|
Welcome to the Australian Ford Forums forum. You are currently viewing our boards as a guest which gives you limited access to view most discussions and inserts advertising. By joining our free community you will have access to post topics, communicate privately with other members, respond to polls, upload content and access many other special features without post based advertising banners. Registration is simple and absolutely free so please, join our community today! If you have any problems with the registration process or your account login, please contact us. Please Note: All new registrations go through a manual approval queue to keep spammers out. This is checked twice each day so there will be a delay before your registration is activated. |
|
The Pub For General Automotive Related Talk |
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
07-08-2009, 08:44 AM | #1 | ||
VIC The Place to Boost
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Melbourne
Posts: 1,643
|
Contaminate fuel suspected to have damaged cars across Melbourne
THOUSANDS of Victorians' cars have seized this week after a mystery fuel contamination. The RACV and the Victorian Automobile Chamber of Commerce have reported cars needing urgent repairs for severely damaged engines, possibly as a result of contaminated fuel. The source and type of contamination is still not known, but mechanics have reported most samples coming from small, unbranded fuel outlets. RACV chief vehicle mechanic Michael Case urged all motorists to keep watch for signs of contaminated fuel when filling up at petrol stations. Have you been affected or suspect you've bought contaminated fuel? Email us Or phone our news desk on (03) 9292 1226 Vehicles that were running roughly, misfiring or were hard to start could be suffering from the fuel contamination, he said. Motorists should look for a film of white powder on the exhaust pipe, an illuminated engine check light, a sickly sweet smell from the fuel and exhaust pipe, as well as white powder on spark plugs. "If your vehicle shows any of these signs, stop driving immediately as continuing to drive the vehicle may result in extensive engine damage," Mr Case said. Drivers have been advised to tow damaged cars to a qualified mechanic and ask for a fuel sample to be taken and analysed. Petrol stations where fuel was bought should also be contacted. Melbourne fuel expert Ken Gracey, owner of Dyan Fuels, said he had never seen anything like the contaminated samples he had tested. "Most petrol is a gold colour, this stuff is crystal clear," Mr Gracey said. "Also, when I pulled the spark plugs out they looked like they had been dipped in talcum powder." Mr Gracey had received calls from customers from most northern suburbs and some from the southeast. Mobil service station spokesman Alan Bailey said it had received only a small number of calls. "Based on the checks we have done to date we have no reason to suspect there is a widespread problem at Mobil," Mr Bailey said. The VACC is believed to have met several Victorian mechanics on Wednesday night to discuss the issue.
__________________
F6 310 - Blue Power Racing Developments |
||
07-08-2009, 03:55 PM | #2 | |||
IWCMOGTVM Club Supporter
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Northern Suburbs Melbourne
Posts: 17,799
|
http://www.caradvice.com.au/37751/me...aminated-fuel/
Quote:
__________________
Daniel |
|||
07-08-2009, 07:32 PM | #3 | ||
Banned
Join Date: Nov 2006
Posts: 963
|
man that's stuffed!
so what's the go, use brand name servos? |
||
08-08-2009, 12:21 AM | #4 | ||
Starter Motor
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 3
|
Any updates on this contaminated fuel, need to fill up this morning and not sure where to go, some reports are suggesting Mobil but have seen mention of Shell and Caltex as well, not sure what to believe.
|
||
08-08-2009, 12:33 AM | #5 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 1,119
|
I remember the last 1 about 5 years ago with both auto fuel and airplane fuel it was Mobil and a whole stack of light planes had to be grounded and the then ceo she was vigourously denying it. Ive never used it since so no probs for me thank god
|
||
08-08-2009, 01:47 AM | #6 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: St Kilda
Posts: 522
|
Most important thing that anybody in Melbourne can do is keep your receipts. What would be even better is if you keep your tax invoices for every purchase of fuel that you put in your car.
