BETHLEHEM TWP., Pa. — As authorities investigate exactly what led to 18 vehicles becoming disabled after fueling up at a township gas station Tuesday, the owner is asking affected customers to reach out to him for help.
Jimmy Singh, owner of Raceway gas station at 3608 Freemansburg Ave., said signs point to a gasoline delivery contaminated with water as the cause of the vehicular issues.
Singh said his station got a delivery of 1,000 gallons of super-grade gasoline, 1,000 gallons of diesel and 6,000 gallons of regular gasoline about 8 a.m. Tuesday.
Singh said that from what he understands at the moment, 89 and 91 octane gasolines were affected because the normal tank may have had some water pumped into it, and the 91 octane fuel consists of a blend of 66% regular gas and 34% super.
Just after 11 a.m., a customer contacted Singh stating he had an issue with his vehicle after getting gas from Raceway.
Township Police Capt. Shaun Powell confirmed officers responded to a report of numerous vehicles disabled in the vicinity of Raceway late Tuesday morning.
Police quickly discovered the drivers all had refueled their vehicles at the station.
Several tow truck drivers and local residents warned their neighbors online to avoid the station because of a supposed mix-up in which a fuel delivery driver pumped diesel fuel into the regular gasoline tanks.
But that assumption likely is incorrect.
'Something wrong with the gas'
Singh said he originally assumed there could have been a mix-up, with the delivery person pumping diesel into the super tank.
He said he proceeded to check the regular gas, and noticed “a kind of separation,” indicating “something was wrong with the gas.”
After he checked his pump reports from before and after the delivery, Singh reached out to the delivery driver.
“I called the delivery guy. I said, ‘Do you know what happened here? Do you know how we got the water in the tank?Jimmy Singh, owner of Raceway gas station
“I called the delivery guy," he said. "I said, ‘Do you know what happened here? Do you know how we got the water in the tank?
"Because we just got the delivery, and before the delivery, we didn’t have anything in the tank, everything was good, you know? We sold gas the day before, and we had a delivery on the fifteenth, you know, and to the 20th, we had no issues.
“And then I called the terminal where we pick up the gas from Sunoco, and they said, ‘We don't have any issues so far and we don't know what happened.’
"And I said, ‘So we pull the gas from you guys, right? And my delivery guy picked it up, so it either happened in terminal or the truck, you know, because we don't have any water in my tank, because I have all the reports.’”
'We'll be back in business'
Singh confirmed representatives from the state and county Weights & Measurements Departments were on the scene Tuesday and Wednesday.
Northampton County Deputy Director of Administration & Public Information Officer Brittney Waylen said the state’s Weights & Measures Department and the county’s Weights & Measures Division were on site at the station Wednesday morning.
"I am telling all my customers, ‘We’re going to take care of the repairs.’”Raceway owner Jimmy Singh
She said the source of the problem has not yet been confirmed, and “the incident is ongoing.”
“Testing is being conducted today by the state, and they also handle sending the tests to a lab for results, which can take up to two weeks."
Waylen said Raceway currently is open to only sell Premium 93 and diesel fuel, "as those were unaffected.” Waylen said the county department must return to the station before it can fully reopen.
Singh said he has contacted another company to come clean the tanks, with additional testing set to be conducted Monday.
Singh said Thursday he also may seek compensation from the delivery company or other responsible parties to help address customer repairs.
“And then we’ll be back in the business," he said. "But I am telling all my customers, ‘We’re going to take care of the repairs.’”
'Leads to engine stalling'
Singh also said he has always strived to provide good service to his customers with lower prices than other local stations and full service.
According to Fuel Logic, the presence of water in gasoline can quickly cause problems by weakening fuel combustion.
"If water mixes with fuel in the gas tank, it disrupts the density that injectors can handle. Ultimately, it stresses the injectors and leads to engine stalling and uneven firing of the engine cylinders.”Fuel Logic’s website
“Most cars made in the last two decades use fuel injectors instead of carburetors," Fuel Logic’s website states. "These injectors spray the required fuel into the engine's combustion chamber.
"If water mixes with fuel in the gas tank, it disrupts the density that injectors can handle. Ultimately, it stresses the injectors and leads to engine stalling and uneven firing of the engine cylinders.”
That can lead to corrosion and rust, and potentially fuel system failure.
While there are do-it-yourself options to address water in a gas tank, in the case that water was present in the fuel when it was pumped into the tank, it is best to have the tank drained and the fuel system cleaned by a mechanic, it says.
Singh has said anyone affected by the potentially contaminated gasoline can contact him at 610-866-9041 or 610-570-4200.
