Frustrated car owners, who have incurred thousands of dollars in damages, are seeking compensation following engine issues caused by tainted diesel at a service station in Hastings.
Numerous individuals reported to The News that after refuelling at the United petrol station on Frankston-Flinders Road, they experienced vehicle breakdowns or operational problems within the last two weeks.
Ram Vidiyala, the franchisee of the petrol station, confirmed the presence of water in the diesel. He assured that the diesel services were suspended immediately upon discovering the issue until the necessary repairs could be undertaken. The initial customer complaint regarding defective fuel was received on Friday, October 13th.
However, Langwarrin resident Rod Schorres shared that after purchasing 50 litres of diesel for his new Ford Ranger at the station a fortnight ago, he noticed his vehicle slowing down shortly after departure, indicated by a warning light on his dashboard.
Schorres recounted his call to the dealer, who, recognising the signs of water contamination in the fuel system, advised against further driving. The mechanics at Ford in Mornington subsequently informed him that his engine contained 80 to 90 percent water.
Expressing his dissatisfaction, Schorres emphasised the unfairness of paying for what turned out to be mostly water and stated his intention to pursue the issue aggressively.
Another aggrieved customer, Rebecca Wilson of Hastings, urged United Petroleum’s main office to take immediate and fair action in addressing the customers’ requests for reimbursements and coverage of repair expenses.
Wilson’s encounter involved her vehicle, a Hyundai Santa Fe, losing power perilously soon after refuelling on October 15th. She recalled the fear of being stranded on a busy road with her children and waiting two hours for towing services.
Despite noticing another customer facing similar troubles, she had already refuelled. A station attendant, she approached, dismissed her concerns. Although a mechanic friend managed to repair her car by the following Tuesday, Wilson remained sceptical about compensation after an unpromising interaction with United Petroleum’s head office, which questioned the lack of explicit mention of water contamination in her $1030 repair bill.
In the wake of these incidents, even as the service station’s management acknowledged five or six official complaints, social media platforms saw a surge of additional claims from affected customers.
One post highlighted an independent mechanic’s assessment, which revealed a fuel sample to be over half water. The individual urged other victims to come forward, suggesting there is strength in collective action for claims.
In response to the crisis, Vidiyala informed that the compromised fuel has been discarded, and extensive cleaning of the tanks is underway, with a dedicated team at work.
He noted that all claims for compensation must be directed to the corporate office, which remained non-responsive to The News’ inquiries ahead of the Friday 3 p.m. deadline.
For those whose vehicles suffered due to the tainted fuel, submission of a detailed receipt, including the pump number, alongside a comprehensive mechanic’s report, is required for claims.
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