Pattaya driver warns of possible fuel contamination after car breakdown

Bangkok, Thailand – A car owner is urging motorists to be cautious after she experienced significant car problems during a fuel stop at a petrol station in Nongprue, East Pattaya on August 21. After filling up her white Toyota Avanza with 1,000 baht worth of petrol, the vehicle began to stall just one kilometre from the petrol station and the engine warning light came on.

Ms Saengarun R, 44, managed to pull over on Sukhumvit Road but had to stop as the car's power was waning. A mechanic diagnosed a faulty fourth fuel injector, which showed signs of carbon buildup and moisture. The spark plugs were also blackened, leading Ms Sangarun to conclude that contaminated fuel was the cause. She had the car towed back to the petrol station to fix the problem.

The station manager assured Ms. Saengarun that their fuel met quality standards and was not contaminated. They measured the fuel in their storage tanks in the presence of the car owner and the police, but refused to test the fuel in Ms. Sangarun's vehicle due to possible complications if the fuel turned out to be contaminated.

Ms Saengarun, who had heard of similar incidents but never expected such a thing to happen to her, expressed frustration at the station's refusal to take responsibility. She has since taken her car for repairs and filed a report with Nongprue Police Station. Depending on the cost of the repairs, she is considering legal action to protect consumer rights and ensure that similar cases are handled by the authorities.