'Misfuel' - Misdiagnosis? Who is to blame?

System

sabz3008 wrote: »

The car was completely fine before filling, no problems whatsoever. Was about 3 miles after filling at Shell that it just lost power completely.

Yes, as you say... The Shell filling station's response was "Impossible, otherwise 2-300 people would complain, you're the only one"

Not possible that it was the petrol station's fault at a distance of 3 miles as the car would have been running on what was still in the fuel filter and fuel lines before you filled it.

Had it been 10-20 miles then yes it would be a possibility but not 3. Your fuel filter and fuel lines hold more than a litre of fuel. Your car does over 50MPG or more than 10 miles a litre. That is why it is extremely unlikely that it had anything to do with the fuel from the petrol station and given they've replaced the fuel pump it was most likely the fuel pump failing was the problem.

Aylesbury_Duck

I don't understand why you didn't ask the AA to recover the car to VW in the first place? Why did you call this Fuel-fix outfit instead of using the AA to get you home or to the VW garage?

I consider the AA to be to blame for a misdiagnosis but they're not responsible for the £680 bill. From your description it was your decision to engage Fuel-fix. Shell appear to be blameless. I think your argument is with Fuel-fix because they carried out an unnecessary service to your car. However, if they did so on your instruction then you probably won't succeed. The AA would argue that they recommended the car be recovered to a VW garage. Had you taken that option, you'd have saved £680 so the AA can't be held responsible for the bill.

Probably not what you wanted to hear, but that's my take on it from your description.

sevenhills

sabz3008 wrote: »

I telephoned them and they checked CCTV and had a copy of my receipt confirming I did fill it with diesel!

That is proof that you filled up with the correct fuel, did you than go ahead with the Fuel-Fix company? Why?

unholyangel

Tarambor wrote: »

Not possible that it was the petrol station's fault at a distance of 3 miles as the car would have been running on what was still in the fuel filter and fuel lines before you filled it.

Had it been 10-20 miles then yes it would be a possibility but not 3. Your fuel filter and fuel lines hold more than a litre of fuel. Your car does over 50MPG or more than 10 miles a litre. That is why it is extremely unlikely that it had anything to do with the fuel from the petrol station and given they've replaced the fuel pump it was most likely the fuel pump failing was the problem.

A lot of things can affect how far you'd get. If you only put in £5 of petrol into a tank with £60 of diesel you may well not stop at all. But if you put £60 of petrol into a tank with £5 of diesel in it, you may find you don't even make it off the forecourt especially if you let your engine idle for a minute or two before moving.

Obviously if you're driving in city/town traffic then you're more likely to break down in a shorter distance than if you were on a dual carriageway/motorway due to stop/start using more fuel.

So yes, its entirely possible in 3 miles. But its not as if OP can prove either way whether the fuel was tainted or not. Not anymore.

n217970

Tarambor wrote: »

Not possible that it was the petrol station's fault at a distance of 3 miles as the car would have been running on what was still in the fuel filter and fuel lines before you filled it.

Had it been 10-20 miles then yes it would be a possibility but not 3. Your fuel filter and fuel lines hold more than a litre of fuel. Your car does over 50MPG or more than 10 miles a litre. That is why it is extremely unlikely that it had anything to do with the fuel from the petrol station and given they've replaced the fuel pump it was most likely the fuel pump failing was the problem.

Actually the fuel moves through the system as a much faster rate then you use it, hence the return fuel line back to the tank. I know as I once ripped mine off on the A1 at Durham after the van infront decided to deposit its spare wheel in my lane at 3am. It was flowing a much higher rate then I expected and would have easily cleared through a litre in 3 minutes.

arcon5

n217970 wrote: »

Actually the fuel moves through the system as a much faster rate then you use it, hence the return fuel line back to the tank. I know as I once ripped mine off on the A1 at Durham after the van infront decided to deposit its spare wheel in my lane at 3am. It was flowing a much higher rate then I expected and would have easily cleared through a litre in 3 minutes.

This.
Diesel constantly recirculates. Aids cooling also. Can easily happen in 3 miles

arcon5

missile wrote: »

It seems very unlikely that you miss fueled AND fuel pump needed replacing. Sounds like it was coincidence that fuel pump broke shortly after refuel.

Because you broke down shortly after refuel, AA man may have jumped to the wrong diagnosis, but it will be very difficult to prove. I would complain to AA.

Not really.
Damaged fuel pump is exactly what a midfield would cause and pretty quickly also if high concentration

AdrianC

Was it the lift pump or common rail high-pressure pump?
How old's this Golf? It may not even be common rail, but PD.

All we know for sure is that the OP filled up their recently acquired car, the car died three miles later, the AA man put two and two together and made five - then the fuel-drain company took advantage (and the michael).

Did the AA man even see the fuel receipt?
Did the fuel-drain company do anything but... drain the fuel and flog some snake oil?

Muscle750

Petrol station close to me a few years ago had a delivery of fuel and they put petrol in the diesil tank and alot of people had serious issues and sued them for it etc

AdrianC

Muscle750 wrote: »

Petrol station close to me a few years ago had a delivery of fuel and they put petrol in the diesil tank and alot of people had serious issues and sued them for it etc

Yes, quite. If the tanks had been misfuelled, the roads around would be littered with dead cars. They weren't.