Contaminated fuel

How can you protect your car from contaminated fuel in Ireland?

Contaminated fuel can cause serious damage to your car’s engine and lead to expensive repairs. In Ireland, there is no regulatory body overseeing fuel quality, so it’s important to buy fuel from reputable garages and be cautious of prices that seem too good to be true.

What are the main types of fuel contamination in Ireland?

There are two main ways fuel can be contaminated: laundered diesel and petrol stretching.

What is laundered diesel and how does it affect your car?

Diesel used for off-road purposes, such as farming or construction, is taxed at a lower rate and marked with a harmless dye to distinguish it from road diesel.

Criminals may remove this dye and sell the fuel as road diesel, a process known as laundering. Laundered diesel can lose important lubricants during this process, which may harm your car’s engine.

If you use laundered diesel, you might notice a loss of power, a ‘check engine’ light on your dashboard, or that your car is not running as smoothly as normal.

What is petrol stretching and what are the risks?

Petrol stretching involves adding up to 10% of a lower-taxed product, such as kerosene, to petrol before selling it.

Stretched petrol can cause serious engine damage. Signs include lack of power, engine misfiring, knocking sounds excessive smoke from the exhaust and a ‘check engine’ light.

What should you do if you suspect your fuel has been contaminated?

If you think your petrol or diesel has been contaminated, consider getting it tested independently, as there is no regulatory body for fuel in Ireland.

If you discover you have bought contaminated fuel, contact the service station where you purchased it. If your car is damaged, you may be able to claim damages under consumer law. If the station refuses to help, you may want to consider legal action. For more information, see our how to complain guide.

You should also contact your insurance company, as many comprehensive policies cover damage from contaminated fuel. However, making a claim may affect your no-claims bonus, so check your policy terms. Find out more about making an insurance claim here - Making a car insurance claim.

Revenue provides information on how to report the sale of contaminated fuel - Reporting tax evasion (shadow economy activity).

You may also wish to contact your local Garda station.