Several Euclid drivers say a routine fill-up turned into a costly repair job after gas from a Sunoco station on East 222nd allegedly left their cars sidelined. Cuyahoga County investigators report finding unusually high levels of water in an underground storage tank that feeds the station’s regular unleaded pumps. One driver says a sample pulled from her vehicle’s fuel tank was “nothing but water” and estimates roughly $1,600 in towing and repair bills. County officials and the station’s distributor are now involved while motorists and insurance companies work to track and document the damage.
County: Tank Alarm, Then Mixed Test Results
According to county officials, a high-water alarm for the tank that supplies regular gas first went off on Wednesday, and readings over several days showed elevated water levels. A weights-and-measures inspector visited the station that Wednesday, then returned Thursday to test the tank using a measuring stick coated with water-detecting paste.
The county told News 5 Cleveland that national weights and measures guidance allows only one quarter of an inch of water in a tank that holds ethanol-blended fuel. Inspectors reported that last Thursday’s paste test passed those standards, although the county cautioned that the fuel-and-water mix in a tank can shift with each new delivery. Officials also noted the station has had only two complaints filed in the last decade, and neither involved the quality of its fuel.
Driver Says Tank Was Mostly Water, Sunoco Says It Is Looking Into It
Driver Ashley Ross says she filled up at the station on Thursday and immediately thought something was off because the pump was running unusually slowly. A few hours later, she says, her car would not start. Ross told investigators that dealership testing showed her tank contained “nothing but water” with only about an inch of gasoline floating on top.
Ross says she spent roughly $1,600 out of pocket on towing and repairs, missed a day of work and later saw similar complaints from other customers on social media. A Sunoco spokesperson told News 5 Cleveland the company had no prior contamination reports for that specific station and is investigating alongside its distributor. County officials say their consumer-protection unit is waiting on documentation from the affected driver in order to assist with an insurance claim.
How Inspectors Look For Water In Gas
When crews check for water in an underground storage tank, they typically lower a gage bar or measuring rod into the tank after coating it with a water-indicating paste. Wherever the rod contacts free water at the bottom, the paste either changes color or wipes away. That field method, outlined in the U.S. Army petroleum manual FM 10-67-1, is mainly a quick screening tool.
To actually quantify contamination or spot issues like phase separation and sediment that can damage engines, samples have to be collected and analyzed in a lab. County inspectors say they will retest pumps and related equipment when complaints come in and that they follow national procedures when a customer reports engine problems right after a fill-up.
What To Do If You Think You Got Bad Gas
If you suspect your vehicle was damaged after buying fuel, hang on to every scrap of paperwork. Keep your pump and payment receipts, as well as towing and repair invoices, and file a complaint quickly so inspectors can review pumps and tank readouts while the trail is still fresh.
The Cuyahoga County Weights and Measures office handles gas station complaints within the county and can be reached at 216-443-7035. County officials say they will help drivers assemble documentation for station insurance when that is appropriate. Get any repair work documented by a qualified mechanic and keep all records to support potential insurance or consumer-protection claims.
