‘Expensive trip to the gas station’: water in Selkirk underground fuel tank linked to series of vehicle failures By: Chris Kitching Posted: 5:25 PM CDT Monday, Apr. 10, 2023

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This article was published 10/04/2023 (881 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Several Manitoba drivers were left stranded when their vehicles broke down on the roadside shortly after they filled up at a Selkirk gas station on Easter Sunday.

The drivers, who are facing insurance claims, repairs and inconvenience, allege the gasoline they pumped into their vehicles at an Esso location was contaminated with water.

“This was an expensive trip to the gas station,” said Pamela Ostop, whose pickup truck died Sunday night.

She and her boyfriend had pumped about $80 worth of regular gasoline into her GMC Sierra and $40 into two jerry cans.

“We didn’t even make it a kilometre before the truck started sputtering and shuddering, and lost power,” said Ostop, who missed work Monday because she is without a vehicle.

While stuck on the side of the road, she noticed a vehicle parked on the shoulder and another that had its hazard lights flashing after coming to a stop in a median.

Ostop said a man who stopped his car behind her truck told her several vehicles, including his daughter’s, which was in the median, broke down shortly after leaving the Esso station.

On Monday, Ostop said she and her boyfriend emptied some of the liquid from the jerry cans into a clear plastic jug.

“You can clearly see the separation of water and gas,” she said.

After writing a social media post about her experience, Ostop was contacted by drivers who experienced similar problems.

She said 18 people had contacted her as of Monday afternoon.

Yogesh Sharma, who co-owns the Esso station about 25 kilometres northeast of Winnipeg, said water was found in one of four underground tanks during an inspection.

“We’re working right now to figure it out,” said Sharma.

“We didn’t even make it a kilometre before the truck started sputtering and shuddering, and lost power.”–Pamela Ostop

A company withdrew fuel from the affected tank Monday. Sharma hopes tests will determine how water got into the tank.

The station’s lot was partially flooded amid the spring snow melt, leading to speculation among the affected drivers.

Sharma believes fewer than 10 customers experienced breakdowns. He said his vehicle didn’t have any problems after he filled up at the independent station Sunday.

Affected customers have been invited to fill out a form at the station and submit it for possible compensation.

“It’s a hiccup that happens. That’s why you have insurance,” said Sharma.

Richard Choboter, who works for a tow company, said he towed about six vehicles, including Ostop’s truck and his daughter Ashley Capner’s new Jeep Wrangler Rubicon.

All of the drivers told him they had filled up at the Esso station.

“People were just pissed off,” said Choboter, adding a mechanic who checked his daughter’s vehicle’s gas tank found it was “full of water.”

Choboter said he visited the Esso station Sunday to inform staff and encourage them to turn off the pumps until the problem was resolved.

Capner said her hybrid electric Jeep broke down after she stopped for gas Sunday afternoon. With her vehicle out of service, she missed work Monday and had to make other arrangements to get her son to and from school.

“It’s a hiccup that happens. That’s why you have insurance.”–Yogesh Sharma, Esso station co-owner

She and Ostop questioned why the Esso station continued to sell gasoline after it was made aware of the breakdowns Sunday.

“We get it, things happen, but they’re still selling gas,” said Capner.

Sharma confirmed the pumps linked to the affected tank, where water was discovered, were later shut down.

Pumps connected to the unaffected tanks continued to operate, he said.

Capner and Ostop have opened claims with Manitoba Public Insurance. Ostop said she will likely have to pay for a rental car until her truck is fixed.

It was unclear how many customers have made claims with MPI.

“For all claims involving vehicle damage from suspected contaminated gas, MPI investigates the cause of the damage and works with the customer and repair facility as part of the claim process,” spokeswoman Kristy Rydz wrote in an email.

“Customers are asked to ensure their repair shop saves a gas sample, along with any parts that were replaced, prior to making a claim.”

Imperial Oil, which licenses the Esso brand name and sells wholesale fuel, sold all of its retail sites in 2016.

A spokeswoman deferred comment to the station in Selkirk.

chris.kitching@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @chriskitching