Diesel Accidentally Mixed into Gasoline Tank at Gas Station, Damaging 180 Vehicles

Repair Costs per Vehicle Range from Millions to Tens of Millions of Won
Saha-gu Office in Busan Considering Administrative Action Against Gas Station

A fuel mixing accident occurred at a self-service gas station in Busan, where a blend of gasoline and diesel was pumped into about 180 vehicles. As a result, the local government is currently considering administrative action against the gas station.

According to Yonhap News Agency and the Saha-gu Office on September 5, a station employee mistakenly poured diesel into the gasoline tank while transferring fuel at a self-service gas station in Saha-gu around 11 a.m. on August 25. The following day, customers who refueled at the same pump noticed abnormal symptoms in their vehicles and reported the matter to both the gas station and the Korea Institute of Petroleum Management. As of now, the gas station has confirmed damage to approximately 180 vehicles.

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One impacted vehicle owner said, "My car started making strange noises while driving, so I went to a repair shop and was told it was due to fuel mixing." As a result of this incident, the affected owners are now facing repair costs ranging from at least 1 million won up to several tens of millions of won. When diesel is put into a gasoline vehicle, it can lead to difficulty starting the engine, severe shaking, and loss of power. If the vehicle continues to be driven with mixed fuel for a long time, components such as the fuel pump, injectors, and fuel rail might need inspection or replacement, which can significantly increase repair costs. The gas station has stated that it will compensate the affected vehicle owners.

The Saha-gu Office plans to impose administrative penalties on the gas station based on the results of the investigation by the Korea Institute of Petroleum Management.

According to the Petroleum Business Act, administrative penalties may be imposed if petroleum products that do not meet quality criteria or that fail quality inspections are sold. If the fuel is confirmed to be counterfeit, a business suspension of three months may be imposed; in the case of fuel deemed unfit for quality standards, a suspension of three months or a warning may be issued depending on whether the violation was intentional or the result of gross negligence. If an alternative fine is imposed instead of business suspension, the penalty may be up to 100 million won for counterfeit fuel and up to 30 million won for fuel unfit for quality standards.

An official from the Saha-gu Office stated, "We will take administrative action promptly in accordance with relevant laws as soon as the results of the Korea Institute of Petroleum Management investigation are available," adding, "We will also make every effort to enhance management of gas stations to prevent similar incidents in the future."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.