On 21st July I set off from Cheshire for the south coast towing my caravan behind my Rover 75 CDT auto. Half way there my engine began to falter on light throttle settings and I immediately assumed that the pressure sensor in the high pressure fuel rail had failed again (it had failed the previous month and the symptoms were identical). When I got down to the South coast I immediately booked the car into the local MG/Rover dealer down there. They advised me that there was petrol in the diesel tank (despite the fact that I have fuel receipts going back for a month which clearly show that I have put nothing but diesel in the tank). The cost for draining the tank, flushing the system, replacing fuel filter, came to £343.74. This wasn't the end of it, however, because the car was no better and continued to falter and cut-out, and I had to take it back in after two days for further flushing and cleaning. This time the bill came to £142.69. A total of £486.43. On my return home I visited the filling stations where I had had my last two fill-ups and both deny any problems or other complaints. I am very suspicious about the fact that a failed pressure sensor and 'petrol in the diesel' should produce identical symptoms. The engine would accelerate smoothly and climb hills with an open throttle without falter. On idle, or a very light throttle setting, however, it would falter and 'shunt' and eventually cut out. Is this what you would expect from contaminated diesel? When I took the car back the second time I stated that I did not believe that petrol was the problem and I believed that the pressure sensor had failed again. Could they have replaced the sensor and fixed the problem but, rather than admit their mistake and refund my £343, still insisted that it was petrol (and charge me even more???!!!)I could really do with a diesel expert advising me on what symptoms to expect when petrol gets into the diesel tank.
Kev