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| Petrol firms say fuel not faulty | Petrol firms say fuel not faulty |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Petrol retailers have insisted that their fuel is not faulty, despite hundreds of complaints from drivers that their cars have been damaged. | Petrol retailers have insisted that their fuel is not faulty, despite hundreds of complaints from drivers that their cars have been damaged. |
| Both Tesco and Morrisons said they had carried out tests but had been unable to find any problems with their fuel. | Both Tesco and Morrisons said they had carried out tests but had been unable to find any problems with their fuel. |
| Vopak, a fuel distribution company with a depot in Essex, said it was checking that it was not to blame. | Vopak, a fuel distribution company with a depot in Essex, said it was checking that it was not to blame. |
| And trading standards officials said their tests on the "contaminated" fuel may be available on Friday. | And trading standards officials said their tests on the "contaminated" fuel may be available on Friday. |
| Motorists believe they may have been sold petrol containing ethanol. | Motorists believe they may have been sold petrol containing ethanol. |
| Their say their vehicles have juddered, misfired and suffered a loss of power. | Their say their vehicles have juddered, misfired and suffered a loss of power. |
| I've been in this industry for over 30 years and I don't remember anything like this happening before Ray Holloway,Petrol Retailers Association Mr Holloway interview | I've been in this industry for over 30 years and I don't remember anything like this happening before Ray Holloway,Petrol Retailers Association Mr Holloway interview |
| Tesco said the problems all appeared to be linked to forecourts in the south east of England served by a refinery in Essex. | Tesco said the problems all appeared to be linked to forecourts in the south east of England served by a refinery in Essex. |
| Both Tesco and Morrisons get fuel from an independent oil company called Greenergy, which insists its supplies meet industry standards. | Both Tesco and Morrisons get fuel from an independent oil company called Greenergy, which insists its supplies meet industry standards. |
| The main Greenergy storage depot is on the River Thames at West Thurrock, Grays, Essex. | The main Greenergy storage depot is on the River Thames at West Thurrock, Grays, Essex. |
| One of the fuel distribution terminals there is run by Vopak, which specialises in handling liquid chemical and oil products. | One of the fuel distribution terminals there is run by Vopak, which specialises in handling liquid chemical and oil products. |
| Colin Scott, Vopak Terminals managing director, said checks were being made to make sure normal handling and storage procedures have been followed. | Colin Scott, Vopak Terminals managing director, said checks were being made to make sure normal handling and storage procedures have been followed. |
| "Verifications are continuing. At this moment we have not established any deviation from normal procedures." | "Verifications are continuing. At this moment we have not established any deviation from normal procedures." |
| class="" href="/1/hi/uk/6407447.stm">'Faulty' fuel locations | |
| Morrisons has also issued a statement insisting that it had found nothing wrong with fuel bought from its stores. | Morrisons has also issued a statement insisting that it had found nothing wrong with fuel bought from its stores. |
| Asda said it had received about 80 complaints, many relating to cars from the higher end of the market with fuel management systems. | Asda said it had received about 80 complaints, many relating to cars from the higher end of the market with fuel management systems. |
| The company said tests carried out so far had found nothing wrong. | The company said tests carried out so far had found nothing wrong. |
| The Trading Standards Institute said samples of unleaded petrol had been taken from station forecourts in Cambridgeshire, Kent, south Essex and Milton Keynes. | The Trading Standards Institute said samples of unleaded petrol had been taken from station forecourts in Cambridgeshire, Kent, south Essex and Milton Keynes. |
| A spokeswoman said spot checks were also being undertaken by local authority trading standards teams in other parts of the country. | A spokeswoman said spot checks were also being undertaken by local authority trading standards teams in other parts of the country. |
| The penalty for supplying fuel which does not meet industry standards is a £5,000 fine. | The penalty for supplying fuel which does not meet industry standards is a £5,000 fine. |
| HAVE YOUR SAY One of these stations had strange additives in their fuel Michael Gibson, West Byfleet Send us your comments Petrol questions answered | HAVE YOUR SAY One of these stations had strange additives in their fuel Michael Gibson, West Byfleet Send us your comments Petrol questions answered |
| The BBC has received more than 2,000 e-mails from motorists who say their vehicles may have been affected. | The BBC has received more than 2,000 e-mails from motorists who say their vehicles may have been affected. |
| Most came from an area covering London and parts of east and south-east England and many reported buying petrol from forecourts at supermarkets. | Most came from an area covering London and parts of east and south-east England and many reported buying petrol from forecourts at supermarkets. |
| But problems have also been reported by motorists in other areas including Aberdeen, Manchester, Newcastle and Preston. | But problems have also been reported by motorists in other areas including Aberdeen, Manchester, Newcastle and Preston. |
| The Association of British Insurers (ABI) said motorists affected by contaminated petrol should be able to claim if they have comprehensive cover. | |
| Repair bills | Repair bills |
| The problems seem to be centred on oxygen sensors in vehicles. | The problems seem to be centred on oxygen sensors in vehicles. |
| The sensors are attached to the exhaust and determine the mix of oxygen and petrol supplied to the engine. | The sensors are attached to the exhaust and determine the mix of oxygen and petrol supplied to the engine. |
| Garages are running out of replacement parts in some areas as they are swamped with motorists. Repair bills are topping £1,000 for some drivers. | Garages are running out of replacement parts in some areas as they are swamped with motorists. Repair bills are topping £1,000 for some drivers. |
| It started misfiring and juddering Jonathan EarlMotorist Drivers tell of fury More of your stories | It started misfiring and juddering Jonathan EarlMotorist Drivers tell of fury More of your stories |
| The UK Petroleum Industry Association said the problem could have arisen because of the way a single batch of fuel was blended or stored, and that petrol across the UK was generally not faulty. | |
| Ray Holloway, of the Petrol Retailers Association, said garages had told him the problems may have been around for a week, so the exact cause might not be found. | Ray Holloway, of the Petrol Retailers Association, said garages had told him the problems may have been around for a week, so the exact cause might not be found. |
| "I've been in this industry for over 30 years and I don't remember anything like this happening before, and therefore to give you a cause is very difficult at this stage." | "I've been in this industry for over 30 years and I don't remember anything like this happening before, and therefore to give you a cause is very difficult at this stage." |