard practice following the delivery of new fuel to a retailer after a contaminated fuel event.
The Comptroller’s Field Enforcement Bureau continues to investigate the source of the original contaminated fuel shipment, and will continue to analyze samples per the normal testing procedures associated with a conditional release.”
