This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk/6410511.stm
The article has changed 10 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Fuel 'contamination' reports due | Fuel 'contamination' reports due |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Test results on fuel which is thought to have caused problems for thousands of drivers in the south and east of England are expected to be released. | Test results on fuel which is thought to have caused problems for thousands of drivers in the south and east of England are expected to be released. |
| The petrol has already been traced to a storage depot in Essex. | The petrol has already been traced to a storage depot in Essex. |
| A Trading Standards report is to be released on Friday morning and another by the Petrol Industry Research Association is due in the afternoon. | A Trading Standards report is to be released on Friday morning and another by the Petrol Industry Research Association is due in the afternoon. |
| A source at the AA says traces of silicon has been found in petrol taken from some of the cars. | A source at the AA says traces of silicon has been found in petrol taken from some of the cars. |
| 'False signal' | 'False signal' |
| Tesco confirmed that it is testing for traces of silicon, but previous tests by the supermarket chain have failed to find any contamination. | Tesco confirmed that it is testing for traces of silicon, but previous tests by the supermarket chain have failed to find any contamination. |
| It is thought silicon may have found its way into a batch of petrol in transit by ship into the UK or in storage containers. | It is thought silicon may have found its way into a batch of petrol in transit by ship into the UK or in storage containers. |
| It must be a very minor, low concentration contaminant Professor Malcolm FoxLeeds University | It must be a very minor, low concentration contaminant Professor Malcolm FoxLeeds University |
| The problems seem to be centred on oxygen sensors which determine the mix of oxygen and petrol supplied to the engine. | The problems seem to be centred on oxygen sensors which determine the mix of oxygen and petrol supplied to the engine. |
| Automotive expert Professor Malcolm Fox from the University of Leeds told BBC News 24 that all the signs pointed towards silicon getting into the fuel. | Automotive expert Professor Malcolm Fox from the University of Leeds told BBC News 24 that all the signs pointed towards silicon getting into the fuel. |
| He added: "The analysis from the suppliers show that the fuel is okay, so it must be a very minor, low concentration contaminant. | He added: "The analysis from the suppliers show that the fuel is okay, so it must be a very minor, low concentration contaminant. |
| "When it burns, it will form silicon dioxide and will deposit a very thin sheet on the sensor - the sensor is in the exhaust - and that probably gives a false signal to the engine computer." | "When it burns, it will form silicon dioxide and will deposit a very thin sheet on the sensor - the sensor is in the exhaust - and that probably gives a false signal to the engine computer." |
| Chris Hunt from the UK Petroleum Industry Association (UKPIA) said: "Silicon is one of the many substances we will be examining in the samples we have yet to evaluate, and that evaluation will be going on over the next 24 hours." | Chris Hunt from the UK Petroleum Industry Association (UKPIA) said: "Silicon is one of the many substances we will be examining in the samples we have yet to evaluate, and that evaluation will be going on over the next 24 hours." |
| The UKPIA said the problem could have arisen because of the way a single batch of fuel was blended or stored, and that petrol across the UK was generally not faulty. | The UKPIA said the problem could have arisen because of the way a single batch of fuel was blended or stored, and that petrol across the UK was generally not faulty. |
| Contamination by water or ethanol has now been ruled out. | Contamination by water or ethanol has now been ruled out. |
| Tesco said the problems appeared to be linked to forecourts in the south-east of England served by the Vopak Terminals depot in Essex. | Tesco said the problems appeared to be linked to forecourts in the south-east of England served by the Vopak Terminals depot in Essex. |
| HAVE YOUR SAY One of these stations had strange additives in their fuel Michael Gibson, West Byfleet Send us your comments Petrol questions answered How fuel can be contaminated | HAVE YOUR SAY One of these stations had strange additives in their fuel Michael Gibson, West Byfleet Send us your comments Petrol questions answered How fuel can be contaminated |
| Both Tesco and Morrisons get fuel from an independent oil company called Greenergy, which insists its supplies meet industry standards. | Both Tesco and Morrisons get fuel from an independent oil company called Greenergy, which insists its supplies meet industry standards. |
| 'Deviation' | 'Deviation' |
| Vopak Terminals managing director Colin Scott said: "Verifications are continuing. At this moment we have not established any deviation from normal procedures." | Vopak Terminals managing director Colin Scott said: "Verifications are continuing. At this moment we have not established any deviation from normal procedures." |
| The Trading Standards Institute said samples of unleaded petrol had been taken from station forecourts in Cambridgeshire, Kent, south Essex and Milton Keynes. | The Trading Standards Institute said samples of unleaded petrol had been taken from station forecourts in Cambridgeshire, Kent, south Essex and Milton Keynes. |
| A spokeswoman said spot checks were also being undertaken by local authority trading standards teams in other parts of the country. | A spokeswoman said spot checks were also being undertaken by local authority trading standards teams in other parts of the country. |
| The penalty for supplying fuel which does not meet industry standards is a £5,000 fine. | The penalty for supplying fuel which does not meet industry standards is a £5,000 fine. |
| 'Faulty' fuel locations | 'Faulty' fuel locations |
| The BBC has received more than 4,000 e-mails from motorists who say their vehicles have juddered, misfired and suffered a loss of power. | |
| Garages are running out of replacement parts in some areas as they are swamped with motorists. Repair bills are topping £1,000 for some drivers. | Garages are running out of replacement parts in some areas as they are swamped with motorists. Repair bills are topping £1,000 for some drivers. |