A viral TikTok video claiming fuel has been contaminated with water has sparked alarm among Australian motorists.
The video, posted by a Queensland man, shows a plastic bottle filled with liquid separated into layers, a thick, murky substance sitting at the bottom, with clearer fuel floating above. The TikTok creator claims the sample came from his vehicle and suggests service stations are selling contaminated fuel.
The footage has gained traction online, with some users blaming servos “running dry” and others alleging fuel is being deliberately watered down.
“Who is ready to do a class-action lawsuit,” one user wrote.
“They’re not putting water in the fuel, your getting it because the servos are letting there tanks run out, there is always a small amount in the bottom due to condensation,” another user wrote.
But experts say the video does not point to a widespread issue at the pump, and instead highlights how water can enter a vehicle’s fuel system under certain conditions.
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A spokesperson for the Victorian Automotive Chamber of Commerce (VACC) said the separation seen in the bottle is consistent with how fuel behaves when water is present, but stressed this does not mean contamination is normal or acceptable.
“Diesel and petrol are less dense than water, so the water will sink to the bottom,” they said.
“They will not mix and will separate into layers once left to settle.”
The key issue is not the separation itself, but how the water got there in the first place.
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“Most modern diesel vehicles have a water separator as part of their fuel filter to remove the small amounts of water from condensation in the tank,” the spokesperson said.
These systems are designed to protect the engine, capturing trace amounts of water before they reach sensitive components.
However, the expert warned that if a large volume of water is present, like what appears in the viral video, it suggests something abnormal has occurred and can be potentially damaging,
“If there is too much water in the fuel, it may overwhelm the system, and water could enter the engine,” the spokesperson said.
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“If water enters high-pressure components such as the pump and injectors, there is a chance these expensive parts will be damaged.”
According to the VACC, one of the most likely explanations as to where the fuel came from is environmental exposure, particularly flooding.
“If the vehicle has been involved in a flood, there is a good chance the fuel could be contaminated,” the spokesperson said.
Queensland has recently experienced significant wet weather and flood events, increasing the risk of water entering fuel systems, either directly through the vehicle or indirectly through compromised storage.
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Fuel contamination can also occur if water enters storage tanks, including those at service stations or private facilities, but VACC said major fuel retailers have safeguards in place.
“They more than likely will have systems in place to detect this before fuel is sold to the public,” the spokesperson said.
Importantly, there is no evidence to support claims that service stations are deliberately watering down fuel.
The spokesperson also dismissed suggestions that Australia’s current fuel supply pressures are contributing to contamination.
“These are separate issues. Fuel contamination has been an issue before this current crisis, and will continue after it.”
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