Dozens of car owners might have purchased contaminated gas from local station

SOUTH FULTON COUNTY, Ga. — State inspectors are investigating how car owners may have purchased contaminated gasoline.

Several drivers reported issues after filling up at the Sun Petro gas station in Fairburn.

Mike Posey said he bought gas there Thursday morning and when he drove off, warning signals started popping up on his dashboard.

“I get a call from the driver of Triple A who says, ‘Man, there are cars all up and down the road who got gas at the same gas station. It’s not the fuel pump, it’s the gas,’” Posey said.

The Georgia Department of Agriculture monitors gas stations and a spokesperson said an inspector went to the station, took samples from the pumps and found water in the regular and mid-grade gas.

There were also 6 1/2 inches of water in the underground storage tank.

A mechanic at Braxton Automotive Group said water in the gas tank can do serious damage in just a matter of minutes.

“It can break the engine. It can literally break the crankshaft. It can break a lot of vital internal components,” Jason Brock said. “It could be tens of thousands to put an engine in there.”

He said if you suspect there’s water in your tank, shut off the car immediately and get it towed to a mechanic.

Signs on the pumps at the station say they are out of order and unable to operate due to "technical difficulties."

A man who identified himself as the owner said the station will be closed until the issue is resolved.

State officials said the station owner is liable for damage to all vehicles.

Cox Media Group