Contaminated fuel causes multiple breakdowns on Sydney motorway

Caltex is investigating how fuel bought from one of its Sydney service stations caused 20 cars to break down this morning.

Source: AAP

There were delays on the M4 in Sydney this morning after 20 cars broke down due to contaminated petrol.

The breakdowns occurred after commuters filled up with E10 fuel at a Caltex Service Station at Eastern Creek.

Peter Khoury from the NRMA said that up to 15 calls had been made to the NRMA Roadside Assistance this morning.

“When we realised what happened, we sent the patrol team down to the Caltex, and they shut down the affected pumps,” he said.

“We got there with enough time to prevent it going any further.”

“We are now in the process of getting tow trucks out to the location because the affected cars will literally just shut down and there is nothing you can do to start the car again but take the vehicle to a mechanic.”

It is believed that water leakage into the fuel tank is to blame.

“That is consistent with similar events. With a lot of rain and cracks in the fuel tank, there might have even been a burst water main,” Mr Khoury said.

Cars started breaking down on the M4 Motorway, eastbound, before the Prospect Highway.

A Caltex spokesperson told AAP that they would be fully reimbursing the affected motorists.

“Whether it's from mechanical repairs, having to get a taxi, or hiring a car until their car has been fixed, we'll be supporting customers with that cost and reimbursing them."

"No stone will be left un-turned in terms of cost, we'll make sure that customers are not left out of pocket," he said.