Melbourne: warning on contaminated fuel
August 7, 2009 by Matt Brogan
Updated (3.40pm):
The RACV and VACC have reported that thousands of Victorians’ cars have experienced engine trouble this week after a mystery fuel contamination.
Although the exact source of the contamination is as yet unknown several mechanics have reported samples from small, unbranded fuel outlets in Melbourne’s northern and south-eastern suburbs as being the culprit. As a result many cars have been sent for urgent repairs, some even reporting engine failure.
Although hard to detect, the contaminated fuel is clear (like water) in colour. Petrol usually has a gold tinge.
Signs of contaminated fuel include:
- Engine running rough or stalling
- Engine harder to start than usual
- Misfiring, pinging or backfiring
- “Engine check” light illuminated
- Sickly sweet smelling exhaust fumes
- White powdery residue in tail pipe and/or on spark plugs
If your vehicle shows any of these signs it is recommended you stop driving as soon as possible and get your car to a mechanic.
Updated:
The VACC have this afternoon issued a statement with the following advice to consumers who believe they have purchased faulty or sub-standard fuel:
- Seek advice as soon as possible from a qualified motor mechanic
- Advise the service station where you bought the fuel from that you have a problem
- Retain your proof of purchase, which may be a receipt or card transaction docket, identifying the time and date of purchase of fuel
- Ask the mechanic to collect a sample of the suspect fuel (approximately 2 litres if possible) and either the mechanic or the consumer should retain this sample until the issue is resolved
- Each consumer will have to decide whether to ask the mechanic to fix the problem or wait until the investigation of this matter has concluded
- If consumers need their motor vehicle immediately they might chose to request a mechanic to fix the problem and seek compensation from the fuel retailer
- Consumers may also contact Consumers Affairs Victoria on 1300 558 181 for further advice
Print it: 
I hope it won’t spread to any other states.
If this happens to you, are you insured for repairs under a comprehensive insurance policy? Or do you have to try and prove a particular petrol station sold you faulty product resulting in damage, the sue them, to pay for your engine replacement?
I live just south of Sydney and drive a 2000 Nissan Pulsar. I refueled last Saturday and noticed on around Tuesday that on starting my engine there was considerable shuddering and hesitation to start. This came out of the blue (no previous engine issues at all). When I heard about this (yesterday) I wondered if it had made its way to Sydney?
Anyone else had any issues or symptoms from the South Syd region?
I live in the northern suburbs of Melbourne and I noticed that recently my car began to miss fire and hesitate at lower rpm’s. I hope this has nothing to do with the fuel I used, however i only use premium..
About 3 weeks ago a friend filled his BMW X3 at the Caltex petrol station in Kingsway, South Melbourne. He got 50 metres before his car conked out, and had to be towed away. Water in the fuel. Result – $6000 bill, including new injectors which had to be flown out from Germany.
Cost being picked up by Caltex, as, apparently, he was not the only unfortunate customer.
Onepoppa:
How much convincing did take for Caltex to pay for the damages? Seems surprising that there is no mention of a lengthy court battle, etc.
Any news on how this started?
No trouble at all. Spoke to Sydney and was told to send the bill to them and would be fixed up. Mind you, the problem was genuine. My friend passed the service station a few days later and they were digging up the concrete – obviously to get at the tank or the lines from the tank to the pumps.
Interesting that the inference is on the \’unbranded\’ independents …..
Coles (Shell) and Safeway (Caltex) must love that comment…
I wish they would just tell it like it is – which service stations are selling this crap, and is it 91, 95, 98, or blended fuel. By the sound of the BMW issue, it would have to be 98 fuel.
Remember a few years ago Mobil had to rebuild half the light aircraft engines in AU after selling contaminated avgas to them.
I’m guessing there’s another case of E10 being mixed more like E50, similar to what was happening a few years ago.
At the current extortionate ripoff petrol price, they shouldn’t have to resort to trying to boost their superprofits even further.
People and politicians should just drive FUEL EFFICIENT CARS rather than put HUGE pressure on oil companies to “lower prices without lowering quality”…its as simple as that!
FuelWatch, 4 cents per litre off petrol, endless ACCC investigations, on and on….how about 4 cents a litre off Pepsi? Why not have outrage over the price of fruit juice? Crazy People! Just get a fuel efficient car! :-P
ULP 91 is purple 95 & 98 are yellow, Mobil released a batch of undyed ULP 91 last week. You should only buy E10 sourced from Shell, it’s been blended properly.
^^and if you don’t like ethanol, you shouldn’t buy ULP from Shell because it’s blended, but because it’s less than 5% they don’t have to tell you.
