A New Orleans woman recently dealt with a major automotive headache, claiming that her vehicle was filled with watered-down gasoline at Costco. This story was shared by Iyoncé (@itsiyonce) on Instagram and TikTok and has already surpassed 454K views. In the video, she opened with sarcasm, saying, “I’m reporting live from the United States of embarrassment with a recession indicator.”
Iyoncé told her viewers, “What happens when you go to get gas at one of the gas stations that you frequently go to? All the time, in fact, the only gas station that you go to, right? And so you go to the gas station, you fill up. Premium gas, mind you. Now, this is, let me tell you, this is a true story, okay? This is true. This is not me, though. I don’t do premo.” She then claimed that this happened to her friend. She then summarized her friend’s story, which she also edited in.
That woman claimed that she filled her tank on September 23rd. The very next morning, her car purportedly started pulling, so she took it to the mechanic. She alleged, “He changed out a sensor, drove my car again, realised that was not the case, and now he is draining my car. Nothing but water is coming out my car. The gas in my car is water.” The video ended with a clip of water coming out of the fuel line every time it was started.
Iyoncé was looking to Costco to make it right
Iyoncé claimed that her friend had already taken steps to resolve the issue. “So she did speak with managers at the location and is expecting a call from corporate within 24 to 72 hours. Mind you, the car is in the shop, so we really don’t have that long.” Iyoncé also wrote down a suspicion in the caption of her post: “Now that I think about, I don’t even smell gasoline at the fuel pumps….”
The story hits harder considering Costco increased gas prices and introduced limits. However, it should be noted that all we have are Iyoncé and her friend’s claims, which can’t be verified.
The comments section in Iyoncé’s post featured mixed reactions. Some people argued that it wasn’t necessarily Costco’s fault, noting the many ways an underground tank can get contaminated. One TikToker suggested, “Infrastructure!!!!!! Nothing to do with Costco , it’s the New Orleans grounds breaking and the pipes underneath may be broken because of the streets and potholes which then causes water to leak into the pumps underground.”
Others claimed to have faced the same problem. A TikToker alleged, “Girl, IKYL! When was this? I put gas in BOTH my BMWs and BOTH engine lights recently came on! OMG!!!!”
Some gave advice. One user wrote, “I work in commercial general liability insurance and have dealt with these claims before. I did some research and Costco is self insured so If she hasn’t already, she should notify the manager of that location and have a claim started with their internal risk management department so she can be reimbursed for any damage.”
According to Fleet Rabbit, water in a fuel tank can cause extensive damage to a vehicle’s fuel system and engine. Fleet Rabbit explains that water contamination can lead to corroded metal components, bacterial growth, and even catastrophic engine damage if it reaches the combustion chamber. They noted that common warning signs include engine hesitation, stalling, hard starting, a sudden decrease in fuel economy, and the check engine light turning on.
When it comes to how water actually infiltrates a fuel supply, Fleet Rabbit notes several possibilities, including condensation from temperature changes, water infiltration in underground storage tanks, or even improper gas cap seals.
One Instagrammer, who identified as a fuel tank engineer, provided a similar perspective, advising, “All underground storage tanks have some water from condensation/leaks. Never go to a gas station while the truck is filling the tanks because it’s just stirring up the water into the fuel and you’re more likely to pump it in your car.”
Many commenters defended the retail giant, with some claiming Costco would make it right and others pointing to its inspection process. Others, however, were more critical.
One Instagram user claimed, “My family works in the fuel industry. Please be warned. Costco, BJs and Sam’s buy the bottom of the barrel from the distributors. My son changes their filters on their gas pumps EVERY week. Why? Because their gas is the cheapest. If maintenance is not kept up you will be getting water or impurities in your tank. Flat out! And with prices going up they are cutting cost on maintenance.”
In her video, Iyoncé concluded her video by saying, “So, Costco, we actually love y’all. So can we do right? Thanks.”
Published: Sep 29, 2026 03:19 pm