Contaminated Diesel - big repair bill!!

Ms_Brush

:mad:

Can anyone help?

I filled my car up with diesel at a Tesco store last Wednesday at 6pm on the way to an evening meeting at work, and on the way home at 10pm (after a maximum of 20 miles, a rash of warning lights came up and the car went into ‘get home’ mode – max 30mph!) The car went back to the dealer at 8am last Thursday, and it has been there since for diagnostics etc. It is a Renault Clio 1.5 Diesel, 18 months old, 18,000 miles on the clock and I have had it since new, so it is clearly still under warranty.

The garage ran this afternoon and told me that the diesel I put into it was contaminated, which has caused the problem. The garage have been excellent, so I don’t have a problem with them; apart from the £500 + repair bill!! I have the fuel receipt and I have spoken to Tesco, where the fuel came from, and they have denied all responsibility and (politely, of course) told me to get lost! They suggested I get the fuel tested independently…

Clearly, from my perspective it isn’t a problem of my making, I bought fuel in good faith which has damaged my car, and have been left with £53 on un-usable contaminated fuel, a £500 repair bill, and hire car costs in the interim. My insurance company are looking into the position as it isn’t clear if this is covered (I am fully comp)

I have no idea what else to do… I am livid!!

Can anyone suggest what I do next?

LinasPilibaitisisbatman

What was the fuel contaminated with?

Tbh if the fuel was the problem I doubt it would be isolated to you and local media at least would be all over it by now

JonathanA

Do you know anyone else who uses that filling station? If yours is the only car that has been affected, then I suspect it may not be their fault, but if they receive several complaints, I would think you have a better chance of making progress.

Would trading standards be able to help you (especially to find out if others have had issues)? I think an independent test on the fuel would help, but their customer service doesn't sound too good. Did you approach the store or head office? I'd be tempted to contact both again, in writing, with the diagnosis from the garage and await a written response from them.

Ms_Brush

I spoke to tesco's customer services, as only found out this afternoon what the problem is... and not had the chance to write to anyone yet. I will be pursuing them, their attitude is unbelievable!

Tesco are saying that mine is the only reported incident, but I'm not convinced (after all, it isnt in their interests to admit to a problem...). Not heard anything in the local press yet, but I will be looking now!

The garage are convined it isnt diesel, and it has been compared with diesel from another vehicle - apparently it doesnt even look like diesel! They dont do fuel testing, and said they arent sure who would be able to help either. I cant see how it would be possible to get a contaminate into the fuel tank any other way, especially so soon after filling up. The car was left locked in a private car park for 2 hours and then broke down within 10 miles of leaving the meeting.

Will be speaking to the insurance company again and Trading standards in the morning, to see if they can help.

LinasPilibaitisisbatman

Tbh unless other reports are made against the garage it seems unlikely to be the fuel.

The garage have probably stuck petrol in it

MrSmartprice

Trading Standards can test the fuel in the Tesco diesel tank, and also take a sample from your vehicle tank. This will tell if there is a problem with the fuel, confirm what you filled up with, and whether there is a link. You need to get onto this asap though.

verityboo

Its very common and easy to put petrol into a Diesel car and it would result in the car stopping or running very badly. Have you checked the receipt to ensure that it was diesel which you purchased?

If it was Diesel you purchased then perhaps a call to a local radio station might be an option to see if other people have been affected, it might be a faster way to find out compared to approaching a local paper

Also, what has failed on the car and what parts are the garage charging £500 to replace?

anewman

Maybe the garage filled up their own car and relieved you of more money than was necessary to resolve the problem. If the fuel was contaminated they should be able to put this in writing and provide a sample (let me guess, if you ask the garage the fuel has already been disposed of). I think the garage screwed you over, just my opinion.

Chippy_Minton_2

Ms_Brush wrote: »

I bought fuel in good faith which has damaged my car,

You will need to gather the evidence to prove this claim.;)

Ms_Brush

It was the diesel line I used to fill the car up with, and it definately says diesel on the receipt... dont you think that is the first thing I would check? I'm really upset and offended that its even been suggested that it was unleaded put into the tank. I asked for some advice, not abuse.

The garage have kept the whole tank's worth of fuel for me to inspect in the morning and to get tested. Why would they do that? They are a main dealer, and they do charge fortunes for labour - it went in for a suspected warrenty fault and it is the fuel that has done the damage. Doesnt it seem a bit odd that within 20 miles of refuelling it breaks down with a fuel injection fault?

Trading standards and local radio it is.

harveybobbles

Very easy to put petrol into a deisel car these days.

I did know someone who filled their car up on the M6 services somewhere and after about 10 minutes of driving a few cars stopped including theirs... The cars were found to have water in the tanks instead of diesel...

So the services got a huge repair bill for fixing the cars involved...