Dodgy fuel scare

[Boomer]

I know there has been a lot in the press just lately about a certain supermarket and some "iffy" fuel. However, I filled my 300Tdi up yesterday at the same supermarket chain and today it's running really sick. It ticks over OK but as soon as it's put under any load it runs rough, as if it was missing on one cylinder, and it vibrates and shakes when pulling. At first I thought it was a UJ gone but all is sound with the undercarraige etc. and if knocked out of gear it coasts as smooth as silk.
Is this just coincidence? Could I have one or more injectors fallen over? Has anyone else experinced similar or do you have any ideas where i should be looking?
Thanks for your help guys.
Take care
ps It's still returning 31/32 mpg.

[thermidorthelobster]

The fuel scare is supposed to be unleaded fuel, so unless you've put unleaded in your 300tdi I'd discount that.

[Boomer]

It certainly came out of the diesel pump, says so on the receipt.
A couple of forums on the web had guys talking about diesel cars playing up. I think I'll stick my nose in the tank and see if they've put petrol in the diesel pump. I may have a very dilute diesel mix in the old girl, enough diesel to start up but too weak to run properly. I think I'll top it up at every opportunity and try to get as much "good" diesel in as possible.
Thanks

[thermidorthelobster]

How much did you put in?  If it's a lot, you'd certainly notice pretty quickly.

I'd have thought that right now, anybody whose car is playing up at all is going to think it's down to dodgy petrol, so personally I'd take some of the comments elsewhere with a pinch of salt.  It COULD be fuel, but I'd be surprised.  Did it start doing this very suddenly?  Are you getting any smoke?  Have you been able to check the fuel sedimenter above the rear axle?

[spy]

To be honest, I think its been a bit blown out of proportion.  Yours is as likely to be coincidence as anything but (understandably) you wonder if it was caused by the fuel.  Some less reasonable people on the other had would just tell everyone that crappy tesco fuel made their car run rough!  

Our local RAC man told me today thet the RAC nationwode have seen no increase in fuel related problems but that every few breakdowns he attends has someone who is blaming tescos fuel and so far he has not come accross one.  

We had a customer booked into work today with a ford focus, complaining it was "sluggish" and blaming tescos fuel.  I went to take it for a road test, I have no idea how he drove it to us.  The clutch was slipping that bad it barely moved.  

I read on another forum that a bloke (who also blamed tesco fuel) had a failed lambda, the garage he took it to diagnosed and replaced lambda but charged him £80 to drain the tank at the same time.  I wouldnt mind betting its in one of the mechanics tanks now.  Lambda's fail, is the replacement interval on petrol discos 48k?  Anyway, they never get replaced at service and they do fail.  If mine failed tommorrow I would think nothing of it.  If I had put tesco fuel in yesterday, they would be getting the blame!  :D

[Boomer]

Cheers for the comments, I kinda agree about the coincidence bit but it always runs well and suddenly starts playing up today. It started on the M5 heading down to Bristol Airport and got progressively worse through the journey. I did put 25ltrs of Shell diesel in to try and dilute the 60 litrs I put in yesterday just in case it is/was a fuel problem.
As I said earlier it starts and ticks over fine, no smoke when running even with the loud pedal on the floor and the header tank is still full so I'm not losing water (head gasket?). The real problem is when it's pulling, either uphill or accelerating. Yesterday was fine, today it's rough. I'm confused!
Cheers

[spy]

I have no idea Im afraid.  Could be tescos fuel I suppose, just trying to make a point that its probabaly unlikely as you sem to think yourself!  

Someone with more knowledge than me should be along soon I would think! :D

[Boomer]

Here's a thought. Does conventional diesel at the pumps contain this bio-ethanol that they talk about on the news reports, or is it only in petrol?
Any idea?
I'm not looking for "blame culture" or "law suits" etc, just trying to understand what the problem is.
Cheers

[Range Rover Blues]

Don't know about this bio-ethanol stuff, you use ethanol to make bio diesel don't you? but the alcohol has to be evaporated off.

[Boomer]

:D Here's the end to the story guys.
After sitting and thinking over a beer or two I decided to recheck the props for UJ wear. Prompted by a mate I jacked up one wheel to take the load off the UJ's and hey presto......the front shaft UJ at the gearbox end was totally nadgered. One of the grease ways in the cross was blocked solid and the bearing failed.
I've now fitted a heavy duty GKN UJ, loaded it up with good grease and put it back on............problem gone away !!
My thanks to all contributors and apologies to Mr Tesco for doubting his diesel.
Cheers guys, the moral is when checking UJ's lift one corner to take the load off the drive train.
Boomer  :D  :D

[Range Rover Blues]

I'll check mine again then as I have a prop tyep vibe and can't feel any play in the UJ.