Australia receives one of the poorest or worst quality diesel fuel in the world - according to research. Many unsuspecting diesel vehicle drivers, in particular caravanners, can be caught out in the middle of no where with contaminated fuel. On many occasions it is too late as the contamination has got through to injectors and engine causing terrible damage. Fuel pumps apparently can also be effected. In many instances the cost is too expensive to repair or rectify.
The purpose of this post is to advise that if ever you get caught with contaminated fuel resulting in damage to your vehicle or in fact a right off, and you are insured you are more than likely covered by your Insurance Company. Both the RACV and GIO cover fuel contamination. For these Insurance Companies there is a clause that covers "an incident or event" that causes damage to the motor vehicle. The incident or event does not have to be intentional. Both Companies mentioned, explained to me that the vehicle owner always acts in good faith believing he/she is purchasing good fuel, therefor the damage is accidental. I was also advised to hang onto your fuel receipts for 6 months or more so that you can verify the purchase of diesel fuel. (They don't take up much room) So please check with your Insurance Company to make sure you are covered.
Lastly I have installed a 2nd Fuel Filter into my Toyota. As long as the 2nd fuel filter is fitted second in line or after the factory fitted filter; a Toyota representative has advised me that any warranty would not be effected.
I have just been through my RACV comprehensive car policy document which states what I am, and am not, covered for and there is no mention of 'damage due to contaminated fuel'.
The only references to damage are the result of accidents involving my vehicle and other vehicles or property.
Are you able to provide a link to the information you have from RACV and GIO?
Next time I am in the shop I will pose the question.
Cheers - John
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2006 Discovery 3 TDV6 SE Auto - 2008 23ft Golden Eagle Hunter Some people feel the rain - the others just get wet - Bob Dylan
I fitted a 'Pre' Filter (Before the main filter/s) to my Collie to try help prevent that sort of thing happening. I have been told the Collie actually has two fuel filters fitted so now I spose I have three fuel filters.
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I fitted a 'Pre' Filter (Before the main filter/s) to my Collie to try help prevent that sort of thing happening. I have been told the Collie actually has two fuel filters fitted so now I spose I have three fuel filters.
I have fitted a filter like Douge, but it is after the main filter. Fitted by Diesel Care Toowoomba. I carry a spare filter element just in case.
I jest realised Alpal ... If my Landy got a gutful of contaminated diesel which stuffed the injectors and fuel filter and caused engine damage, my Landy would be quite probably be written off by the insurance company.
The cost of repair of all that would put it too close to market value and they would write it off. Same as if I had an accident and all 8 airbags deployed - just the cost of replacement of all 8 would write it off.
That reminds me - so why am I insured
Cheers - John
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2006 Discovery 3 TDV6 SE Auto - 2008 23ft Golden Eagle Hunter Some people feel the rain - the others just get wet - Bob Dylan
Results from a former farm truck, 2004 nissan patrol 4.2; turbo diesel. removed tank, tank attached breather etc. scrubbed inside tank. now all good. But a common rail high pressure modern unit, I wonder? This was from new until 2013, couple of new filters then the build up was too much. Stopped and on the back of a tilt tray.
-- Edited by Craig1 on Wednesday 21st of February 2018 08:08:25 PM
Australia receives one of the poorest or worst quality diesel fuel in the world - according to research. Many unsuspecting diesel vehicle drivers, in particular caravanners, can be caught out in the middle of no where with contaminated fuel. On many occasions it is too late as the contamination has got through to injectors and engine causing terrible damage. Fuel pumps apparently can also be effected. In many instances the cost is too expensive to repair or rectify.