If you have problems, they will make themselves evident pretty quickly. If you keep those tax invoices, then you can track down what brand you got that bad batch of fuel from, and it will make it so much easier to get compensation from that company. Furthermore, it will make it much easier in any dealings with Consumer Affairs Victoria, if it gets to that stage. Remember, this problem most likely is not going to be constrained to one outlet. If you drive around the city every day, stopping at BP, Caltex, Shell, Mobil, Woolworths and any other that you can care to mention, you are going to have trouble finding the source of your problem if you don't keep your receipts. These companies have insurance arms/insurance policies that cover this stuff. They are not going to go out of their way to screw you, for want of keeping their name out of the bad press. There are two outlets in particular. that will become one soon, that would very much like to keep themselves in the ACCC's good books. But, it's going to be so much more difficult (however, not impossible) to rectify your problem with Company X, Company X's insurance arm/company, CAV and ACCC if you have no proof of purchase. I know I'm repeating myself, but keep those tax invoices for your fuel. Even if you don't do it for the tax man, do it for your benefit. |
||
08-08-2009, 10:58 AM | #7 | ||
Irregular member
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Melbourne
Posts: 3,941
|
I filled up with United 98 on Tuesday and since then I've experienced about three unusually long cranking sessions to start. I'll keep an eye on it. Luckily I keep all my invoices for business tax purposes.
__________________
2000 AU II FAIRLANE 75th ANNIVERSARY - big and shiny My hovercraft is full of eels! Movie Car Chase of the Week: Gene Hackman driving a 1971 Pontiac LeMans to chase an elevated train in The French Connection (1971). |
||
08-08-2009, 10:59 AM | #8 | ||
Pity the fool
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Wait Awhile
Posts: 8,997
|
There was a thing on Today Tonight last night about this. Spark plugs were gunked up with some sort of freaky white residue - never seen anything like it myself.
First thing I thought when I saw it was Ethanol or Toluene as being the culprit but they said that their tests had ruled out Ethanol... |
||
08-08-2009, 11:12 AM | #9 | ||
Irregular member
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Melbourne
Posts: 3,941
|
Conflicting reports re: United outlets. They officially say they do not have any contaminated fuel after testing their fuel supplies, but a customer has said her car's engine light came on and it wouldn't accellerate after filling up at United and driving away.
There is also mention of silicon oil being added to the contaminated petrol by mistake. http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/com...63-661,00.html
__________________
2000 AU II FAIRLANE 75th ANNIVERSARY - big and shiny My hovercraft is full of eels! Movie Car Chase of the Week: Gene Hackman driving a 1971 Pontiac LeMans to chase an elevated train in The French Connection (1971). |
||
08-08-2009, 06:56 PM | #10 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Perth
Posts: 7,208
|
Look for a white residue on your tail pipe for a hint that somethings wrong.
I wouldn't be leaving it too long if I was experiencing problems, could be up for a new motor.
__________________
jaydee351 4DV8 |
||
08-08-2009, 08:07 PM | #11 | ||
VIC The Place to Boost
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Melbourne
Posts: 1,643
|
Thanks for the heads up guys, never really thought about that part (keeping invoices for the unexpected to occur)... Although I only ever fill up at BP using 98oct
__________________
F6 310 - Blue Power Racing Developments |
||
11-08-2009, 01:03 PM | #12 | ||
VIC The Place to Boost
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Melbourne
Posts: 1,643
|
Just wondering if anyone on here has experienced this disaster??? (although I hope not)
__________________
F6 310 - Blue Power Racing Developments |
||
11-08-2009, 01:06 PM | #13 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Sep 2005
Posts: 1,380
|
Last I heard was that someone at Mobil incorrectly mixed in 30% ethanol into the low octane mix.
|
||
11-08-2009, 01:22 PM | #14 | ||
VIC The Place to Boost
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Melbourne
Posts: 1,643
|
You know, I wish they could be more specific in which areas exactly and which petrol stations were affected...
