Bad gasoline, tampered with?

[JeffsJeep04]

One of our company trucks went down, this is what they pulled out of the tank. Truck is always filled up at regular pumps, frequently used stations. Smells like a combination of old gas and a big black permeant marker, and oder is very strong. Gas has been sitting for ~12 hours prior to picture, and there is some sediment coming out of it, but the color doesn't seem to be noticeably changing. Any thoughts? Don't worry, plastic bottle is temporary.

 

[saberz]

Dark colored, typically fuel is a clear/lighter tone. You could pull a sample from the fuel station and test it if you find they are the culprit.

If you think its the driver/operator, get that sample tested to see whats in it. Looks almost like he did #1 in there.

 

[John K]

Diesel fuel added inadvertently?

 

[Michael_P]

High iron content gas looks and smells like that.

 

[scurvy]

Originally Posted By: John K
Diesel fuel added inadvertently?
All the on-road diesel fuel I've ever used is very, very light yellow, sometimes nearly fluorescent pale straw color.

Possible rust/sediment contamination or even used motor oil dumped into the tank? Off-road gasoline or diesel? Parts washer solvent? Could be anything, really.

 

[Boomer]

Back in the mid 1970's in western Indiana where I lived at the time, there was a rash of failed engines and it was traced to aa service station who was pouring used solvents into their underground gas tanks in an effort to apparently make a few extra bucks by stretching their gasoline. Much of it was acetone if I remeber and it caused all kinds of problems.

I would certianly see if your company would pay a lab to do a gas chromatographic/mass spec analysis of this stuff to see what it is and see if can be traced to a particular station.

 

[JeffsJeep04]

We were able to find out what station it was last filled up at. The guy who was driving it at the time is not one to accidentally put the wrong fuel in, and his personal truck (that he puts a TON of miles on) is a gasser, so I'm sure he didn't put diesel in it. I'm talking with the insurance company, and the chevy rep also has a sample of the gas, so I'm thinking I'll let them foot the bill for testing the sample.

 

[StevieC]

The tanks are taking on water/dirt around them. I have seen fuel come out of the ground via the pumps that looked like that at my dads station when one of the fiber-glass tanks in the ground cracked and was contaminated.

I don't know what it smelled like because I was a lot younger and didn't do such things (Well before BITOG).

Check that the station isn't taking on water/contaminants from broken storage tanks. Just call up the EPA and tell them you suspect this and see how quickly they get to the bottom of it.

We had Government inspectors up here all over my dad and it wasn't even our fault it was a defective tank. He had to replace all the "earth" around the tanks and have soil tests done. What a headache. Insurance paid the bill though. T/G.

 

[CELICA_XX]

I have a vehicle that was parked for 3+ years.

When I finally drained the tank last month, it looked like that.