Britons warned of 'contaminated fuel' issue as drivers risk 'vehicle breakdowns and costly repairs'
WARNING: Motorists could see HUGE diesel and petrol price rises soon
GB NEWS
Experts are calling on drivers to ensure they are safe at the filling station after reports that more than 100 people were affected by "contaminated fuel" last week.
Earlier this month, "dozens" of drivers in Rayleigh, Essex, saw their cars break down after visiting a London Road BP garage, prompting several issues to be raised.
The garage was closed for a day with the pump out of use the following day, prompting BP to issue a statement that an investigation is underway in relation to a "potentially contaminated tank".
According to a fuel specialist in the area, there had been 30 callouts to the area in relation to the contaminated fuel issue.
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Experts are urging drivers to pick up on the telltale signs of contaminated fuel
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Lee Pretlove, owner of Fuel Out, suspected the issue was in relation to "petrol contaminated with water". He also speculated that "as many as 100 people" could have been affected.
Experts are now warning that motorists on a broader scale could see their cars break down after visiting their local petrol station.
Drivers are being urged to be aware of the common signs of fuel contamination, with experts warning that drivers should stop using their vehicles immediately if they suspect their car may be impacted by faulty fuel.
According to John Wilmot, CEO of LeaseLoco, the most common signs include involuntary speed fluctuations, sputtering, failure to start, excessive exhaust smoke, a strange smell and an unusual appearance.
He added: "Fuel contamination can cause your vehicle to break down and lead to costly repairs depending on the severity of the damage.
"Inspecting the appearance of the fuel in the tank can also help identify contamination - fuel should look clear and bright, so if it appears dark, cloudy, and has a layer of sludge, it indicates possible contamination."
Drivers can also see issues even if the fuel isn't contaminated as they may accidentally put the wrong fuel in their car, which happens around 150,000 times a year, according to the RAC.
This can lead to contamination since petrol and diesel could mix if the driver accidentally misfuels with the wrong standard for their car.
Wilmot warned that putting diesel in a petrol car can "clog injectors and filters", while putting petrol in a diesel engine can be more dangerous since it can remove essential lubrication provided by B7 diesel.
If someone does misfuel, they are encouraged to avoid using their car immediately by pulling over in a safe space and switching off the engine. They will then need to call a specialist to drain the tank.
The expert continued, saying: "The quicker you respond to the initial symptoms, the easier and cheaper it will be to get the contaminated fuel out of the tank and fix any issues it may have caused."
In the case of Rayleigh, Lee Pretlove said he had been inundated with calls because of the contaminated fuel issue and the number of cars breaking down.
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One local resident claimed 'up to 100' people were affected by the issue at the BP garage in Essex
GETTYHe added: "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.
"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," the Daily Gazette reported.
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