Contaminated fuel in the UK

[danrok]

Anyone encountered problems with this?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6405051.stm

Trading standards officials have launched an investigation after drivers complained that they had been sold "contaminated" fuel.

Drivers from across south-east England believe they may have been sold petrol containing ethanol, which has damaged their cars.

Their vehicles have been juddering, misfiring and had a loss of power.

Sounds like a nightmare!

[aghastpumpkin]

Tesco and Morrisons both say their fuel is perfectly fine now.

[Áedán]

I somewhat doubt it's anything to do with the fuel containing bio-ethanol. Especially given that bio-ethanol blended petrol has been in use in a number of countries for a while. For example Brazil pretty much mandates E22 (22% bio-ethanol mix). The UK govenment is pretty close to mandating a 5% bio-ethanol mix now.

[danrok]

Originally Posted by aghastpumpkin

Tesco and Morrisons both say their fuel is perfectly fine now.

Seems almost certain that their fuel, at some stations, was faulty in some way.

There are just far too many people saying that they filled up at Tesco, just prior to having problems.

[Toro]

Ford recommend that you use fuel with no more than a 5% mix and that you buy from non-supermarket pumps (ie Esso, shell etc branded)

in bed with anyone?

[danrok]

I think they are right in general.

However, if you fill up at a supermarket station you might be getting "branded fuel", anyhow.

I used to work for Shell, and I can tell you that Sainsbury's tankers are regular visitors to their distribution depot in Buncefield, Herts. I don't believe there's any difference - I suspect that people who think their engines run better on branded fuel are experiencing the 'placebo effect'!

http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/forum/po....htm?t=788&v=f

That seems relevant, given stations in Herts are affected.

He says, Sainsbury's buy Shell. But, there again Sainsbury's don't seem to be affected.

[Toro]

There are only so many places you can buy fuel from, and I doubt that supermarkets (who lets not forget are trying to make the most money out of the fuel) are going to spend more money on setting up somewhere where they can put in extra additives and mixers to the fuel. I used to work for Ford, and that was one of the main lines we had to use in "fuel related concerns". I drive a Ford and have always used supermarket fuel, 7 years of driving, and I've never had an issue with fuel contamination... its just not in the supermarkets' interest to supply ropey fuel.

I think the ASDA pumps near me are shell as well, but I have just heard reports that ASDA customers are reporting issues, albeit not in great numbers and some reports from Glasgow as well. I am supposed to be driving up north today, from Glasgow to Aviemore... so I am slightly concerned about filling up

[danrok]

If the fuel is contaminated, it's most likely the ship which transported the fuel which is to blame. They may not have flushed out their tanks fully before taking the fuel on board.

Whatever tests were in place may have missed what ever chemical polluted the fuel. Given that, so far, they haven't found anything in further tests on samples from affected cars, it's not surprising it didn't show in the original test.

[Toro]

Contamination on this scale, as you rightly indicate, is not down to local distribution centres. its looking like its too widely spread.

The BBC have a map plotting where they are getting reports from... seems to be a line up the M6...

you can see that map here... http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6407447.stm

[keithwalton]

Tesco's finest unleaded petrol (99 octane) stuff (they so should use there value, and finest branding on there fuel!)
is a 5% bioethanol blend by greenergy. The rest of there stuff is who ever can supply the cheapest at the time its purchased. Usually esso fuel.

I have made many comments on this on another forum, and the summary is nearly all cars can handle E5 (5% bio-e) and most but not all can handle E10 (10%).
It would appear that the ego (hego, oxgyen sensor) appears to be the problem on these cars, whether the sensor is failing or the ecu is mis-training i dont know.

My recomendation to people with the problem is to reset there ecu to factory defaults. Which may help matters and cant really do any harm.

I did laugh when people were complaining that it was contaminated i had to ask them did they put the 99 stuff in as the bio-ethanol is supposed to be in that fuel (amoung other additives)

[Toro]

I remember discussing this with some Ford engineers... they told me that 9 times out of 10 there is nothing wrong with these sensors when they get back for testing, its actually a wiring fault or the engine isn't actually running as it should. Mechanics are quick to condemn them cos they are giving high readings (cos the engine isn't running as it should do due to air in the fuel line or the PCM needing calibration)

[danrok]

Originally Posted by Toro

you can see that map here... http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6407447.stm

Looks quite widespread. Notice, no reports in Wales. Do they have cars there?

[Toro]

Think they have cars, but they haven't got mobiles to text in or computers to email. Their mail still goes by stagecoach