DRIVERS have been left furious after reporting that “contaminated” fuel from a major petrol station chain “caused cars to break down”.
Dozens of motorists using a BP garage in Rayleigh, Essex, saw their vehicles grind to a halt shortly after filling up.
Bosses at BP have since confirmed that the contaminated pump, at the garage in London Road, has been closed.
The “affected tank” has been isolated with the site now open and operational.
An investigation is now underway to prevent further incident.
BP are also looking into the number of people who may have been affected.
The garage initially closed on Tuesday as a result before re-opening on Wednesday with the pump out of use.
The chain has 1,200 stations across the UK but it appears only the Rayleigh station is currently affected.
A BP spokesman said: “We have identified an issue at the site with a potentially contaminated tank, which is currently under investigation.
“The affected tank in question has been isolated and the site is now open and operational.
“We are taking steps to assess the potential impact and determine the number of people who may be affected.
“Any customers with concerns should contact our careline for support careline@bp.com.”
Benfleet recovery firm Fuel Out claimed it has been called to 30 incidents where drivers have broken down, or been unable to start their car, this week after buying petrol from the garage.
Owner of Fuel Out, Lee Pretlove, has said that the contaminated fuel resulted in their busiest period in years.
He told the Daily Gazette: “We never see this many at all, the technicians pass jobs on to us and we have had loads of calls, we have been inundated.”
Lee added that most of the jobs they have been called to have been because cars have broken down as a result of what he believes to be water contamination with petrol.
He said: “It is reversible and is a case of draining them out, a lot of these cars will need new spark plugs as this is damaging certain plugs and fuel filters.
“Some are taking their cars to garages and getting massive bills without knowing what is wrong with their vehicle.
“It has been crazy; I haven’t seen something like this for ages.”
THE increasing bio-content in today’s diesel means that the fuel in storage tanks often contains small, but problematic water levels that sink to the bottom.
As the area between the water and the fuel is the perfect environment for microbial growth, what is known as “diesel bugs” begin to develop. When these bugs are not dealt with, they can create a nasty sludge. It is this “biofilm” that can block filters, damage pumps and get sucked into machinery causing equipment failure, downtime and costly repairs. For this very reason, it is vital that tank owners can spot the tell-tale signs that their fuel might be contaminated. Here’s what to look out for.
The appearance of your fuel
Diesel should usually appear bright and clear enough to see through. If it doesn’t then this is usually an indication that water contamination is present within the fuel. Once water in a tank becomes emulsified under the pressure changes and agitation of using the tank, droplets of water will form which gives the fuel a slightly cloudy or even milky appearance.
If left, this water content causes the nasty microbial sludge to grow that blocks filters and damages vehicles. When checking the appearance of your fuel, it is best to take a sample from the bottom of the tank as well as the top, as this is where the layer of diesel bug sludge forms.
Filters and equipment problems
The first thing you are likely to notice when contamination becomes an issue is your fuel filters blocking more quickly than normal. A filter blocking is the sign of a filter doing its job, so when they are needing to be changed more regularly, it indicates that you have more dirt or water present in the fuel for the filters to remove. When changing your filter, check for traces of sludge as this is a definitely indication you have a problem with water contamination.
If contaminated fuel gets into your vehicle, then you may start experiencing issues such as power loss, spluttering and involuntary speed changes. These are signs that the fuel isn’t burning as it should do, perhaps because the sludge is restricting fuel flow to the engine.
Erosion of your tank
If diesel bug contamination is not dealt with and you leave it to worsen over time, the bugs will eventually start to eat away at the fuel tank itself causing visible erosion of the tank base and walls.
It is standard practice to check your tank for rust, cracks and holes – and if you can visibly see this, it may be a sign of a severe contamination problem that needs to be dealt with urgently. Once erosion begins, the structure of your fuel tank is compromised and it could therefore be at risk of leaking and causing an oil spill, which you will be liable for the clean up of.
What to do if you suspect your fuel is contaminated?
If you’re experiencing any of the above tell-tale signs that your diesel may be contaminated with diesel bugs, then it is important that you act immediately to prevent further costly issues:
Keep stock of spare filter elements on site to ensure you can quickly replace them when they get full.
If your existing fuel is salvageable, get it professionally polished before you put any more into your vehicles and equipment and cause damage.
Have your tank and pipework expertly cleaned before refilling the tank to prevent it from contaminating the clean fuel.
Arrange for a tank service to check the contamination has caused no damage or leaks to the tank itself or its components.
Don’t let fuel sit stagnant. If your tank isn’t regularly used, install a fuel recirculation unit to prevent the bacteria from settling and the sludge from forming.
