Contaminated Petrol

troubled_buyer

Hi,

I have recently had a bad experience with my car and would like views or help in how to go about getting action.

My car developed a fault and went into a main dealer, after 5 days the result was a diagnosis of 'A PETROL/DIESEL MIX IN THE FUEL SYSTEM'. Now if this was my fault I would keep quiet and just pay the money but I didn't do it and have the recipt to prove it.

Two days before the fault my petrol light came on and I drove a further day (less than 30 miles) before filling it back up, 48 litres of unleaded from a Morrison supermarket. The next day the fault developed and it is still there until I pay the price (£300 for a flush?) or pay for work done (£70).

I still had the petrol recipt and approached the petrol station for help. They said it was not possible to get a petrol/diesel mix or contaminated fuel from the pumps and if it had they would have had hundreds complaining, which he said they had not had. They offered no further help and could offer no advise or further path, I have obviously sent letters to them and their management.

Does anybody have any experience of this?
Is it possible?
Anybody any advice on what actions I can/should take?

If anybody else has had a recent similar problem:-
The petrol station was based in Middlesbrough/Stockton area and I filled up on Friday 2nd December.
The syptoms were poor starting from cold, no power under load, performance/power getting better when engine warming but poor acceleration and smokey exhaust throughout.

Thanks and merry christmas :santa2:

vansboy

The Store would be aware, by now of any complaints, so maybe the mis-fuel was at a previous garage & only apparent, by you reaching a low tank level, this time?

Worth talking to AA/RAC/Green Flag & asking if they had many similar instances, during the same period, too.

VB

tomstickland

Personally I'd just drain 80% of the tank and brim it with Petrol. You can usually unplug a petrol pipe somewhere and let the fuel pump do the work.

(£300 for a flush?)

They're having a laugh.


Actually, I've driven a petrol with Diesel in the tank and it was like you described. You could probably get away with syphoning about half the tank out and then just keep brimming it with petrol.

skiddy2k

or you can just get a fuel syphon and suck the fuel out yourself.

i think halfords do one, its about a tenner and made by 'Laser', its in a blue packaging with a pinkish tube in the package thats coiled up.

bare in mind, you'll have to be able to store the 40ltrs or so, that are in your car.

p.s. go back to your dealer, if you got the car sorted out there, they should have your number plate logged on there systems and therefore be able to trace what work you had done and the costs of it for proof.

if not, tell them to 'roll back there cctv camera's and they'll see your car there

good luck,
Skiddy

Katgoddess

I work in a petrol station and a few years ago we had a cross contamination during a fuel delivery. Petrol in the diesel tank and diesel in the petrol tank. Within 10 minutes we had 6 cars broken down on the forecourt. All petrol cars, as diesel engines are more forgiven for what you put in them.

I am no car expert, but if there had been diesel in your engine, wouldn't the problem have been almost immediate?

The Morrisons petrol station have done exactly what I do on the rare occasion someone claims to have had dodgy petrol. I even go as far as given the customer the telephone number of the trading standards office.

I suggest you give your local trading standards a call.

skiddy2k

or you can try taking a wiff of the fuel from the filling hole.
does it smell of petrol or diesel? if it does smell of petrol, firstly dont get too carried away of the rich smell, but you'll know whether the right fuel has gone in or not.

WARNING: i do not condone smelling fuel or solvents as it may be hazardous to your health.


Good Luck,
Skiddy,

Katgoddess

skiddy2k wrote:

or you can try taking a wiff of the fuel from the filling hole.
does it smell of petrol or diesel? if it does smell of petrol, firstly dont get too carried away of the rich smell, but you'll know whether the right fuel has gone in or not.

WARNING: i do not condone smelling fuel or solvents as it may be hazardous to your health.


Good Luck,
Skiddy,

Slightly less hazardous to health, if you can spill a SMALL bit on the floor outside. Diesel is black sludgy stuff. Petrol is thin and will expand everywhere. Clean up with sand.

Hunnymonster

Katgoddess wrote:

Diesel is black sludgy stuff. Petrol is thin and will expand everywhere. Clean up with sand.

Jesus! I'm not sure where you buy your diesel from, please tell us so we can avoid it - mine is always colourless and not at all sludgy.

The 2 main things I find that differentiate are the smell (petrol smells sweeter) and the feel (diesel feels oily/slippery).