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| 'Faulty' petrol results awaited | 'Faulty' petrol results awaited |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| Test results on fuel which is thought to have caused problems for thousands of drivers in the south and east of England are expected to be released. | Test results on fuel which is thought to have caused problems for thousands of drivers in the south and east of England are expected to be released. |
| The petrol has already been traced to a storage depot in Essex. The fuel industry is testing its own supplies. | |
| And Cambridgeshire Trading Standards officers have sent a sample from one affected car for tests at a forensic laboratory. | |
| Reports say silicone has been found in some of the affected cars' fuel. | |
| 'False signal' | 'False signal' |
| Tesco confirmed that it is testing for the substance, but previous analysis by the supermarket chain have failed to find any contamination. | Tesco confirmed that it is testing for the substance, but previous analysis by the supermarket chain have failed to find any contamination. |
| It is thought silicone may have found its way into a batch of petrol in transit by ship into the UK or in storage containers. | It is thought silicone may have found its way into a batch of petrol in transit by ship into the UK or in storage containers. |
| It must be a very minor, low concentration contaminant Professor Malcolm FoxLeeds University | It must be a very minor, low concentration contaminant Professor Malcolm FoxLeeds University |
| The problems seem to be centred on oxygen sensors which determine the mix of oxygen and petrol supplied to the engine. | The problems seem to be centred on oxygen sensors which determine the mix of oxygen and petrol supplied to the engine. |
| Automotive expert Professor Malcolm Fox, from the University of Leeds, said all the signs pointed towards some form of liquid silicone having got into the fuel. | Automotive expert Professor Malcolm Fox, from the University of Leeds, said all the signs pointed towards some form of liquid silicone having got into the fuel. |
| He added: "The analysis from the suppliers shows that the fuel is okay, so it must be a very minor, low concentration contaminant. | He added: "The analysis from the suppliers shows that the fuel is okay, so it must be a very minor, low concentration contaminant. |
| "When it burns, it will form silicon dioxide and will deposit a very thin sheet on the sensor - the sensor is in the exhaust - and that probably gives a false signal to the engine computer." | "When it burns, it will form silicon dioxide and will deposit a very thin sheet on the sensor - the sensor is in the exhaust - and that probably gives a false signal to the engine computer." |
| HAVE YOUR SAY One of these stations had strange additives in their fuel Michael Gibson, West Byfleet Send us your comments Petrol questions answered How fuel can be contaminated | HAVE YOUR SAY One of these stations had strange additives in their fuel Michael Gibson, West Byfleet Send us your comments Petrol questions answered How fuel can be contaminated |
| Chris Hunt from the UK Petroleum Industry Association (UKPIA), said silicone was one of many substances being examined as a possible cause. | Chris Hunt from the UK Petroleum Industry Association (UKPIA), said silicone was one of many substances being examined as a possible cause. |
| The UKPIA 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. | The UKPIA 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. |
| Contamination by water or ethanol has now been ruled out. | Contamination by water or ethanol has now been ruled out. |
| Tesco said the problems appeared to be linked to forecourts in the south-east of England served by the Vopak Terminals depot in Essex. | Tesco said the problems appeared to be linked to forecourts in the south-east of England served by the Vopak Terminals depot 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. |
| 'Deviation' | 'Deviation' |
| Vopak Terminals managing director Colin Scott said: "Verifications are continuing. At this moment we have not established any deviation from normal procedures." | Vopak Terminals managing director Colin Scott said: "Verifications are continuing. At this moment we have not established any deviation from normal procedures." |
| 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. |
| 'Faulty' fuel locations | 'Faulty' fuel locations |
| 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. |
| The BBC has received several thousand e-mails from motorists who say their vehicles have juddered, misfired and suffered a loss of power. | The BBC has received several thousand e-mails from motorists who say their vehicles have juddered, misfired and suffered a loss of power. |
| 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. |