A woman went viral on social media after showing that her son had put branches inside her car’s fuel tank.
Leigha Barth shared the video on her TikTok profile while she was trying to refuel her car at a gas station. That’s when she noticed there were some strange objects in the fuel tank opening.
Looking closer, Barth realized they were branches that her son had shoved into the fuel tank. “Well… any advice?” she asked her followers.
Putting foreign objects inside the fuel tank is never a good idea, but how serious it is depends on a few factors: the size of the debris, how far it traveled in the system, and whether the car was driven since the incident.
In the worst-case scenarios, when the foreign object reaches the fuel pump or injectors, repair costs can range from hundreds to thousands of dollars. But often, the debris can be removed without major expense if detected quickly.
While most modern fuel tanks already have some kind of factory protection, it’s important to keep the car turned off until the issue is resolved.
If your attempts to remove the debris don’t work, immediately call a trusted mechanic. Only they can assess whether the tank needs to be removed and cleaned or if simpler removal methods will work.
Photo and video: TikTok @watersmagic. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
@watersmagic How bad is this? 😬 #childsplay #mechanicsoftiktok #boymom #fyp ♬ original sound – SAINTED
