CAMBS: Motorist faces massive bill after fuel mystery at Tesco petrol station
ELECTRICAL contractor Martin Smith claims a mix-up at a Wisbech filling station saw petrol pumped into a diesel supply tank – leaving him with a repair bill for hundreds of pounds.
Mr Smith’s receipt shows that he filled his van with 37 litres of diesel last Monday at Tesco. But after it broke down the next day, a mechanic drained 30 litres of petrol from the tank.
Tesco, however, says an investigation has found no issues with the fuel at the store in Sandown Road.
Mr Smith, 63, of Foul Anchor, said: “I have the receipt to show that I put diesel into my tank at the Tesco store in Wisbech at 7.52am last Monday morning. So how the petrol got into there is a mystery.
“I want to warn other motorists to be aware that if they used pump five they could be facing a problem.
Mr Smith’s van is still being repaired by M & W Autos at Wisbech St Mary. It needs a new fuel pump and the injector pump has been damaged.
He said: “The garage rang me to say there was petrol in the tank. I told them to look for the receipt on the dashboard and there it was, showing I bought 37 litres of diesel.
Most Read
- 1 MBR Acres releases image of graffiti message
- 2 Pictures show dramatic skies over Huntingdonshire and the Fens
- 3 Work starts on affordable 56-home development in Huntingdon
- 4 White roses and political history in Huntingdonshire
- 5 Huntingdon thief jailed after stealing watch, iPod and iPhone from vehicles
- 6 RSPCA investigating 'welfare of beagles' at Huntingdon dog breeding unit
- 7 80th birthday celebrations for the East's longest-serving lollipop lady
- 8 Beer from Lidl and vegan chocolates among items recalled over safety fears
- 9 Family pay tribute to brothers, 13 and 17, killed in horror BMW crash
- 10 East West Rail host public event to discuss controversial project
“I have been in touch with Tesco, but it will not admit liability. But surely it has a duty of care.”
Kevin Darnell, a vehicle technician at M & W Autos, said: “Our company definitely took petrol out of the diesel in Mr Smith’s van.”
Mr Smith says he travelled 100 miles before the problem came to light. He believes that because diesel is heavier than petrol, his fuel pump used the remaining diesel in the tank before the newly acquired petrol was taken into the engine.
So far, Tesco has drawn a blank over the fuel mix-up. A spokesman for the company said: “We have investigated this matter and have not found any issues with the fuel at our Wisbech store.”
