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From the Daily Mail - Tuesday 6th May:
Motorists face huge repairs bill as Government biofuels destroy engines
Thousands of motorists could face huge repair bills following complaints that biofuels introduced by the Government can cause jellyfish-like blobs that destroy engines.
From last month, all petrol and diesel sold on forecourts must contain at least 2.5 per cent biofuel, which is made from crops and vegetables.
Ministers insist the flagship environmental policy will make Britain's 33million vehicles cleaner. But experts say the new fuel is having a crippling effect on some vehicles, because not all garage tanks have been properly cleaned.
It means bacteria is getting into the fuel and turning into "blobby" lumps that can clog filters, increase engine wear and destroy pipes and seals.
Since the fuel additive was introduced across the country, garages claim to have taken an increasing number of complaints from motorists who have filled up as usual - and unwittingly introduced the contamination into their tanks.
Garages are now being warned they must flush out their tanks regularly to prevent problems.
Motorists could also encounter problems if they buy their petrol and diesel on the black market or from disreputable garages.
John Moore, who runs a tank cleaning business in Redhill, Surrey, said: "It poses a serious threat - there are bacteria in the biofuel that thrive on it.
"Unless tanks are thoroughly cleansed you will find you have strange jellyfish-like objects floating in the fuel.
"Normal diesel is a fairly robust fuel and while rust particles and sludge can eventually case blocked pipes, it needs dealing with every ten years.
"But bio-fuels are different they are made from vegetables and cereals and can supply sustenance to any bacteria that are in the tank."
Howard Watts, who owns a small garage in Suffolk, said motorists had reported engine problems soon after beginning to use the new fuel.
"It can be a real problem - the contaminated fuel can cause havoc with engines, particularly diesels," he said.
"Given that more than 40 per cent of cars on the road are now diesel there could be a major problem out there waiting to happen.
"Customers say that warning lights come on and they notice a definite fall-off in performance. Unless it is dealt with quickly the symptoms can soon cause serious damage and lead to huge repair bills.
"In the worst case engines won't be properly lubricated, water will build up in the tank and in can mean a new engine.'
Motorists will not have noticed any difference in the fuel when filling up at the pump.
Bio-diesel, largely sourced from processed palm oil, soya beans and rape seed, and bio-ethanol for petrol, produced from cereals and sugars, are simply mixed with fossil fuels.
The problems - which are mainly with biodiesel - were backed up by Renewable Energy UK, a website which gives practical help on all aspects of renewable energy.
"Biodiesel is a stronger solvent than standard mineral diesel and so all the accumulated gunge in the tank and pipes from years of driving dissolves into the new fuel," said a spokesman.
"When the biodiesel is pumped through to the fuel filter, these particles are deposited potentially blocking the filter.
"Shortly after starting to use biodiesel, it is usually necessary to replace the fuel filter at least once.
"After that the pipes and tank are clean and fuel filters will only need replacing at standard service intervals and you will have a much cleaner car."
The online "Biodiesel WWW Encyclopedia" states: "Biodiesel has excellent solvent properties.
Hence, any deposits in the filters and in the delivery systems may be dissolved by biodiesel and result in need for replacement of the filters.
"The solvent property of biodiesel could also cause other fuel-system problems.
"Biodiesel may be incompatible with the seals used in the fuel systems of older vehicles and machinery, necessitating the replacement of those parts if biodiesel blends are used."
Campaigners have also complained that the massive investment in biofuels by developed countries is contributing to a foods crisis among the world's poor and that biofuel production is destroying vast areas of forests and wetlands.
A spokesman for the Department for Transport said: "As with all types of road transport fuel, there are strict quality standards in place to ensure biofuels are fit for use.
"It is for fuel manufacturers to ensure that their products meet these standards.
"People should buy their fuel from a reputable filling station to be assured of its quality. "As with all fuel, there needs to be good housekeeping at fuelling stations to ensure that tanks are kept clean and fuels are properly looked after."
SO - What next? If your engine IS damaged, who is the claim made against?
