- The owner of six gas stations, including two in Monmouth County, pays $85,000 to settle claims it sold aviation fuel
- Aviation fuel used in cars can damage catalytic converters and oxygen sensors
- Fuel distributor Zephyr Oil and transporter Lee Transport also paid fines.
A Freehold-based company that owns Lukoil in Manasquan, Delta in Keyport and four other gas stations has agreed to pay $85,000 to the state to settle claims that it sold aviation fuel to motorists, the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs said Monday.
Pasmel Property Inc.'s settlement includes about $7,500 for consumers who showed that their vehicles were damaged by aviation fuel, called avgas, the division said.
"The sale of leaded aviation fuel to motorists who think they are purchasing unleaded motor fuel, with no awareness of the damage aviation fuel can do to their cars, is unconscionable," Acting Attorney General John J. Hoffman, said in a statement.
In addition to Pasmel: Lee Transport, the Pittsgrove-based fuel transporter, agreed to pay $32,000; and Zephyr Oil, the Brooklyn-based fuel distributor, agreed to pay $20,000, to settle the charges.
Pasmel also owns Daninka in North Plainfield, Express Fuel in Trenton,and Lukoils in Lawrenceville and Scotch Plains. Messages left for the company and its attorney weren't immediately returned.
The Division of Consumer Affairs filed a lawsuit nearly a year ago, saying Pasmel in December 2012 bought about 73,000 gallons of 100 octane avgas from Zephyr Oil at a significant discount compared with premium motor fuel. Lee Transport delivered it to six stations, the state said.
The stations then sold the aviation fuel to motorists, but identified it as regular, plus or premium gasoline, the state said.
Avgas contains tetraethyl lead, which is a toxic substance that can damage cars' catalytic converts and oxygen sensors. It is appropriate for certain aircraft, the state said.
"Some consumers suffered real monetary losses after filling their cars with potentially harmful airplane fuel," Steve C. Lee, acting director for the Division of Consumer Affairs said in a statement.
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