The purpose of this post is to advise that if ever you get caught with contaminated fuel resulting in damage to your vehicle or in fact a right off, and you are insured you are more than likely covered by your Insurance Company. Both the RACV and GIO cover fuel contamination. For these Insurance Companies there is a clause that covers "an incident or event" that causes damage to the motor vehicle. The incident or event does not have to be intentional. Both Companies mentioned, explained to me that the vehicle owner always acts in good faith believing he/she is purchasing good fuel, therefor the damage is accidental. I was also advised to hang onto your fuel receipts for 6 months or more so that you can verify the purchase of diesel fuel. (They don't take up much room) So please check with your Insurance Company to make sure you are covered.
Lastly I have installed a 2nd Fuel Filter into my Toyota. As long as the 2nd fuel filter is fitted second in line or after the factory fitted filter; a Toyota representative has advised me that any warranty would not be effected.
Regards and Safe Travelling.
AlPal
Hi Al.....if you fit a second fuel filter,it should always go before the factory filter.
Strange advice from the Toyota rep,as the factory filters have a flow sensor and alarm
which has no chance of working if flow is restricted after factory filter.Factory filter is 3 micron,
so pointless putting a 5 micron or 30 micron filter after that?
I have 5 micron filter before factory filter,and I also carry a couple of 2 micron filters.
My research showed that Toyota strongly advise against touching anything after the
factory filter,mainly to absolutely minimise any risk of contamination and injector damage.
If you have a good primary filter,there is often no need to even touch the factory filter.
This has been discussed to death but maybe people need it said again. What you need IMHO is a pre-filter as some have fitted, that catches the water and dirt before it gets to the main finer filter so it can do its job. Water is the killer for diesels and it usually comes with rubbish like rust and sludge etc. Easy to catch in a relatively coarse device designed to do just that. And having a clear bottom bowl allows you to check it easily and a drain tap can allow you to drain water too. Done it lots of time when I worked in third world countries with second rate fuel handling. All diesels had two stage filtration back then with water warning lights. Why do they not fit them now ????????????????
I always keep my fuel dockets and enter the purchase in my log book. The only time I have had problems over the recent years has been in the city with petrol vehicles. Twice I have cleaned out the tank and flushed the fuel system out of our cars. My previous modern EFI car kept running for some time, badly, with about a liter+ of water in the tank. ****ty looking stuff too. I just did it myself as no one remembered where it was filled. But diesels do not like that and very modern diesels will be damaged if it got into the pump system or the injectors.
I note that most service stations in the city have been updated over the years with new 'plastic' tanks when they get a renewal. Seems better than the old rusty metal ones of old. But water in the fuel tanks is a fact of selling fuel from underground tanks. Always in there, down the bottom. We had to record it in the "book" when we dipped the tanks every day to ensure it was under control.
I pulled into a service station to fuel up my vehicle, went in to pay and was asked the usual question do I want my receipt to which I replied yes. Often they don't hand out a receipt, so I stand there an ask for one, just as I do in any situation where I purchase something. This particular day after filling the tank I went on my way and soon after leaving the servo my vehicle began running rough and then cut out, I was in bumper to bumper peak hour traffic, holding up traffic each time the motor cut out, it was terrible. I would start my vehicle again, drive with it spluttering and almost getting whiplash with it wanting to cut out. It stopped and I started it continually until I got home. I had someone come and look at my vehicle which prior to this always ran perfectly, with a motor that would purr along as I always kept it maintained. The guy checked the fuel and showed it to me, it was contaminated. He phoned the service station and the first thing they said was...Do you have the receipt?...if I did not have the receipt I would have had no proof of purchase at their servo, and they would not have taken any responsibility. Within an hour they sent a tow truck to my address, towed my vehicle away, cleaned all fuel out, and returned my vehicle with a full tank of fuel. Its purred along ever since. I am always amazed at how many people walk away without a receipt, sometimes they are asked if they want one, and they say no. Yet they don't think how valuable that receipt could be should they for any reason need proof of purchase, as the first thing they will be asked is..Do you have a receipt? ....regards Kisha
