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Ropey fuel ?

Milko
Milko Posts: 658 Forumite
Part of the Furniture 500 Posts Combo Breaker
Given that it's a local board, I thought I'd ask to see if any of you have had any recent experience with bad / dirty petrol. I know this was touched on recently in another post but what I'm hoping to find out is if anyone has had any problems within the last 5-6 months.

2-3 weeks ago my wife filled her car at the new Tesco at Springhills, Bangor. On her way to work, the engine management light came on. We got it checked out by our local mechanic & whilst the fault pointed to Oxy sensors, he reckoned it was bad fuel, given that he had replaced the Oxy sensors on the car the previous 18 months. He reset the computer & the car seems fine.

Last Thursday I too filled up my own car at Tescos Springhill and 1.5 miles later my engine management light came on & the car started to run like a pig. As I was away for the weekend (not using the car), it was Monday before I could get it to a specialist. The diagnostic computer reckoned there was around 5 or 6 different sensors all faulty (Oxy, MAF etc...). Now the specialsit said that it was Highly unlikely that all would go at once, particularly given that my car had also had new Oxy sensors replaced less than a year ago. I told him about my wifes car and he says that whilst it is very difficult to prove ... it's almost certainly the fuel.

Unfortunately my car wasn't happy just having the computer reset & even after £20 of Super Unleaded it still continues to run very rough, so it's in to the garage tomorrow for what looks like an expensive repair.

Tesco Customer Service told me I had to take it up with the actual garage. When I tried this, they explained that they where only recently open & knew noting about any proceedures for dealing with anything like this but that there manager would be in touch (that was Monday) ... no word yet.

Any ideas / opinions much appreciated.
«13

Comments

  • There was a thread about this last year: http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=524128&highlight=Petrol

    Might be worth calling Trading Standards / Consumer Line. Not sure if you can insist on them taking a sample though.
  • Pretani
    Pretani Posts: 2,279 Forumite
    Milko, also beware of your local mechanic. Sensors can be as good as new with a wee clean. Unless you seen him replace it, just don't take his word for it.

    Another thing, you might be picking up some dirt in the bottom of your tank, if you regularly refuel when the tank is on the red.
  • Milko
    Milko Posts: 658 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 500 Posts Combo Breaker
    Pretani wrote: »
    Milko, also beware of your local mechanic. Sensors can be as good as new with a wee clean. Unless you seen him replace it, just don't take his word for it.

    Another thing, you might be picking up some dirt in the bottom of your tank, if you regularly refuel when the tank is on the red.

    I know what you're saying but being a car enthusiast / car club member, my mechanics are either friends or specialists in that make and my car never sees a fuel light. Refills take place on the quarter tank mark. This is a car that had an entire front wing "replaced" due to a small rust blister on the old wing ... I can be quite fussy :eek:
  • DesG
    DesG Posts: 1,291 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    I have heard of three people in the last 2 weeks that have had engine management lights come on after fuelling in Tesco's. It was the Knocknagoney store.

    Cheers, Des.
  • 'erm, now maybe i'm a bit daft but if I were to go into a garage and get some 'dodgy fuel' it would be a very long time before i'd go into it again? Any particular reason you decided to fuel up at a petrol station where you had problems before, it's been a while since i've been in Bangor but i'd imagine theres more than one filling station?
  • jenny-wren
    jenny-wren Posts: 838 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 500 Posts
    I fill up at Tesco Knocknagoney on a regular basis and have had about 6-8 occasions where the engine warning light comes on for no apparent reason.

    A few months back I filled a full tank there (I confess it was in the red first) and within a day the car was shuddering and the light was on yet again. One trip to a garage and a new coil pack later we were on the road again.

