Shell offers help after sale of contaminated gas in Levittown

Walter Perez Image
Tuesday, June 27, 2017
Shell offers help after sale of contaminated gas
Shell offers help after sale of contaminated gas. Walter Perez reports during Action News at 430pm on June 27, 2017.

LEVITTOWN, Pa. (WPVI) -- Shell is offering help to drivers after contaminated gas was sold in Levittown, Bucks County last week.

The gas came from a station in Levittown, and left a number of customers with damaged vehicles.

Dave Schilling said his SUV started sputtering after he filled up at the station at New Falls Road and Hood Boulevard.

"So I took it to a friend of mine. He says 'it seems like your injectors are all clogged up,' and he's smelling a real funny smell, like a diesel smell," he said.

So Schilling contacted the Bucks County Consumer Protection/Weights and Measures Office.

They tested the gas that was being sold from this station, and it turns out Schilling's friend was right.

"It was approximately 5% contaminated with diesel, and apparently that can do a lot of damage to your car. A lot of residents that have complained to us, their car is either broken down completely or not running properly," said Michael Bannon, director of the Bucks County Consumer Protection/Weights and Measures Office.

In fact, Schilling says he nearly fell over when he found out how much it's going to cost to fix his vehicle.

"I had two different estimates. I went to a GMC dealership and I went to a local mechanic. One guy hit me at $12,900 to do the repair. GMC hit met at $15,000," he said.

Officials from the Shell Oil Company have indicated they are willing to help cover the cost of repairs to vehicles damaged by the tainted gasoline.

They sent Action News a statement reading:

"Shell takes product quality very seriously. Consumers who purchased fuel at the affected station between June 21 and 23, 2017 and believe they are experiencing vehicle issues related to their purchase are encouraged to contact (Shell)."

You can contact Shell by calling (856)486-0550.

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