My work colleagues 2012 Fabia Monte Carlo Tdi broke down on the way into work on Monday, shortly after filling her up with diesel.

It went into safe mode before coming to a halt and would turn over but just wouldn't start.

 

Having experienced injector failure due to a bad batch on my Octavia VRS I said it sounded like a similar problem but Sinclair Skoda Swansea, who he had the car recovered to, came back to him the following day to say it was the fuel regulator valve.

 

The part was changed but phoned him yesterday morning to say they have had problems starting the car but would investigate further and let him know.

 

They have phoned him this morning now to say that it appears that the car was once filled with petrol instead of diesel and this has caused all sort of problems, which means, amongst other things a new set of injectors. They have told him to come in for a chat as they've estimated a reapir bill in excess of £3000.

 

He's contacted City Skoda where he purchased the car from approx. 12 onths ago and is awaiting a phone call from them.

 

Has anyone else suffered similar woes or got any suggestions other than taking it to an independent garage for a second/cheaper opinion?

 

Cheers

I didn't think putting petrol in a diesel was that big a problem, once drained and sorted I wouldn't of thought it would take 12months plus to start causing issues.

Yeah, thats what I thought too and did check with him that he didn't put petrol in instead but he says he didn't and never has.

Seems odd for it to take that long to cause problems, especially seen as there have been no issues until now. It was even in for a major service last week and nothing was noted then.

Told him to check what they changed/replaced when in for a service as that might have triggered something.

Has any of the fuel been kept? Get it tested, tests cost around £50. Wouldn't have thought it would be from a wrong fuel fill months ago. Petrol in a diesel will cause huge problems. Petrol is a solvent where diesel is an oil. Petrol therefore eats away at the seals and injection system of a diesels engine.

I would have the fuel tested, possible that the fuel when filling up was contaminated. But it's unlikely to have been contaminated with petrol. Water and other contaminates can cause such issues.

Yeah that's a good idea, have suggested it. He's picking the car up from Sinclairs tomorrow and back to an independent garage to get the work done as it will come in around £1k cheaper but he's gonna phone them today to ask if they've kept the fuel to get it etsted. Could be a legitimate claim against Tesco if there proves to be more than just diesel in the fuel as he filled up there on Monday half hour prior to the car breaking down.

Has he checked his receipt from filling up.?  He bought Diesel and not Petrol?

Or the amount against the fuel, but the prices are near identical, 99.7 against 99.9 a litre or so.!

 

When i last mis-fueled a brand new diesel with petrol it was my own fault.    (Hyundai i30 Tdi)

An expensive mistake by me covered by the insurance.  Motability car, they even refunded 10 gallons of petrol.

 

If the Tesco Filling Station tanks are mis-fueled, have H20 in them or any other issue, you will be one of dozens or hundreds that had the issue and the Breakdown Recovery, AA, RAC, Greenflag and Tesco will know.

As will dealerships around your area.

Edited 15 January, 201610 yr by GoneOffskiroottoot

Yeah he checked his receipt, even went to store aagin yestreday and got another printed receipt from them as he started to doubt himself, but sure enough diesel was purchased.

Dealer has checked their message baord and knows of no known issues with regards fuelling in South Wales so I guess the contaminated fuel is a long shot. He's stilll gonna try to get a sample from his car though and get it tested, probably worth it in the grand scheme of things.

Technicians sometimes show you the petrol in a diesel tank test they do after taking out fuel into 3 sample bottles.

Theirs, yours, and the 3rd one kept safe incase of argument.

 

Put some of the diesel taken out the tank,

pour on a metal shovel, and put a flame above the small amount of diesel.

If there is Petrol there it lights.

Edited 15 January, 201610 yr by GoneOffskiroottoot