Hardly the first time this has occurred. Shell had this problem years ago with their Optimax 98 Octane fuel which was eventually removed from sale. I do not recall Shell paying anybody I know who used their crappy fuel. It is amazing that anyone now is admitting any liability. I think the inference to independents in this article without mentioning the cronies that supply them is just wrong.
@ ElecEng – it ain’t swine flu, just a bad batch of of fuel
Shell don,t blend Ethanol with there standard 91 ulp, only with the E10 (which is labeled) and the V-Power Racing.
My wife and I have had both of our cars fail in the past 24 hours. Her car (2005 VW Golf) had problems during the day so we grabbed mine (2004 BMW X5) and ironically it had the same problem. We will be taking both cars to a repairer tomorrow but we believe this is a result of contaminated fuel. Both us of purchased fuel from Mobil service stations on the North Shore Sydney.. Will keep you posted of thge outcome but beware this could be a very expensive exercise – hopefully not for us..!
It’s a big shame this is happening given the fact that we pay for fuel way more than it actually costs. We simply shell out extra for quality petrol or if we settle for unknown stations with cheaper counterparts, this is what we get. These should be closed down.
My car has been running rough idle (like crap) for a couple of weeks, thought it was the mechanic after it had been serviced and gave him an ear full… since I live in SE Suburbs of Melbourne my attention is now on the fuel I used. Maybe time to change plugs and fuel filter.. keep you posted if this fixes the problem.
After I filled up at BP Little River outside of Geelong the warning light came on my car. I have taken it to the mechanic and the total cost of repair is $7200 not to mention not having a car for over 2 weeks. Has anyone else brought bad fuel from this service station?
I drive a Lexus.put petrol in springvale on 17th july.White exhaust/all engine lights on…spark plugs/exhaust/sensorscomplete exhaust system/.damage in excess of $7500.00.
Hi dear
By placing our voices together the vibration will be higher to destroy the negativity of organizations selling contaminated fuel, who are using the consumers by paying a high price for fuel and the repairs of our cars here is some information, I have made a complained to the Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts they will investigate the matter further and the Ombudsman. Shells’ reply was we sell high quality Shell products!!! reading all the emails who is not admitting the wrong doing? As I left the mechanic last Tuesday he was repairing 8 other cars with the same problem….. how Shell its denying selling a contaminated product?
Hi dear
By placing our voices together the vibration will be higher to destroy the negativity of organizations selling contaminated fuel, who are using the consumers by paying a high price for fuel and the repairs of our cars here is some information, I have made a complained to the Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts they will investigate the matter further and the Ombudsman. Shells\’ reply was we sell high quality Shell products!!! reading all the emails who is not admitting the wrong doing? As I left the mechanic last Tuesday he was repairing 8 other cars with the same problem….. how Shell its denying selling a contaminated product?
My father’s corolla was contaminated. Contacted AAMI, had the car tested, total write-off. Cheque in the mail.
Basically, the repair bill to rebuild the motor, fuel lines and catalytic converter was too expensive and they couldn’t guarantee the repairs, hence it being a write-off.
Apparently RACV don’t cover contaminated fuel damage. Lucky I don’t use them.
At the moment going thru the same process with AAMI. Did they deduct $500 excess from the payout?
John,
So your comprehensive insurance covered the cost of repair related to contaminated fuel right? I thought insurance company would not cover those cost. it is nice to know that.
However can you please confirm, did you have any issues with your insurance company approving contaminated reapir.
I am thinking of going to GIO insurance and claim this as accidental damages.
I received contaminated fuel from the Quix Service Station – Johnson Street Fitzroy on August 15. Mobil deny any liability and say that they have not received any complaints from that service station. The matter is now being dealt with by my insurance company.
If anyone else received contaminated fuel from Quix?
Hi I’m in south east Melb. i use shell V power and have been for a long time. a few month back i started to use another shell station and then started getting a misfire code pop up on my 2006 Lancer EVO IX. Had many people look into the problem and they could not find the answer. Yesterday a mechanic drained out some of my fuel and the fuel smelt wired. I have been told this has been the issue to my misfire. Now if this has caused long term damage to my car, who would i contact? Shell? Insurance company?
Any suggestions appreciated.
Junz
guys,
I would request if any one had problem with 7 Eleven’s 98 Ocatane petrol in Castle Hill service station on Northern Road to come forward and send thier complian to fuel@7eleven.com.au. Plese email call me as well on 0404161940. I filled my tank on the 21/09/09. It was about 52 liters.
My Mercedes went about 1KM and stalled. Mercedes mechanic is so sure that the fuel is contaminated and caused the damage, 7 eleven does not agree on this. They beleive I am the only one to complain. Hard to beleive.
I need consumers like you if you had issues with your vehile to come forward and complain. I am taking this case to Department of fair trading to get justice. I am not going to leave them untill I get reimbursed.
Regards
Niaz