BP issues message to drivers over garage contamination fears

A leading petrol station chain has had to close pumps at one of its sites after issues arose that may have caused several cars to break down. Motorists who used the BP station on London Road in Rayleigh, Essex, reported their vehicles malfunctioning soon after refuelling.

BP has acknowledged a potential contamination issue with one of their fuel tanks, which they are currently investigating, as reported by The Sun.

A BP spokesperson said: "We have identified an issue at the site with a potentially contaminated tank, which is currently under investigation. The affected tank in question has been isolated and the site is now open and operational. We are taking steps to assess the potential impact and determine the number of people who may be affected." Express.co.uk has sought further details from BP.

It's estimated that approximately 100 vehicles filled up at the station could have been impacted by the fault, likely caused by water in the fuel. This contamination can lead to various problems such as engine misfires, reduced power and efficiency, and corrosion within the fuel system.

Affected drivers will typically need to drain their vehicle's tank and replace components like spark plugs and fuel filters, reports the Express.

Lee Pretlove, the proprietor of Fuel Out, a petrol and diesel draining service, spoke to the Daily Gazette about a significant increase in demand for their services following the incident. He said: "It has been crazy - I haven't seen something like this for ages as there was a similar incident in Wickford three years before this.

"We never see this many at all, the technicians pass jobs on to us and we have had loads of calls, we have been inundated."

BP has advised customers who suspect they've received contaminated fuel to get in touch by sending an email to careline@bp.com.