    Hmm, not knowing a thing about cars, I wonder if there's any connection? Time to change where I fill up I guess. :think:
    Norn Iron Club Member 330 ;)
  • craftyfox
    craftyfox Posts: 258 Forumite
    hubby used to fill up at knocknagoney and now after many nights of crawing home at 30 miles an hour (when the management light came on the car would not drive over 30 mph so as not to cause any damage to the engine:eek: ) he gave up and went else where - he thought it was just his dodgy luck with the car :confused: but now i think he was a member of a bigger club and did't even know
    :wink: while i knit i think

    NORN IRON CLUB MEMBER NO# 304 :T
  • Robothell
    Robothell Posts: 494 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 100 Posts Combo Breaker
    I've certainly noticed that diesel from Tesco in Lisburn makes my exhaust smoke like crazy - I touch the accelerator and it's like Wacky Races!!!

    I always assumed the supermarket petrol stations were the most reputable (Mr T wouldn't put stripped or dodgy fuel in his tanks for fear of bad press) but this is making me rethink that logic. Either that or i it inexperienced staff not closing the access to the tanks after they are filled so water/debris is getting in?
    Life in this world is, as it were, a sojourn in a cave. What can we know of reality? For all we can see of the true nature of existence is, shall we say, no more than bewildering and amusing shadows cast upon the inner wall of the cave by the unseen blinding light of absolute truth, from which we may or may not deduce some glimmer of veracity, and we as troglodyte seekers of wisdom can only lift our voices to the unseen and say humbly "Go on, do deformed rabbit again.....it's my favourite". © Terry Pratchett in "Small Gods"

    Founder member of the Barry Scott Appreciation Society
  • Milko wrote: »
    Given that it's a local board, I thought I'd ask to see if any of you have had any recent experience with bad / dirty petrol. I know this was touched on recently in another post but what I'm hoping to find out is if anyone has had any problems within the last 5-6 months.

    2-3 weeks ago my wife filled her car at the new Tesco at Springhills, Bangor. On her way to work, the engine management light came on. We got it checked out by our local mechanic & whilst the fault pointed to Oxy sensors, he reckoned it was bad fuel, given that he had replaced the Oxy sensors on the car the previous 18 months. He reset the computer & the car seems fine.

    Last Thursday I too filled up my own car at Tescos Springhill and 1.5 miles later my engine management light came on & the car started to run like a pig. As I was away for the weekend (not using the car), it was Monday before I could get it to a specialist. The diagnostic computer reckoned there was around 5 or 6 different sensors all faulty (Oxy, MAF etc...). Now the specialsit said that it was Highly unlikely that all would go at once, particularly given that my car had also had new Oxy sensors replaced less than a year ago. I told him about my wifes car and he says that whilst it is very difficult to prove ... it's almost certainly the fuel.

    Unfortunately my car wasn't happy just having the computer reset & even after £20 of Super Unleaded it still continues to run very rough, so it's in to the garage tomorrow for what looks like an expensive repair.

    Tesco Customer Service told me I had to take it up with the actual garage. When I tried this, they explained that they where only recently open & knew noting about any proceedures for dealing with anything like this but that there manager would be in touch (that was Monday) ... no word yet.

    Any ideas / opinions much appreciated.

    Not good at all.

    Try contacting HMRC's Road Fuel Unit at Carn House Belfast and relay your experience.
    They may have already received complaints if others have had the same experience.
    I would also speak to someone further up the chain in NI who deals with fuel.
    Good luck
  • Milko
    Milko Posts: 658 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 500 Posts Combo Breaker
    'erm, now maybe i'm a bit daft but if I were to go into a garage and get some 'dodgy fuel' it would be a very long time before i'd go into it again? Any particular reason you decided to fuel up at a petrol station where you had problems before, it's been a while since i've been in Bangor but i'd imagine theres more than one filling station?

    daft ??? ... I can't say but presumptious ... certainly

    My wife fueled "her" car on a Tuesday morning with the fault being diagnosed on the Thursday afternoon by which case my car had already been fueled earlier that morning. At no stage would it or did it appear to be a localised fuel problem until the 2nd car dispalyed similar symptons.
    You're also quite correct however, Bangor has more than 1 filling station & since discovering the problem with my own car, she's only been filled at another station using super unleaded, so thank you for your help :rolleyes:
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