Motorists face huge repairs bill as Government biofuels destroy engines
Thousands of motorists could face huge repair bills following complaints that biofuels introduced by the Government can cause jellyfish-like blobs that destroy engines.
From last month, all petrol and diesel sold on forecourts must contain at least 2.5 per cent biofuel, which is made from crops and vegetables.
Ministers insist the flagship environmental policy will make Britain's 33million vehicles cleaner. But experts say the new fuel is having a crippling effect on some vehicles, because not all garage tanks have been properly cleaned.
It means bacteria is getting into the fuel and turning into "blobby" lumps that can clog filters, increase engine wear and destroy pipes and seals.
Since the fuel additive was introduced across the country, garages claim to have taken an increasing number of complaints from motorists who have filled up as usual - and unwittingly introduced the contamination into their tanks.
Garages are now being warned they must flush out their tanks regularly to prevent problems.
Motorists could also encounter problems if they buy their petrol and diesel on the black market or from disreputable garages.
John Moore, who runs a tank cleaning business in Redhill, Surrey, said: "It poses a serious threat - there are bacteria in the biofuel that thrive on it.
"Unless tanks are thoroughly cleansed you will find you have strange jellyfish-like objects floating in the fuel.
"Normal diesel is a fairly robust fuel and while rust particles and sludge can eventually case blocked pipes, it needs dealing with every ten years.
"But bio-fuels are different they are made from vegetables and cereals and can supply sustenance to any bacteria that are in the tank."
Howard Watts, who owns a small garage in Suffolk, said motorists had reported engine problems soon after beginning to use the new fuel.
"It can be a real problem - the contaminated fuel can cause havoc with engines, particularly diesels," he said.
"Given that more than 40 per cent of cars on the road are now diesel there could be a major problem out there waiting to happen.
"Customers say that warning lights come on and they notice a definite fall-off in performance. Unless it is dealt with quickly the symptoms can soon cause serious damage and lead to huge repair bills.
"In the worst case engines won't be properly lubricated, water will build up in the tank and in can mean a new engine.'
Motorists will not have noticed any difference in the fuel when filling up at the pump.
Bio-diesel, largely sourced from processed palm oil, soya beans and rape seed, and bio-ethanol for petrol, produced from cereals and sugars, are simply mixed with fossil fuels.
The problems - which are mainly with biodiesel - were backed up by Renewable Energy UK, a website which gives practical help on all aspects of renewable energy.
"Biodiesel is a stronger solvent than standard mineral diesel and so all the accumulated gunge in the tank and pipes from years of driving dissolves into the new fuel," said a spokesman.
"When the biodiesel is pumped through to the fuel filter, these particles are deposited potentially blocking the filter.
"Shortly after starting to use biodiesel, it is usually necessary to replace the fuel filter at least once.
"After that the pipes and tank are clean and fuel filters will only need replacing at standard service intervals and you will have a much cleaner car."
The online "Biodiesel WWW Encyclopedia" states: "Biodiesel has excellent solvent properties.
Hence, any deposits in the filters and in the delivery systems may be dissolved by biodiesel and result in need for replacement of the filters.
"The solvent property of biodiesel could also cause other fuel-system problems.
"Biodiesel may be incompatible with the seals used in the fuel systems of older vehicles and machinery, necessitating the replacement of those parts if biodiesel blends are used."
Campaigners have also complained that the massive investment in biofuels by developed countries is contributing to a foods crisis among the world's poor and that biofuel production is destroying vast areas of forests and wetlands.
A spokesman for the Department for Transport said: "As with all types of road transport fuel, there are strict quality standards in place to ensure biofuels are fit for use.
"It is for fuel manufacturers to ensure that their products meet these standards.
"People should buy their fuel from a reputable filling station to be assured of its quality. "As with all fuel, there needs to be good housekeeping at fuelling stations to ensure that tanks are kept clean and fuels are properly looked after."
SO - What next? If your engine IS damaged, who is the claim made against?
