Silicon found in petrol samples
Pumps are being tested by the TSI
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Thursday, 01, Mar 2007 07:53
Investigators looking into the cause of the possible 'contamination' of unleaded petrol in certain areas of the UK have found traces of silicon in the affected cars.
Media sources have confirmed that the element's presence in the fuel of some cars that are experiencing problems could be a lead in the probe to find out exactly what the existing situation is.
According to reports, 'thousands' of motorists have experienced difficulties with their cars, some breaking down completely, because of alleged petrol 'contamination'.
The Trading Standards Institute (TSI) said trading standards authorities in the south-east of England had received up to 100 reports from motorists complaining that their cars were not running properly.
This number is increasing by the hour although some critics have intimated that many cases could be unrelated to the fuel and are simply mechanical problems.
As a result it is unclear exactly how many people have been directly affected by the fuel 'contamination'.
It will take until the end of the week for fuel samples taken yesterday by the TSI to establish whether any contamination has taken place.
Samples of fuel from affected cars and others from the pumps where the petrol was drawn are under investigation.
Ian Hillier, TSI lead petroleum officer, said: "We can say. that the problem appears to be restricted to unleaded petrol and that motorists experiencing problems with their cars should take them to a garage.
"We would also advise them to keep their petrol receipts and ask the garage to take a sample of the fuel should they need to make a claim at a later date."
Supermarkets Tesco and Morrisons said their own initial tests did not reveal any irregularities.
"Having received a limited number of enquiries further tests were carried out. These found no contamination and confirmed our unleaded petrol met the required standards," a Morrisons spokesperson said.