FUEL Pa. and W.Va. officials investigate reports of contaminated gasoline

KNOX, Pa. (AP) -- Sandy Myers' 2003 Hyundai Sonata was towed twice before mechanics found contaminated gas had clogged up the fuel filter and damaged the fuel pump, costing her $757 for repairs.
The culprit was a mysterious white, powdery residue that Myers described as a type of calcium buildup.
In Pennsylvania, Ohio and West Virginia, dozens of people are complaining of contaminated fuel in their vehicles, prompting two state agencies to launch separate probes. Fuel quality officials in West Virginia have visited the northern panhandle to collect samples, and the Pennsylvania Attorney General's Office has received 34 complaints and more than 100 inquiries.
Marathon Ashland Petroleum, which operates Speedway gas stations, said it was investigating but believed the contaminant had already been flushed out of the region's fuel distribution system.
Industry officials cautioned against overreacting, saying the industry frequently checks for water, bacteria and foreign substances at refineries and terminals.
In March, car owners began arriving at dealerships and garages with fuel filters clogged by a white powder, complaining of poor acceleration and stalled cars. The problem has been reported in many models, including Hyundai, Subaru, Mazda and Nissan.
So far, complaints have come in from Allegheny, Butler, Clarion, Forest, Lawrence and Venango counties, said Barbara Petito, a spokeswoman for the Pennsylvania Attorney General's Office.
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