Faulty fuel: mystery deepens

02 March 2007 04:47

Motorists were yesterday warned to take care where they fill up and to keep all till receipts as mystery continued to surround reports of contaminated fuel.

Supermarkets, which have been identified as a possible source of a problem now thought to have damaged thousands of vehicles, continued to deny that there was anything wrong with their fuel sources.

But, as the industry braced itself for a raft of compensation claims, advice was issued to motorists who fear they may have been affected.

The problem emerged this week as large numbers of drivers across the east of England reported the same fault, all thought to be caused by fuel containing excess amounts of ethanol. Symptoms appear to be juddering and misfiring vehicles and a loss of power, possibly caused by engines switching to emergency settings after an exhaust sensor is damaged.

Mechanics in Norfolk have now reported several hundred cases but can do little to repair the vehicles because demand for the crucial part - a sensor used to regulate emissions - has led to a national shortage.

Norfolk County Council confirmed it has received several complaints and said that, once any supplier is found to be at fault, motorists will be entitled to claim for compensation.

A spokesman said: “We are telling everyone to keep their receipts of fuel purchases and make sure they keep details of any repairs. If people are concerned, they should check with the petrol station operator before they fill up.”

Meanwhile Ray Holloway, director of the Petrol Retailers' Association, said drivers should consider getting fresh fuel even if their vehicle is not suffering any problems. He said: “Motorists who have not been affected could save themselves a bill by changing the petrol in their tanks.”

Adam Cracknell, from the RAC, said it appeared the problem was coming from petrol forecourts at supermarkets and advised motorists to “exercise caution” when re-fuelling.

Joanne Barker, senior lawyer with Which? Legal Service, said: “If it can be shown that the petrol was contaminated then the costs of repair can be reclaimed from the retailing garage.”

Among those affected is Manda Lucas who last filled up her Toyota Celica at the Tesco in Lowestoft. As her vehicle is older - and therefore less susceptible to the problem - she was able to empty the tank and refill from another source without serious damage.

“I knew straight after filling up that something was wrong as the car just felt sluggish,” she said. “After about two or three minutes it just stopped completely.

“I will definitely be buying my petrol elsewhere until I'm confident this is over.”

A spokeswoman for Tesco said: “Whilst we cannot currently trace any problem back to Tesco fuel we will of course continue to urgently work with our supplier to identify what might be behind it. If we discover any problem with our fuel we will inform customers immediately and act quickly to put it right.”

A spokesman for Morrisons, which has also been identified as a potential sourse, said: “Morrisons suppliers test every batch of unleaded petrol to ensure that it meets British and European standards. Having received a limited number of enquiries further tests were carried out. These found no contamination and confirmed our unleaded petrol met the required standards.”



Anyone hoping to claim compensation should take the following steps:

Keep the till receipt from the last filling station they used. In some cases credit card or banking records might be acceptable.

Keep receipts and other proof of all repairs carried out to the vehicle.

If possible keep a sample of the fuel and get a garage to test it.

Be aware that standard legal expense insurance sold with motor policies may not cover repairs as they are not caused by an accident. Even if you are covered the cost may not exceed your excess. House contents cover may provide cover as it is a consumer dispute.

Anyone seeking advice on how to make a claim should contact Consumer Direct on 08454 040506.

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