__________________
F6 310 - Blue Power Racing Developments |
||
11-08-2009, 02:19 PM | #15 | ||
BFII XR6
Join Date: Oct 2008
Posts: 220
|
Is this limited to just Regular or does this effect Premium Unleaded as well?
__________________
2007 BF MKII XR6 'Vixen Red'
|
||
11-08-2009, 04:12 PM | #16 | ||
Ford tragic
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: melburbia
Posts: 246
|
Isn't there ony two refineries in australia Mobil and Bp suply the other companies with fuel don't they?
__________________
Pithy and witty comment! |
||
11-08-2009, 04:45 PM | #17 | |||
VIC The Place to Boost
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Melbourne
Posts: 1,643
|
Quote:
__________________
F6 310 - Blue Power Racing Developments |
|||
11-08-2009, 04:47 PM | #18 | ||
Ford Convert
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Epping
Posts: 443
|
i thought shell had a refinery... i could be wrong though.
|
||
11-08-2009, 05:43 PM | #19 | |||
IWCMOGTVM Club Supporter
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Northern Suburbs Melbourne
Posts: 17,799
|
Quote:
http://www.themotorreport.com.au/391...rne-motorists/
__________________
Daniel |
|||
11-08-2009, 06:45 PM | #20 | |||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: GEELONG
Posts: 7,946
|
Quote:
the shell refinery is here in geelong or i am seeing things
__________________
no longer have a ford but a ford man at heart R.I.P 98 EL MAY YOU HAVE A GOOD LIFE IN FALCON HEAVEN [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
|
|||
11-08-2009, 06:59 PM | #21 | ||
Ford tragic
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: melburbia
Posts: 246
|
Yeah your right Shell has one my brother just told me so its shell and mobil not bp
now im gonna have to google it
__________________
Pithy and witty comment! |
||
11-08-2009, 07:09 PM | #22 | |||
Former BTIKD
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Sunny Downtown Wagga Wagga. NSW.
Posts: 53,197
|
Quote:
__________________
Dying at your job is natures way of saying that you're in the wrong line of work.
|
|||
11-08-2009, 07:15 PM | #23 | |||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Mar 2006
Posts: 3,910
|
Quote:
|
|||
11-08-2009, 08:22 PM | #24 | ||
White Car Driver
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Melbourne
Posts: 1,174
|
The only thing I have noticed tank before this one is really bad economy (only 275km to a tank) and a rough as guts idle. Filled up with a different brew and it seems like business as usual this week.
__________________
OzECruisers - The Ford EA-EL, NA-NL, DA-DL & XG-XH Owners Club |
||
11-08-2009, 09:16 PM | #25 | ||
doof doof doof doof
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: SE Melbourne
Posts: 611
|
i was told that LPG was involved in the contamination too - can anyone confirm that? i haven't seen anything further about it though, so wonder if it was just scare mongering?
|
||
11-08-2009, 09:37 PM | #26 | ||
Ford tragic
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: melburbia
Posts: 246
|
Nah mate it was silicon oil in petrol
__________________
Pithy and witty comment! |
||
11-08-2009, 09:56 PM | #27 | ||
Ford Convert
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Epping
Posts: 443
|
yeah i've been hearing silicon oil aswell.
|
||
12-08-2009, 02:54 AM | #28 | |||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: St Kilda
Posts: 522
|
Quote:
|
|||
12-08-2009, 02:57 AM | #29 | |||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: St Kilda
Posts: 522
|
Quote:
Could be worth a look. |
|||
12-08-2009, 01:36 PM | #30 | |||
Irregular member
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Melbourne
Posts: 3,941
|
Quote:
After my initial report, I haven't had a problem since that day. Car is performing as usual (power, economy, starting), think it was just coincidence.
__________________
2000 AU II FAIRLANE 75th ANNIVERSARY - big and shiny My hovercraft is full of eels! Movie Car Chase of the Week: Gene Hackman driving a 1971 Pontiac LeMans to chase an elevated train in The French Connection (1971). |
|||