Essex BP 'contaminated fuel' led to cars breaking down

Essex BP 'contaminated fuel' led to cars breaking down

Essex BP 'contaminated fuel' led to cars breaking down

Contaminated Fuel at BP Garage in Rayleigh Causes Driver Breakdowns

Contaminated fuel from a BP garage on London Road in Rayleigh has left dozens of drivers stranded after their vehicles broke down or failed to start. BP officials confirmed that the issue stemmed from a potentially contaminated pump, which has since been taken out of service.

The garage temporarily closed on Tuesday but reopened on Wednesday, with the faulty pump still out of use. A recovery firm, Fuel Out, reported responding to more than 30 incidents linked to the contaminated fuel, with calls continuing into Thursday.

“This is very rare, but we’ve been inundated for three days straight,” said Lee from Fuel Out, who believes water contamination in the petrol is to blame. He added that affected vehicles often require draining, new spark plugs, and replacement fuel filters, with some drivers facing hefty repair bills.

Lee speculated that the total number of impacted drivers could exceed 100, as other recovery services like the AA and RAC are also handling similar cases.

BP issued a statement acknowledging the issue and confirming an investigation is underway. “The affected tank has been isolated, and the site is now operational. Customers with concerns are encouraged to contact our careline at careline@bp.com,” a spokesperson said.



This incident echoes a similar contamination issue at another BP garage in Wickford three years ago.