Drivers furious as fuel from BP petrol station chain is ‘contaminated and causing cars to break down’
He 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.Have your tank and pipework expertly cleaned before refilling the tank to prevent it from contaminating the clean fuel.

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.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.An investigation is now underway to prevent further incidents. The chain has 1,200 stations across the UK but it appears only the Rayleigh station is currently affected.
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Erosion of your tankIf 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.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.”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.
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Arrange for a tank service to check the contamination has caused no damage or leaks to the tank itself or its components.“The affected tank in question has been isolated and the site is now open and operational.
DRIVERS have been left furious after reporting that “contaminated” fuel from a major petrol station chain “caused cars to break down”.The appearance of your fuelThe “affected tank” has been isolated with the site now open again and operational.Dozens of motorists using a BP garage in Rayleigh, Essex, saw their vehicles grind to a halt shortly after filling up.Keep stock of spare filter elements on site to ensure you can quickly replace them when they get full.“It has been crazy; I haven’t seen something like this for ages.”The garage initially closed on Tuesday before re-opening on Wednesday with the pump out of use.