I pulled into a service station to fuel up my vehicle, went in to pay and was asked the usual question do I want my receipt to which I replied yes. Often they don't hand out a receipt, so I stand there an ask for one, just as I do in any situation where I purchase something. This particular day after filling the tank I went on my way and soon after leaving the servo my vehicle began running rough and then cut out, I was in bumper to bumper peak hour traffic, holding up traffic each time the motor cut out, it was terrible. I would start my vehicle again, drive with it spluttering and almost getting whiplash with it wanting to cut out. It stopped and I started it continually until I got home. I had someone come and look at my vehicle which prior to this always ran perfectly, with a motor that would purr along as I always kept it maintained. The guy checked the fuel and showed it to me, it was contaminated. He phoned the service station and the first thing they said was...Do you have the receipt?...if I did not have the receipt I would have had no proof of purchase at their servo, and they would not have taken any responsibility. Within an hour they sent a tow truck to my address, towed my vehicle away, cleaned all fuel out, and returned my vehicle with a full tank of fuel. Its purred along ever since. I am always amazed at how many people walk away without a receipt, sometimes they are asked if they want one, and they say no. Yet they don't think how valuable that receipt could be should they for any reason need proof of purchase, as the first thing they will be asked is..Do you have a receipt? ....regards Kisha
Good tip Kisha ,sometimes i ask for a receipt and other times not ,but after reading your post i certainly will be asking for it.
Hi All, Whilst fuel contamination has been well discussed, a number of questions need to be asked and clarification obtained. I have written to both GIO and RACV regarding the insurance issue raised - that is whether or not fuel contamination is covered by comprehensive insurance. Whilst I have never indicated that fuel contamination was specifically referred to in Insurance policies, I was assured that fuel contamination was considered to be an event or incident causing damage to an insured motor vehicle. Time will tell one way or the other. As I know little about modern diesel engines, engine management systems, readers, etc, I am one in our population who has to seek advice from qualified experienced mechanics and engineers - not just sale persons. Based on inquiries made I do whatever seems the best. I listened to the "experts" at the last Melbourne 4 X 4 Show and at a forum on the subject. Geelong Diesel Injection Pty Ltd now believe that best practice is now to install the second filter after (post) the factory filter. Flash Lube Australia Pty Ltd (Tottenham, Victoria) recommend either a primary filter of 30 micron and the option alternative of a (post) secondary filter of 5 micron (see attached). I shall make the time to see the Toyota Service Manager who inspected my 200 series after a 30,000 service. Our friends insurance claim for the Jeep at Ocean Grove is being processed at the present time and I would expect an answer to that insurance claim, sooner rather that later. Thank you everyone for your input and passing on your experience and knowledge. Hopefully, I can come back with positive information from the organizations mentioned. AlPal.
-- Edited by AlPal on Friday 23rd of February 2018 04:04:37 PM
Just to repeat my assertion that a prefilter is the most important IMHO. The factory filters are good and satisfactory to catch the rubbish down to the size required. BUT it will become overwhelmed by the crap IF you get a bad tank of fuel and some may be forced through. Mostly crap comes with the water, and straight fuel is not dirty in my experience, until you use drums. So be warned drums cause dirty fuel by poor handling practices.
So having a suitable prefilter that settles out the water and dirt by centrifuging the flow and slowing it to make it settle in the bottom bowl is the universal long standing design used for longer than I have been working on diesels.
Having a clear bowl with a drain tap is a waste of time after the main filter, because if you can see ANYTHING IN THERE the main 5 mictron filter has completely failed and you are already in the sh*t. Refiltering it again down to 3 micron seems a waste of effort to me and might upset the rail recirculation flow of the fuel in some engines.
Jaahn
-- Edited by Jaahn on Saturday 24th of February 2018 11:42:09 AM
Our VW motorhome recently had the dealership look at a slight fuel/filter problem and upon receiving the vehicle back we have been informed that they have fitted a fuel filter/water trap combination BEFORE the standard fuel filter set up.
