Contaminated Diesel - big repair bill!!

verityboo

I am sorry but it was not ment as abuse to suggest that you accidently put petrol in. Its easy to do and happens every day. I normally find that it is at least worth considering the most likely explanation?

In my defence I also suggested using the power of local radio to find other affected drivers. A drive time show perhaps.

Hope you get it all sorted soon

Rakesh.Chauhan_2

Ms_Brush wrote: »

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.

I agree, contact your local media, trading standards and anyone else concerened. You're receipt would clearly show the amount of fuel you put in, how much each litre cost, date of purchase and possibly your credit card details - thus Tescos are a fool for thinking they claim that its you fault! Their only defense is that they may say you put in different fuel before hand and are trying to pull a fast one. Goodluck - i definately think you're in with a case.

Patrick20

Before you go near any local newspapers etc then make sure you have 100% proof.

verityboo

Another thing to look at is whether the contaminant is lighter than Diesel or not. From your post I gather that you put in approx £53 of Diesel which I would have thought is almost a full tank. Do you normally wait until it is nearly empty before refilling. If not the following might be possible.

If the contaminant was lighter than diesel and floated on top of the diesel it could have floating there for some time. It may be that because you ran the tank low the contaminant reached the level of the fuel pump at the bottom which began to pump it along the fuel lines to the engine. The fuel lines contain enough fuel to drive several miles. It may be that the new diesel was okay but the contaminant was already in the fuel lines.

The above is possible if you do not normally run below ¼ tank and if the contaminant floats on the diesel. It would mean that the Tesco garage is in the clear so as the previous posted says it is worth treading carefully when going to the press

mchale

Ring up the AA, RAC & Green Flag, give them the tesco stores address details and ask each 1 if they had a high volume of calls in that area for fuel problems, If they did you can blame Tesco

withabix

If it was water in the tank, it would have always been at the bottom of the tank, due to water having a higher density than diesel.

If it was a hydrocarbon-based product (another oil or a solvent) it would most likely have mixed with the diesel.

Is there anyone at work who hates you? Is it possible that someone has put chemicals, sugar or syrup etc in your tank?

On second thoughts.....

You filled your tank from almost empty. That would have stopped your car almost as soon as you got off the Tesco forecourt if it was contaminated fuel.

£53 of diesel in a 50 litre capacity tank (according to Renault) - it actually strikes me that you were probably running on fumes and may have dragged sludge into your fuel pump and engine from the bottom of your tank. £53 equates to 51.5 litres at a typical Tesco price of 102.9p/litre - allowing for the filler tube volume if you filled to the 'click', your tank was empty before you filled up.

I think blaming Tesco is unlikely to be correct, otherwise there would be a lot of broken cars in your area.

Bowdyjan18

Does it say diesel on the receipt

Alfrescodave

The only information you have that condems the fuel is the word of the garage who appear to have taken 6 days to identify this problem. Surely they would have at least looked at the fuel early on as fuel contamination problems are a major cause of breakdowns. Trading Standards should be able to give you advice as to where to get the fuel tested - I cant imagine them getting further involved unless there's been a large number of similar complaints.

Also have you had the car serviced since you bought it 18 months ?

goldspanners

withabix wrote: »

£53 of diesel in a 50 litre capacity tank (according to Renault) - it actually strikes me that you were probably running on fumes

a diesel doesnt run on fumes.

as for the op, i didnt see anyone abusing you,just offering advise on your situation, have you actually seen the fuel that came out of your fuel tank?
what exactly have renault done for thier £500? to be honest £500 doesnt go too far when your dealing with fuel problems,especially at the main dealer, if the fuel was contaminated then theres a chance your fuel pump or injectors or both could be unservicable, £500 wouldnt even cover the half the parts,never mind labour.

did they say what the contaminent was in your fuel?

Alfrescodave

Did you buy the car from the same garage that is now repairing it ? i.e. the same garage that has identified that the fuel is contaminated and therefore the cause of the problem