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Contaminated fuel
badger12
Posts: 37 Forumite
6 weeks ago I had my Land Rover V8 /lpg Discovery professionally overhauled and tuned. It was running like a rocket!
Last Thursday I filled up the petrol with £20 (18l) fuel save unleaded.
Went half a mile and was kangarooing badly. It stalled in a bus stop! Managed to get it going and upped the revs enough to make it change onto lpg - then it ran fine. I had other stuff to do in the town so did another stop. Had severe trouble starting it again but eventually got onto lpg. Decided to get it home rather than risk a "tow fee".
Phoned around and asked advice. Told to dilute the stuff I'd put in by adding same again of high octane unleaded. Borrow a car and jerry can and went to another garage. Added the high octane. Car starting after 8-9 goes but running very badly. Stinking of petrol.
Got told to keep running it to try and burn off any carbon deposits (shouldn't have any it mainly runs on the clean lpg!)
Did so Sat, Sun and this morning. Car got worse to point of cutting out (on petrol) Still fine on lpg. My Dad came over today and we syphoned out 20l then put in another 20l of unleaded, thus diluting the original fuel save unleaded further. Started the car. Lots of blue smoke - eventually cleared. Took it for a run on petrol stopping to get more unleaded. Bad to start even when hot and a little erratic on the move.
Got home. Stopped and restarted her a couple of times. Slightly better than had been but not in any way normal.
Spoke to my specialist. He says it sounds very much like contaminated fuel probably diesel - with those symptoms. And said not to drive it until engine/tank/lines etc cleaned. Could do lots of damage.
I am self employed so a hire car is on the cards
Tried the fuel company. Cant get to anyone higher up than the customer service advisor!
Where to now?
Last Thursday I filled up the petrol with £20 (18l) fuel save unleaded.
Went half a mile and was kangarooing badly. It stalled in a bus stop! Managed to get it going and upped the revs enough to make it change onto lpg - then it ran fine. I had other stuff to do in the town so did another stop. Had severe trouble starting it again but eventually got onto lpg. Decided to get it home rather than risk a "tow fee".
Phoned around and asked advice. Told to dilute the stuff I'd put in by adding same again of high octane unleaded. Borrow a car and jerry can and went to another garage. Added the high octane. Car starting after 8-9 goes but running very badly. Stinking of petrol.
Got told to keep running it to try and burn off any carbon deposits (shouldn't have any it mainly runs on the clean lpg!)
Did so Sat, Sun and this morning. Car got worse to point of cutting out (on petrol) Still fine on lpg. My Dad came over today and we syphoned out 20l then put in another 20l of unleaded, thus diluting the original fuel save unleaded further. Started the car. Lots of blue smoke - eventually cleared. Took it for a run on petrol stopping to get more unleaded. Bad to start even when hot and a little erratic on the move.
Got home. Stopped and restarted her a couple of times. Slightly better than had been but not in any way normal.
Spoke to my specialist. He says it sounds very much like contaminated fuel probably diesel - with those symptoms. And said not to drive it until engine/tank/lines etc cleaned. Could do lots of damage.
I am self employed so a hire car is on the cards
Tried the fuel company. Cant get to anyone higher up than the customer service advisor!
Where to now?
0
Comments
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This is actually one case where SirMarcus might be needed.
If the customer services team will not pass to a team leader or manager then you need to contact the Chairman. Don't expect a reply from him or her personally but it will (or at least should) be delegated to a member of his/her team.
As for the mechanical aspects - I don't know enough but would assume the advice you have been given is accurate.0 -
Who is SirMarcus?
Composing letter as we speak but I cant afford to be off work so need to know they will cover a hire car..... 0 -
How sure are you that you didn't accidentally fill up with diesel. Your mention of Fuel Save suggests you're talking about a Shell garage so you need to be aware that their diesel is also called Fuel Save diesel.
I would contact the petrol station in question because if it is contaminated fuel then there would have been other customers effected.0 -
You cant put a diesel nozzle into an unleaded filler.... On the receipt it says fuel save unleaded.... I did check anyway, as I do because there are 3 - diesel (black) unleaded high octane (too expensive , green) and unleaded (green) at each pump.
Symptoms which only appeared after the refill
Stalling
Stinking of petrol
erratic idling
blue smoke on cold start up
takes several shots to get going
cutting out
Bear in mind I dont have any of these problems on the lpg side so no indication of an engine problem.
Also the symptoms less severe the more the original batch diluted by other unleaded.0 -
It could be a number of things blockage in the lines etc.
You have no proof it is contaminated fuel and unless others have complained not much you can do unless you send a sample off for testing but even then it could be argued the fuel came from elswhere.0 -
I offered a sample of what we got out of the tank and was told no they didnt want it!
What, just like that! No problems at all for 6 weeks then all of a sudden?It could be a number of things blockage in the lines etc.
Runs perfectly on lpg.....
Was towing 2.5 tonnes of horsebox 10 days ago - no problem at all.....0 -
Hope he appears then - meantime am composing a letter to the Chief!0
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You can with my car
Cant with mine,,,,,,,0
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