‘Water in fuel’ leads to multiple breakdowns
MOTORISTS STRANDED
DRIVERS who filled up with contaminated petrol at a city centre supermarket ended up breaking down within yards of the garage forecourt.
An expert called in to drain the tanks of the stranded motorists said that water in the fuel was the cause of the problems.
A Morrisons spokesperson said after Tuesday afternoon’s incident an inquiry into what happened was taking place.
“We have closed our petrol station in order to carry out an urgent investigation,” the spokesperson said.
“We are really sorry for the disruption caused to customers and are working with the AA to recover the cars that have been damaged.”
Luke Cook, who works for a company which drains fuel tanks, was called to the site in Aylestone Road, near Freemen’s Common, at about noon on Tuesday.
“I have drained a couple of tanks here and there are about eight other vehicles still here on the forecourt waiting to be drained,” said Luke, of Wrong Fuel Solution, from Northampton.
“We have heard that other cars have broken down on roads not far from here.
“We have examined the fuel when it comes out of the tanks and there is a lot of water mixed in there.
“However it has happened, there is water in the fuel,” he said.
“We know it is (in) the petrol, but we don’t know if the diesel was affected too.”
MORRISONS INQUIRY AS
One driver, from Wigston, who had broken down after filling up, said that he had been stuck at the forecourt for five hours when the Mercury spoke to him.
“I filled up the van and then noticed that the bloke in front of me had broken down at the exit of the petrol station,” he said.
“I thought that was odd but went in to pay. I drove off and also broke down, just outside the exit.
“I could not believe it. A specialist came and drained the tank.
“I had put £16 in to top the tank up but Morrisons told me that they would give me £10 back, then pay for the £16, but I had to keep my receipt to claim the money back off their insurance.
“I don’t want to do that. It’s not my fault. I have been here for hours but so have lots of other drivers.
“It’s all a bit crazy and very inconvenient, to say the least.”
Water in petrol can cause a range of problems, from the fuel tank rusting, injector failure, fuel pump failure, lubrication problems in the engine and, as in the case of this instance, stalling and the vehicle failing to start.