Advertisement Gas mix-up at Manchester station causes problems for cars Abenaqui Carriers mixed up unleaded, diesel at Manchester Mart and Gas Share Shares Copy Link Copy

Some drivers found their cars screeching to a halt Monday morning after filling up at a Manchester gas station.Click here to view News 9’s reportThe station said there a mistake with the fuel led to major car trouble and what are expected to be some costly bills.Catherine Whittle said her problems started Sunday night at Manchester Mart and Gas on Hooksett Road.“Well, after grocery shopping last night, I came here to fill up my car and I thought I was putting regular gas in the tank, and apparently I was putting diesel in the tank instead,” Whittle said.By Monday morning, Whittle could barely get her car out of her driveway.“This morning, I backed out of the driveway, or out of the garage into the driveway, and the car died immediately,” Whittle said.The manager at Manchester Mart and Gas said the company that delivers their fuel, Abenaqui Carriers, accidentally put diesel fuel in the unleaded tanks and vice versa.Gerald Cloutier, a mechanic at JCS Auto Sales, said he was working on another car that stalled after filling up at the station.“I could tell that there was diesel in there. I could smell it right away,” Cloutier said. “And here it is right here, you can see the different color in the fuel, compared to what’s supposed to be in there, and that’s what’s making the vehicle not right now.”Cloutier said the mistake could cause serious and expensive damage to cars.“It could contaminate the O2 sensors, it could contaminate the catalytic converters,” he said.So far, at least 10 customers reported problems, the station manager said.Abenaqui Carriers said it will cover repair costs."We regret that a delivery error may have affected some customers of 738 Hooksett Road in Manchester, N.H. The issue has since been rectified," Abenaqui Carriers officials said in a written statement.Whittle said she just wants her car back as soon as possible.“I’m frustrated,” she said. “It definitely started the week off on a sour note and made the morning extremely chaotic,” Whittle said.Abenaqui Carriers said it is reaching out to affected customers. The company said any driver who got fuel at Manchester Mart and Gas between 1:30 p.m. Sunday and 8 a.m. Monday should call the safety office at 603-379-8819.