Water and Petrol

[stupidfarang]

The mother in law filled up her new Toyota truck (3 months old) at a very small country service station in Chumphon. a few days later a oil warning light was flashing, told them to take it back to the dealer as the oil was ok. Dealer took the fuel tank off and found a mixture of water and petrol, more water than petrol. Another lady was also at the dealer having her motorbike looked at and she had the same problem and had purchased fuel at the same station. Turns out that some places mix water into the fuel tanks so that they make more money out of the fuel they pump. Bastards! Anyway 2,400BHAT later all fixed and a note to the mother in law to now only fill up at the large well known stations.

So a warning to us all I think.

Anyone else had this problem?

Edit: Inserted Photos from new topic by OP

[Bantex]

It's puzzling why people keep going to them for fuel. Has word not spread through the area?

[stoneyboy]

PTT only service stations I've ever used.

[NUUM]

Urban myth. Thais only mix water (in solid form) with their beer and whisky...

[stupidfarang]

It's puzzling why people keep going to them for fuel. Has word not spread through the area?

Not sure maybe they over did the percentage of water mix this time. But amazing that it happen at all

[fakename]

It could be that their underground tank is leaking, or surface water is getting in.

[Scouse Twoccer]

There is something very odd about this post.

1. Why would the oil pressure warning light come on as a result of there being water in the fuel? That would suggest that there was a substantial amount of water in the sump, not the tank, being pumped around the engine. If that really was the case then there are soon going to be problems that 2400 baht won't get anywhere near fixing.

2. Why had there been no indication of something being wrong (apart from the inexplicable oil pressure warning) if the tank contained more water than petrol?

3. As petrol is lighter than water and would settle on top of water making two separate levels, how could a fuel supplier pump a mixture of petrol and water into a tank when the two liquids cannot mix?

4. Why was a motorcyclist having their bike looked at by a Toyota dealer?

[fredob43]

Water quite often gets into garage tanks normally not a problem as its at the bottom.

But if they have just had a new fill up or running very low, it can be sucked up via the pump on delivery.

Just normally causes minor problems in a car. The worst being it will run rough till it's cleared

itself. What the oil light was doing coming on Buddha only knows.

It did happen once to myself causing a large problem that was in Kulusuk Greenland after filling up a light aircraft, then taking off and within 10 Min: little or no engines now that's when you do have problems.

Local garage more than likely running low and haven't/never had their tanks cleaned. Best bet don't use them, only use the big ones that are busy all the time.

[stupidfarang]

There is something very odd about this post.

1. Why would the oil pressure warning light come on as a result of there being water in the fuel? That would suggest that there was a substantial amount of water in the sump, not the tank, being pumped around the engine. If that really was the case then there are soon going to be problems that 2400 baht won't get anywhere near fixing.

2. Why had there been no indication of something being wrong (apart from the inexplicable oil pressure warning) if the tank contained more water than petrol?

3. As petrol is lighter than water and would settle on top of water making two separate levels, how could a fuel supplier pump a mixture of petrol and water into a tank when the two liquids cannot mix?

4. Why was a motorcyclist having their bike looked at by a Toyota dealer?

Nothing odd about this post

1) Have no idea why the light came on, was told it was the Oil light (as I was not there, but hey this is Thailand and they call petrol oil)

2) There was an indication, the warning light was on, inlaw checked the oil and all was ok, so she had no idea what was wrong (she is not a mechanic)

3) No idea how a fuel supplier can pump a mixture of petrol and water but pump they did.

4) No idea why a motorcyclist was in at the Toyota dealer, was not there, inlaw did not ask her, maybe her uncle owns it? Who cares, she was there and stranger things happen in Thailand so I am not surprised.

I have photos of the water in the tank, but having trouble uploading them as attachments, keeps on telling me no file was selected. if someone will tell me how to do it then I will.

[stupidfarang]

Urban myth. Thais only mix water (in solid form) with their beer and whisky...

Ice in beer is not normal and ice in whisky is a crime

[Pomthai]

If there is ethanol in the fuel the water can and does mix somewhat.

[JaseTheBass]

Urban myth. Thais only mix water (in solid form) with their beer and whisky...

Ice in beer is not normal and ice in whisky is a crime

Ice in beer is a must here, otherwise you'll taste it.

[alanrchase]

There is something very odd about this post.

1. Why would the oil pressure warning light come on as a result of there being water in the fuel? That would suggest that there was a substantial amount of water in the sump, not the tank, being pumped around the engine. If that really was the case then there are soon going to be problems that 2400 baht won't get anywhere near fixing.

2. Why had there been no indication of something being wrong (apart from the inexplicable oil pressure warning) if the tank contained more water than petrol?

3. As petrol is lighter than water and would settle on top of water making two separate levels, how could a fuel supplier pump a mixture of petrol and water into a tank when the two liquids cannot mix?

4. Why was a motorcyclist having their bike looked at by a Toyota dealer?

I believe the fuel filter warning light flashes if it is contaminated with water so probably a bit confused about which warning light it was.

[overherebc]

There is something very odd about this post.

1. Why would the oil pressure warning light come on as a result of there being water in the fuel? That would suggest that there was a substantial amount of water in the sump, not the tank, being pumped around the engine. If that really was the case then there are soon going to be problems that 2400 baht won't get anywhere near fixing.

2. Why had there been no indication of something being wrong (apart from the inexplicable oil pressure warning) if the tank contained more water than petrol?

3. As petrol is lighter than water and would settle on top of water making two separate levels, how could a fuel supplier pump a mixture of petrol and water into a tank when the two liquids cannot mix?

4. Why was a motorcyclist having their bike looked at by a Toyota dealer?

Nothing odd about this post

1) Have no idea why the light came on, was told it was the Oil light (as I was not there, but hey this is Thailand and they call petrol oil)

2) There was an indication, the warning light was on, inlaw checked the oil and all was ok, so she had no idea what was wrong (she is not a mechanic)

3) No idea how a fuel supplier can pump a mixture of petrol and water but pump they did.

4) No idea why a motorcyclist was in at the Toyota dealer, was not there, inlaw did not ask her, maybe her uncle owns it? Who cares, she was there and stranger things happen in Thailand so I am not surprised.

I have photos of the water in the tank, but having trouble uploading them as attachments, keeps on telling me no file was selected. if someone will tell me how to do it then I will.

Re the petrol/oil thing. I did get confused when after being away working for 4 months the Thai guy living next door told me I should drain out the oil and put in fresh oil. Only a couple of days later did I realise he was talking about the petrol in the tank.

[Lancashirelad]

There is something very odd about this post.

1. Why would the oil pressure warning light come on as a result of there being water in the fuel? That would suggest that there was a substantial amount of water in the sump, not the tank, being pumped around the engine. If that really was the case then there are soon going to be problems that 2400 baht won't get anywhere near fixing.

2. Why had there been no indication of something being wrong (apart from the inexplicable oil pressure warning) if the tank contained more water than petrol?

3. As petrol is lighter than water and would settle on top of water making two separate levels, how could a fuel supplier pump a mixture of petrol and water into a tank when the two liquids cannot mix?

4. Why was a motorcyclist having their bike looked at by a Toyota dealer?

I believe the fuel filter warning light flashes if it is contaminated with water so probably a bit confused about which warning light it was.

Obviously there was confusion about which warning light was flashing, however the contaminated filter light is usually only found on diesels.