50% water, 50% fuel found in tanks of vehicles that filled up at Edmonton gas station

Cars that filled up at a south Edmonton gas station had a 50-50 mixture of water and fuel in the tanks, according to a dealership. Amanda Anderson reports.

A shop working on vehicles that got contaminated gas at a south Edmonton Esso Circle K station this week says the gas was 50 per cent water.

Drivers have been reporting water in the gas purchased from the station at Ellerslie Road and Summerside Drive this week.

Colton William of Kross Mitsubishi says he has seven vehicles currently in his service bay that were impacted by the gas, and he’s in touch with two other customers who can’t get their vehicles into the shop because they won’t start.

“The mix that we’re seeing is about 50 per cent water and then 50 per cent fuel, which is enough that it actually won’t combust and spark inside of the engine. At that point, your vehicle is not drivable because you can’t actually turn the engine over,” William told CTV News Edmonton on Thursday.

“For the first couple runs of the vehicle, you’re still getting some fuel mixture through the lines, and then eventually the more water that goes through, the worse the problem gets.”

He says anyone who believes they may have contaminated gas should get their vehicle towed to a shop immediately.

What to do if you have water in your gas tank

“First thing and foremost, don’t drive the car. The more you drive the car, the more that fuel is going to go through the system and potentially damage other components,” he said.

“Even running it for 10 to 15 minutes can slowly pull that water and fuel content into the rest of the engine.”

He says it’s important to make sure the vehicle is properly serviced.

“If you’re just having it pulled out of the tank and then a fuel additive done, then there can still be moisture throughout the entire fuel system, as well as possible fouling of the spark plugs,” he said.

“That’s why we dropped the tank out of the car in most situations and actually can clean out the tank. Then you’re running the proper additive through the car to clean out all the lines.”

And prepare for a big bill when your vehicle leaves the shop.

“It varies from fuel and depending on the car,” William said.

“For a Mitsubishi, which is what all of our experiences are here, you’re anywhere from $1,500 to worst case scenario $2,500 to $3,000.”

Options for compensation

If you have insurance, you may be able to recoup some of your losses.

Anne Marie Thomas of the Insurance Bureau of Canada says drivers should save all receipts and documentation.

“If there is damage from fuel contamination, it might be covered under the auto policy if comprehensive or all perils coverage was purchased,” Thomas told CTV News Edmonton.

“Your insurance company is going to require proof that you purchased the gas. Your receipt has all that good stuff on it, date, time, etc. Then any mechanic reports you have.”

She also suggests getting a sample of the contaminated gas from your mechanic if possible.

“If there is an investigation that has to happen, then you can provide that gas sample to the insurance policy of the gas station. I don’t know that your auto insurance company is going to test the gas sample, but definitely the insurance policy of the gas bar owner might want that.”

If you don’t have comprehensive coverage, you have fewer options.

“What you can do is chat with a lawyer,” she said. “Is there any way for the driver to be compensated from the owner of the gas bar’s insurance policy?”

The minister for Service Alberta says customers can make a claim against the company online with the provincial consumer investigation unit.

An anonymous complaint can also be made by phoning 1-877-427-4088 or locally at 780-427-4088.

A spokesperson for Couche-Tard, which owns Circle K, did not respond to questions from CTV News Edmonton on Thursday.

In a statement on Wednesday the company said it was aware of a “small number of customer concerns” and is taking the matter seriously.

Affected customers were encouraged to contact the Couche-Tard customer service team, but no number was provided.

A spokesperson for Imperial Oil, which owns Esso, said Imperial Oil sold all of its retail sites in 2016.

“[Imperial Oil] now sells fuel (branded and unbranded) to wholesalers across the country. Esso and Mobil sites are owned and managed by independent businesses,” Ruth Anne Beck wrote in an email to CTV News Edmonton.

No further information was provided.

On Wednesday, CTV News Edmonton captured images of a company servicing the tanks at the gas station.

The same company was back working at the station on Thursday.

With files from CTV News Edmonton’s Amanda Anderson.