BP, Shell, Valero, Tesoro, ConocoPhillips, Tower Energy, PetroDiamond, and
Big West also Named
Ethanol in Their Gasoline Damages Marine Fuel Tanks, Engines
LOS ANGELES, April 7, 2008 /PRNewswire/ -- Major oil companies like
ExxonMobil, Chevron, BP, Shell, Valero, and ConocoPhillips are
manufacturing and selling ethanol blended gasoline that damages marine fuel
tanks, engines and other components, according to a federal class action
lawsuit filed today by Kabateck Brown Kellner, LLP. PetroDiamond, Tower
Energy and Big West are also named in the suit.
"The price of gas is bad enough, but selling gasoline that dissolves
gas tanks is a new low even for the oil companies," said Brian Kabateck,
Managing Partner of Kabateck Brown Kellner and the lead attorney on the
case. "The oil companies know this fuel is corrosive, but they're keeping
consumers in the dark to pump up their profits. The cost to the consumer is
thousands of dollars in repairs."
ExxonMobil last year recorded the largest profits recorded in U.S.
history with $40.6 billion. Chevron posted profits of $18.7 billion in
2007.
Oil companies have long mixed additives into their gasoline as a way to
boost octane. Methyl tert-butyl ether, commonly known as MTBE, was widely
used as an octane booster until 2004, when it was banned in many states
because of environmental concerns. In response, ExxonMobil, Chevron and
other oil companies selected ethanol as a replacement.
Consumers were never informed about the differences between MTBE and
ethanol-mixed gasoline, nor were they informed about the disastrous effects
ethanol has on fiberglass marine fuel tanks.
Fiberglass is widely used in the construction of boat fuel tanks.
Fiberglass is a combination of individual glass "threads" bound together by
a resin. Ethanol dissolves this resin, destroying the tank. Moreover, the
dissolved resin enters the fuel system, causing damage to the engine and
other components.
Ethanol blended gasoline is particularly harmful in the marine
environment because of "phase separation." Ethanol attracts water. When
enough water is absorbed by the ethanol blended gasoline, the ethanol and
water solution separates from the gasoline (phase separation), with the
gasoline floating to the top. This results in a layer of water with a
high-concentration of ethanol at the bottom of the fuel tank.
"The environment pays the price for Exxon and Chevron's deception each
time a damaged fuel tank leaks gasoline into the water," Kabateck added.
The suit was filed in U.S. District Court, Central District of
California in Los Angeles. McNicholas & McNicholas, The Ball Law Firm and
Jacobson, Russell, Saltz & Fingerman, LLP are also participating in the
suit.
The suit seeks to represent a class comprising all owners of boats with
fiberglass fuel tanks who filled their tanks with ethanol blended gasoline
from a California retailer. The suit also seeks to represent all persons in
California who own boats with a fiberglass fuel tank that had to be
replaced because of damage caused by ethanol blended gasoline bought from a
California retailer.
Kabateck Brown Kellner, LLP is one of the nation's foremost consumer
law firms. Its clients have won more than $750 million against Google,
Farmer's Insurance, Eli Lilly and other major corporations. As a
plaintiff's-only firm, Kabateck Brown Kellner is always on the consumers'
side.
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SOURCE Kabateck Brown Kellner, LLP
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CONTACT:
Yusef K. Robb for Kabateck Brown Kellner,
LLP, +1-323-384-1789
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