Audi diesel fuel contamination - what should I do?
My Audi A3 1.6 TDI has been off the road for two weeks, pending an investigation into a breakdown where injector failure was cited as the reason. The dealer has drained the tank and says visual inspection points to contamination in the fuel. They also say that large amounts of swarf have been found in the fuel rail pressure sensor
I’ve been quoted £7000 to change the tank, pump and injectors. The fuel supplier denies liability, the car is outside of warranty and my insurance policy does not cover this situation. The dealer is asking that I commission a company to report on a fuel sample. Any thoughts on a next step or way forward?
I’ve been quoted £7000 to change the tank, pump and injectors. The fuel supplier denies liability, the car is outside of warranty and my insurance policy does not cover this situation. The dealer is asking that I commission a company to report on a fuel sample. Any thoughts on a next step or way forward?
Asked on 6 October 2013 by dunbankin
Answered by
Honest John
The damage is typical of the result of part filling with petrol or with contaminated diesel lacking the necessary lubricity. What the dealer means is that the swarf came from the high pressure fuel pump because there was insufficient lubricity in the fuel.
To take action agains the fuel supplier you need to be able to prove that you paid for diesel and either got contaminated diesel or petrol. If your receipts clearly show you bought diesel, then I think the dealer's advice is correct. But if you ran the tank low I think you are in trouble because then any lighter fuel floating on top of the diesel would have got into the system, and you could have misfueled at any time in the past six months.
To take action agains the fuel supplier you need to be able to prove that you paid for diesel and either got contaminated diesel or petrol. If your receipts clearly show you bought diesel, then I think the dealer's advice is correct. But if you ran the tank low I think you are in trouble because then any lighter fuel floating on top of the diesel would have got into the system, and you could have misfueled at any time in the past six months.
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