CONTAMINATED FUEL ???

[Riley20]

ill cut this as short as i can. Basically we have a gls 350 17 plate brought new last march. Cars done just over 8000 miles, not used much, filled car with diesel, used a little, then left on driveway, topped up as going away. Drove 200 miles, car stared fluttering engine management light came on, went into limp mode then cut out completely!! Wouldn’t start and had to get recovered won’t go into this part but just let me tell you the experience was disgraceful leaving us at services with no curtesy car nothing at 4am !! But the cars been with mb 4 weeks now, they say it’s contaminated fuel but we know we used a proper petrol station and have receipt. Consequently we’ve been told there’s a blk tar substance that has damaged the whole fuel system, mb have no idea what it is and cannot explain how the car wouid drive 200 miles without any issue. The whole fuel system needs to be replaced injectors, rails the lot £5500 not covered under warranty or insurance so we’re liable, absolutely no communication from MB from one day to the next as to what is happening, and they’ve started to put new pieces back yet haven’t flushed the tank or system ? !! Has any body else experienced an issue like this ???? Reason i’m asking is a relative overheard a conversation in sainsbury’s garage a guy with exactly the same issue being told contaminated fuel but also had proof or purchase, unfortunately they didn’t get a number or id be contacting him !! So are these isolated incidents or is there something going on in the tank or fuel system causing it?! i’ve read about something ashpheltene that will react in this way but nobody will comment on this. Any help would be very grateful!! Before re fueling the car was very very low and hadn’t moved for about 6 weeks min.

 

[ph47mf]

sorry I couldn't be much help on this issue. but since you drove 200 miles without any issues, i would argue it's not contaminated fuel. i work in the motor trade and i have had cars with contaminated fuel before and you would know more or less straight away, not 200 miles later.

I would be as frustrated as you if i was put into this situation. £5.5k is not small amount of money. you need to go higher up the chain and speak to the senior managers.

 

[Riley20]

sorry I couldn't be much help on this issue. but since you drove 200 miles without any issues, i would argue it's not contaminated fuel. i work in the motor trade and i have had cars with contaminated fuel before and you would know more or less straight away, not 200 miles later.

I would be as frustrated as you if i was put into this situation. £5.5k is not small amount of money. you need to go higher up the chain and speak to the senior managers.

Hi

Yes i’m dealing with customer services but there not really listening to what i’m saying, Ive said the same about not being able to drive for more than a few miles with contaminated fuel and they can’t answer this either, but won’t do anything to help us. They said on draining the diesel was very dark but they could see 95% was good fuel, but a small amount seems to be separating, and yet they’ve never cleaned the tank or system through it just didn’t make sense. But thankyou for your advice i’ll keep trying.

 

[markjay]

I suggest you ask MB for written report, then send it to the garage where you last filled-up with Diesel (and copy of receipt) and see what they say.

Also Mercedes Me (if you registered online) will show where exactly the car was refueled and how much fuel was purchased. I.e. in case the garage suggests that you have added more fuel after driving off.

Said that... while I think you should go through the motions as per above, also keep in mind it is not unheard of for MB dealers and MB UK to tell porkies.

 

[merc85]

Its sounds like it could be Diesel Bug, We sell a Additive by Wynnes which go's into the Fuel tank and is used as a preservative against the formation of the organism.

 

[clk320x]

Its sounds like it could be Diesel Bug, We sell a Additive by Wynnes which go's into the Fuel tank and is used as a preservative against the formation of the organism.

Never heard of that Gav! Is it common?

 

[merc85]

Its more evident in bio fuel, Fuel's which suffer water contamination can suffer with it.

What Is Diesel Bug And How Can You Get Rid Of It?

We sell alot being on the coast also to boat owners and Port of felixstowe

 

[wu56Shoozz]

Morrisons were the worst for this..my local one disabled a hole fleet of Tipper Trucks with this, my mate was one of the drivers..

 

[DSM10000]

ill cut this as short as i can. Basically we have a gls 350 17 plate brought new last march. Cars done just over 8000 miles, not used much, filled car with diesel, used a little, then left on driveway, topped up as going away. Drove 200 miles, car stared fluttering engine management light came on, went into limp mode then cut out completely!! Wouldn’t start and had to get recovered won’t go into this part but just let me tell you the experience was disgraceful leaving us at services with no curtesy car nothing at 4am !! But the cars been with mb 4 weeks now, they say it’s contaminated fuel but we know we used a proper petrol station and have receipt. Consequently we’ve been told there’s a blk tar substance that has damaged the whole fuel system, mb have no idea what it is and cannot explain how the car wouid drive 200 miles without any issue. The whole fuel system needs to be replaced injectors, rails the lot £5500 not covered under warranty or insurance so we’re liable, absolutely no communication from MB from one day to the next as to what is happening, and they’ve started to put new pieces back yet haven’t flushed the tank or system ? !! Has any body else experienced an issue like this ???? Reason i’m asking is a relative overheard a conversation in sainsbury’s garage a guy with exactly the same issue being told contaminated fuel but also had proof or purchase, unfortunately they didn’t get a number or id be contacting him !! So are these isolated incidents or is there something going on in the tank or fuel system causing it?! i’ve read about something ashpheltene that will react in this way but nobody will comment on this. Any help would be very grateful!! Before re fueling the car was very very low and hadn’t moved for about 6 weeks min.

I am sorry to hear of your ongoing problem. I cannot help with that in itself but your posts are quite difficult to read when not broken up into paragraphs. Some people may give up reading them as it makes it hard work.

Have you contacted an MB Specialist to see if they can drain and flush the fuel system?

Good luck sorting it

 

[rf065]

your posts are quite difficult to read when not broken up into paragraphs.

To be fair, he did say he was cutting it as short as he can!

