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| Petrol firms say fuel not faulty | Petrol firms say fuel not faulty |
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| Petrol retailers have insisted that their fuel is not faulty, despite hundreds of complaints that cars have broken down after leaving forecourts. | Petrol retailers have insisted that their fuel is not faulty, despite hundreds of complaints that cars have broken down after leaving forecourts. |
| 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. |
| Trading standards officials have launched an investigation after drivers in south-east England said they had been sold "contaminated" fuel. | Trading standards officials have launched an investigation after drivers in south-east England said they had been sold "contaminated" fuel. |
| 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 href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/mediaselector/check/player/nol/newsid_6400000/newsid_6407500?redirect=6407501.stm&news=1&bbwm=1&nbram=1&bbram=1&nbwm=1">Mr Holloway interview | |
| Jonathan Church, Tesco's media director, said the company was testing fuel from a terminal in Essex but had so far been unable to find "an issue". | Jonathan Church, Tesco's media director, said the company was testing fuel from a terminal in Essex but had so far been unable to find "an issue". |
| Morrisons also issued a statement following the complaints. The chain insisted it had found nothing wrong with fuel bought from its stores. | Morrisons also issued a statement following the complaints. The chain insisted it had found nothing wrong with fuel bought from its stores. |
| Independent oil company Greenergy said tests on the fuel it supplied to Tesco and Morrisons showed it met industry standards. | Independent oil company Greenergy said tests on the fuel it supplied to Tesco and Morrisons showed it met industry standards. |
| Asda said it had received about 20 complaints, all relating to cars from the higher end of the market with fuel management systems. | Asda said it had received about 20 complaints, all relating to cars from the higher end of the market with fuel management systems. |
| The company said tests carried out so far had proved inconclusive. | The company said tests carried out so far had proved inconclusive. |
| Trading standards said its officials were also testing a number of unleaded samples and the results were expected on Friday. | Trading standards said its officials were also testing a number of unleaded samples and the results were expected on Friday. |
| 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. |
| Tesco and Morrisons have been mentioned most frequently but motorists have also said they bought petrol from Asda and Sainsbury's. | Tesco and Morrisons have been mentioned most frequently but motorists have also said they bought petrol from Asda and Sainsbury's. |
| The Association of British Insurers (ABI) said motorists affected by contaminated petrol should be able to claim for accidental damage if they have comprehensive cover. | The Association of British Insurers (ABI) said motorists affected by contaminated petrol should be able to claim for accidental damage 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. |
| The UK Petroleum Industry Association said the problem could have arisen because of the way a batch of fuel was blended or stored. | The UK Petroleum Industry Association said the problem could have arisen because of the way a batch of fuel was blended or stored. |
| A spokesman said the problem appeared to be with a localised batch of fuel and petrol across the UK was generally not faulty. | A spokesman said the problem appeared to be with a localised batch of fuel and petrol across the UK was generally not faulty. |
| 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 |
| 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." |
| Michelle Shambrook from advice service Consumer Direct told the BBC that motorists who think they have been affected must have proof of purchase to be able to make a claim and should keep receipts. | Michelle Shambrook from advice service Consumer Direct told the BBC that motorists who think they have been affected must have proof of purchase to be able to make a claim and should keep receipts. |
| They should take their vehicles to an independent garage to have the contamination confirmed. | They should take their vehicles to an independent garage to have the contamination confirmed. |