Contaminated Fuel?

[Lancelot]

Brother in law filled his Freelander2 with B.P Diesel on Saturday afternoon.  On Sunday a dashboard warning came up and the vehicle defaulted to Limp Mode.  Any attempt to exceed 50 mph resulted in loss of power.  He rang Stratstone and they said that they have had lots of recent such problems, mostly with people who have been using supermarket fuel. 

 

Today they changed the fuel filter at a cost of £117. He was told that it appears to be a local problem, although one problem happened in Wales recently. They mentioned an almost new Freelander had the same problem and they broke open the filter cartridge and it was full of dirt. It has always happened very soon after the customers have filled up.

 

He was given a form to be submitted to Land Rover as they are investigating the problem. The Service Manager told him that all local fuel, for all companies, is sourced from the refinery at Seal Sands. I’m not sure about this.

 

Half an hour ago the brother in law emailed:-

Filled up 16 times since last service in March, only 2 at Morrisons & 1 at Tesco. Most at B.P Ormesby Middlesbrough) except when on holiday.

 

As he is off on holiday towing a caravan this weekend he has his fingers crossed. Maybe a drain of the £70 odd that he spent on Sunday would provide peace of mind.

 

Open for discussion and opinions.

Edited August 13, 2013 by Lancelot

[blondchaser]

£117 for a fuel filter???????????? Was it gold plated?

[Lancelot]

Filter was £30 something. Brother in law checked on line and the price charged was correct for the filter. The rest was fitting and V.A.T  Expensive yes, but Land Rover dealers aren't the cheapest for labour.

 

Further to the problem the Service Manager says that everything points to the addition of Bio into the Diesel.  It seems that it mutates in the tank, some kind of goo is forming, and blocking the filters.

 

L-R service only change the fuel filter at every other service/year. So a filter could be changed every two years.  It may be that L-R may move to a yearly change. As it happens after a fill up it may be that the new fuel going in disturbs the gunge that is forming from the Bio.  The dealer is getting 3 cars a week with the same problem, yet it seems to be local to this area and has been happening since March.

 

Any Chemical Engineers out there to give an opinion, or anyone else?  

[steve00117]

A friend recently told me that Morrisons use a percentage of Bio in their diesel?  Anyone know for sure?

[gittos]

I think a lot of diesel contains bio.

[Lancelot]

Yes, all the companies add it and the amount is controlled by law, but are some of the companies not complying?  The more that they put in the more profit they make.  The problem seem to be that it breeds when in the fuel tank.  The crud blocks the fuel filters.  The problem has been known about for several years and seems to rear it's head every so often, causing problems.  Try Googling it.

[blondchaser]

Problem mainly when using 100% bio. Bacteria produce a curd as Lance says. Filling stations now selling diesel with around 7% bio added again as Lance says "By law".

[Jagman]

You have me worried now Lance, following my problems after using Tesco diesel (documented in another thread) I mostly use diesel from BP in Ormesby, but up to now have had no problems.

[Lancelot]

Don't want to worry you but the brother in law also fills up at BP Ormesby, (as do I), but I use petrol, but I doubt that's the problem.  Filling anywhere where bio is added can cause the problem even though it's said to OK. 

 

The problem with the Freelander seem to revolve around the fact that the filter change is every two years, so maybe Land Rover will have to reduce it to a yearly change.  A bit expensive at over £70 a time if you don't do it yourself.  The filter costs £34.  He Googled for prices and that is the price.

[blondchaser]

Fuel filter prices for cars are an absolute disgrace nowadays.  Another prime example of Rip Off Britain.

These modern filters are of fancy design but the innards are just the same paper element as used for decades.

shitroen diesel filters are also very expensive and i broke open an old one and was greatly angered at seeing an ordinary paper filter.

On HGV's there used to be twin metal screw on filters----£3.50+vat each and they did the job.

Years ago, we tested several makes of fuel filters, predomonately on Sierra diesels. Lucas UK (formerly the famous CAV) came out on top having collected the most dirt. The filter rep explained that the yardstick for measuring filter quality is "Microns". The higher the micron number the better filtratrion you get----thats why there is often a great difference in price.

Perhaps someone who is up on modern engines etc etc can explain to me why we need those megabucks filters today.

[Lancelot]

The higher the micron number the better filtratrion

 

Shouldn't that be the opposite?    A 50 micron filter will stop more muck than a 100 micron one?

[blondchaser]

Have it your own way then old pal. lol

[Lancelot]

Watch it!  I'm not 76 'till November.

[paul gee]

Watch it!  I'm not 76 'till November.

hi lance,  if you're 75, you're wearing really well or that's a really old photograph. lol

[Lancelot]

It's only about 6 years old, must look for a later one, maybe.   I had an easy paper round!

Edited September 12, 2013 by Lancelot

[blondchaser]

Watch it!  I'm not 76 'till November.

I will be living on "borrowed time" after November. Three score years and ten and all that.!!!!! Where the hell has time gone?

Seems all the best people have their birthday in November EH Lance! LOL

Have chased many Blondes during this time, and present one is called "Dinky"----work that one out for yourselves!!!

[fronteratech]

Could not help noticing this thread its very popular especially with fuels these days and higher pressure common rail pumps