 

[a111r]

MB are shocking!
That gunge would end up in the fuel filter. It's what they're for..

Drain fuel. Clean the tank and lines, replace fuel filter.

 

[MarkyMark84]

It could be related to the fuel. I filled our other car up with supermarket fuel and it almost cut out about 150 - 200 later. It ran like a dog no power and was very jerky. Now with the Mercedes I never use anything other than Shell V Power diesel.


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[ph47mf]

It could be related to the fuel. I filled our other car up with supermarket fuel and it almost cut out about 150 - 200 later. It ran like a dog no power and was very jerky. Now with the Mercedes I never use anything other than Shell V Power diesel.


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there is a always the chance but i haven't had an issue using supermarket fuel in different cars in the past 20 years. and last 5 years was in the motor trade and so spend over £2500 on supermarket fuel every month, not a problem again.

 

[markjay]

I don't think anyone knowingly sell 'fuel with crap in it', at supermarkets or elsewhere.

The most common reason for fuel issues are contamination, either at the tanker or in the garage storage tanks, or incorrect concentration of additives. And this can happen to any fuel, supermarket or otherwise.

The issue with using cheap fuel is the potential long-term damage resulting from incomplete burning and lack of detergents, but it will take thousands of miles before any symptoms are noticed.

So if you drive off the forecourt and the engine goes belly up... it's most likely not related to how much you paid for the fuel.

 

[CJD]

Diesel bug is very common in the boating world, and has been said caused through water contamination.
When we had our boat we added an inhibitor at every fill up, and luckily never had any problems; you don't want your engine cutting out on a free flowing river.
It can be very troublesome to cure completely, there are specialist companies who "polish" the fuel and thoroughly clean the system.
I may be a bit fussy, but thats why I don't use supermarket fuel, and always use premium fuel in the car - but's thats me.

 

[KeithJG]

I always say "what goes around comes around"..........you can mention premium grade fuel until you are blue in the face but owners still use the crap fuels and then sell the car on to the undeserving new owner!
Best pay pence each week than thousands in two years time.

 

[DSM10000]

Diesel bug is very common in the boating world, and has been said caused through water contamination.
When we had our boat we added an inhibitor at every fill up, and luckily never had any problems; you don't want your engine cutting out on a free flowing river.
It can be very troublesome to cure completely, there are specialist companies who "polish" the fuel and thoroughly clean the system.
I may be a bit fussy, but thats why I don't use supermarket fuel, and always use premium fuel in the car - but's thats me.

I always say "what goes around comes around"..........you can mention premium grade fuel until you are blue in the face but owners still use the crap fuels and then sell the car on to the undeserving new owner!
Best pay pence each week than thousands in two years time.

There is no such thing as "crap fuel" (unless you count some of the home brew stuff used with the wrong vehicles) this ridiculous assertion keeps surfacing.

All fuel sold commercially in the UK must meet minimum BS specifications. As pointed out many times the Supermarkets (presumably your asserted suppliers of "crap fuel") do not have their own refineries, it comes from the same place as ESSO, Texaco, Shell, BP etc get their supplies.

The only difference in the "premium fuels" is either those refined to give higher Octane ratings for petrol or the addition of Cetane boosters for diesel or cleaning additives. The main suppliers "basic" fuel that you buy on their forecourts is the same as the ones sold by supermarkets. Waitrose stations are generally Shell etc.

 

[CJD]

There is no such thing as "crap fuel" (unless you count some of the home brew stuff used with the wrong vehicles) this ridiculous assertion keeps surfacing.

All fuel sold commercially in the UK must meet minimum BS specifications. As pointed out many times the Supermarkets (presumably your asserted suppliers of "crap fuel") do not have their own refineries, it comes from the same place as ESSO, Texaco, Shell, BP etc get their supplies.

The only difference in the "premium fuels" is either those refined to give higher Octane ratings for petrol or the addition of Cetane boosters for diesel or cleaning additives. The main suppliers "basic" fuel that you buy on their forecourts is the same as the ones sold by supermarkets. Waitrose stations are generally Shell etc.

and your point is what ?
The only stories I have ever heard of in the UK, with people having problems with contaminated fuel, when bought from forecourts are from supermarket pumps - and there have been quite a few well publicised occurrences.
I know all fuel has to meet certain specifications, and it all originates from the main refineries.
So you go ahead and buy your fuel from where you want, I don't have a problem with it.

 

[Petrol Pete]

Tesco near me is an Esso station. They are forever running out of fuel(s) so I guess it's pretty fresh when they have it. the place is also very busy.

 

[DSM10000]

and your point is what ?
The only stories I have ever heard of in the UK, with people having problems with contaminated fuel, when bought from forecourts are from supermarket pumps - and there have been quite a few well publicised occurrences.
I know all fuel has to meet certain specifications, and it all originates from the main refineries.
So you go ahead and buy your fuel from where you want, I don't have a problem with it.

You need the point explained?

So "the only stories" you have heard.................Any factual evidence here or just stories?

By facts I mean definitive evidence of vehicles damaged by poor fuel quality (all made to the same standard remember?) storage etc broken down by forecourt / supplier.

As I published in another thread on this subject over 40% (I believe possibly closer to 50% now)of fuel is sold from Supermarket forecourts. By any reasonable and logical person's thinking that would mean that a huge number of vehicles would be damaged if your contention was correct. Aso, keep in mind that a lot of Supermarket forecourt operations are run by some of the largest Petroleum fuel suppliers on behalf of the Supermarkets.

See here :Motor fuel market share by brand in the UK 2017 | Statistic

Make a point by all means but back it up with facts not some ambiguous passive-aggressive statement . I have no idea what you do / did for a living but my profession uses evidence based practice.