Wichita Kansas: Motorists claim they were sold watered-down gas

Now THIS would really make me mad...

WICHITA, Kansas, August 12, 2008 -- Water and oil don't mix. Dozens of Wichita drivers are learning that the hard way, after they say at least one filling station in town, sold them watered-down gas.

The Weber's Toyota RAV 4 is only two years old. So, when it started sputtering, shaking, and then stalled this weekend the couple was baffled.

"I was just really aggravated, and we didn't know what was going on,” said Heather Weber. “We never had any problems with the car whatsoever."

The couple had to have their car towed to the dealership and that's where they found out the gas they had bought the day before had water in it.

"When it was tested we had 75 percent water ratio, you're supposed to have no water at one time,” she said. “So, basically we paid for straight water to be pushed into our tank."

Auto shops across town report seeing the same problem in just the last two days.

"We had six vehicles that were towed into us due to water being mixed into the fuel, the vehicles wouldn't run," said Eddy’s Toyota Service Manager Brian Tripp.

Weber says they bought the gas at the Kwik Shop at 21st and Webb Road Sunday afternoon. A spokesperson for the company refused to answer questions and said simply “no comment."

But Weber says the company has offered to reimburse her for all expenses.

Right now, the bill is about $400 to have her car fixed. The water likely won't cause any major engine damage.

"It won't damage it necessarily, this more or less causes problems, it'll die on you, you'll have to have it towed in, have the fuel tank pumped out,” said Tripp.

Still, the Webers wish when they paid $3.50 for a gallon of gas, they wouldn't have gotten water.