A woman says a routine fill-up at Costco left her car running badly. She says a mechanic later drained water from the fuel system.
Ashley Webb (@ashleywebb576) says she regularly buys gas from the same Costco in New Orleans and typically sticks to premium grade gas.
“I only purchase premium,” Webb says. “I even go to the same pump.”
According to Webb, she filled up on Sept. 23 and drove home without noticing anything unusual. The next day, though, she says the car started “pulling” when she tried to drive it.
Webb took the vehicle to a repair shop, where she says a mechanic drained the fuel system.
“Nothing but water is coming out my car,” Webb says. “The gas in my car is water.”
She also shared a brief video that appears to show a mechanic draining clear liquid from the vehicle into a plastic water bottle. Webb says that liquid was water. And at one point, so much was draining into the bottle that the mechanic yelled at another employee helping him to turn off the pump.
Afterward, Webb recorded herself back at Costco, where she says she was filing a claim and seeking to hold the retailer responsible for any damage the alleged contamination may have caused. As of this writing, her video has racked up more than 497,300 views.
What Happens If Water Gets Into Your Gas?
Water in a fuel tank can absolutely cause your car to run poorly or even break down. But a clear liquid coming out of the tank isn’t enough on its own to prove where the contamination happened.
Louisiana’s Department of Agriculture and Forestry says watered-down or contaminated fuel can make a vehicle “run rough” or stall. That appears to line up with Webb’s description of her car “pulling” the day after she filled up, though the video alone can’t establish that water caused the problem.
Louisiana also has a specific process for complaints like Webb’s. The state’s Weights and Measures division accepts complaints from consumers who believe motor fuel is contaminated by water or particulates. If someone files a complaint about a particular station, inspectors can take a fuel sample and test it in a motor fuel laboratory. This is also why some outlets advise consumers to keep their fuel receipt.
Costco says its gas stations are designed to prevent this kind of problem. The company says it uses filters intended to catch sediment, water, and phase-separated ethanol-and-water mixtures, continuously monitors underground storage tanks for water, and physically inspects and takes chemical samples of its tanks at least weekly.
That said, Costco has dealt with fuel contamination incidents before. In 2018, the company reimbursed customers after diesel was inadvertently mixed into regular gasoline. For Webb, however, the key question is whether testing confirms contamination—and whether it can be tied to the exact station where she filled up.
Viewers Were Stunned
Many viewers were shocked by what they saw coming out of Webb’s tank.
“I mean, pure water. That’s insane,” one wrote.
“I was not expecting the actual evidence wtf,” another said.
Others urged Webb to preserve whatever had been drained from the car.
“Save that bottle, get it tested, and sue,” one commenter suggested.
Another said Webb should involve her insurer.
“Call your insurance to file a claim as well,” they advised. “They will send someone to test the fluid if Costco gives you pushback.”
One viewer said Webb’s experience sounded eerily familiar.
“Oh my gosh, the same thing happened to my car like two weeks ago after I got Costco gas, but I did not put two and two together. Same exact Costco location,” they claimed. (Water contamination in a fuel tank often causes problems immediately or shortly after filling up.)
Another used the video to raise a broader complaint about how quickly their own fuel seems to disappear.
“I swear my gas is going so much faster now,” one person said.
Motor1 contacted Webb via TikTok direct message and Costco through its online press request form. We’ll be sure to update this if they respond.