They suspect that the standard fuel filter had become partially blocked with water contamination resulting in poor performance under load, no harm done otherwise.
I assume that if the new filter/water trap combination was installed AFTER the standard fuel filter I would still have had the performance problem with a partially and soon to be completely useless fuel filter.
Our VW motorhome recently had the dealership look at a slight fuel/filter problem and upon receiving the vehicle back we have been informed that they have fitted a fuel filter/water trap combination BEFORE the standard fuel filter set up.
They suspect that the standard fuel filter had become partially blocked with water contamination resulting in poor performance under load, no harm done otherwise.
I assume that if the new filter/water trap combination was installed AFTER the standard fuel filter I would still have had the performance problem with a partially and soon to be completely useless fuel filter.
Hi Ken.....what you say is indeed correct! It still seems that installing a 2 micron filter after a 3 micron
filter,and before a 3 micron injector,makes sense to someone on this forum.Such is life.
Hi Leo, I scan mine onto my computer for "Diesel Fuel" and file it under Land Cruiser. It is backed up separately and also saved on my wife's laptop. On each receipt I also write on it the pump number. After 12 months I turf the receipts but keep it on my computer. I think it is simple and worth doing. For what it is worth I also scan all Servicing Invoices, which details the service information and work done. Regards, AlPal.
Fully agree and understand the wisdom in keeping fuel receipts - I do as well.
But why on earth would you keep them for 12 months .... how many re-fills would one have had in 12 months ??
Surely if one got a gutful of 'contaminated' fuel, it would show well before that re-fill had been exhausted - depending on how far one drives - less than 500Km.
If it was badly contaminated so that it badly affected the fuel system/pump/injectors etc it would have shown up in less than 100km.
Jest sayin'
Cheers - John
PS: good to see that information from RACV ... I haven't been into the RACV shop here yet ... probably tomorrow.
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2006 Discovery 3 TDV6 SE Auto - 2008 23ft Golden Eagle Hunter Some people feel the rain - the others just get wet - Bob Dylan
We will be commencing our much anticipated trip around Australia in the next couple of months. Whilst visiting my local newsagent I noticed, on a well known magazine an excellent albeit scary and later on jaw-dropping article regarding diesel contamination in Australia featured on the front page. After buy and reading it I decided to scour the internet and could not find any references that list suppliers names in Australia that have provided contaminated diesel by water or other contaminates.
Surely listing providers would be a means of avoiding this ever growing, expensive seemingly ignored by all Governments, problem. (according to the article it is getting worse by the day) Government health departments are quite happy to provide information on dodgy eateries so why not reciprocate in an relevant department dodgy fuel providers. Sure you can install secondary filters for peace of mind and what seems to be a rather false sense of security by all accounts, but knowing of obvious providers of contaminated diesel would prevent unknowingly putting your vehicle on the road to massive repairs and ruining your trip.
All the best
Garkar
-- Edited by Garkar on Thursday 7th of February 2019 12:43:06 PM
Yes well I suggest you do not believe everything you read. Particularly in those magazines who have great headlines to sell the mags, designed so the advertisers get plenty of business. Did you notice the experts who get to participate in the discussions are great supporters of those magazines.
There are plenty of people on here who have travelled for years and thousands of Kms without trouble. Common sense helps a lot. My advice which I have already given is a good prefilter with a glass bowl to visually check and drain. You must accept that people do not usually sell contaminated fuel on purpose. That is very bad for business anywhere Out in the country they would have to leave town if people thought that !
Jaahn
-- Edited by Jaahn on Thursday 7th of February 2019 04:59:09 PM
... If my Landy got a gutful of contaminated diesel which stuffed the injectors and fuel filter and caused engine damage, my Landy would be quite probably be written off by the insurance company. 
- so why am I insured 
. So be warned drums cause dirty fuel by poor handling practices. 
Out in the country they would have to leave town if people thought that !
