Contaminated fuel?

[Garett]

I filled my car from empty a couple of weeks ago with V-Power diesel as the usual diesel pumps weren't on. Now the station has been closed for a couple of months whilst the shop has been refurbished, although the pumps seem to be the same.
I usually use V-Power every couple of months anyway for its supposed cleaning properties and it was probably about time anyway. For the following week, every day without fail my car would go into limp mode, sometimes even twice in a day and always when accelerating onto a motorway. Sometimes it would clear itself, other times it would need a quick on/off of the ignition and all would be well again.

Once the tank was empty I refuelled with regular diesel and its been fine, except once when it was getting towards the end of the tank when it went into limp again.

A friends code reader threw up the code CEM3A03, which is related to fuel pump pressure being too low, which he seemed to think could most likely be caused by a blocked fuel filter.

So my conclusion is either the diesel was contaminated or V Power has done an excellent job of clearing the crud out but its clogged the fuel filter up with the crud. Fuel filter is probably only 12 months/20k old so is about due a change but V-Power has been fine on numerous occasions.

I feel a bit ripped off if the fuel was contaminated, its supposed cleaning properties have done the exact opposite! Is it worth contacting the station or the oil company to lodge a complaint? I don't keep my receipts but my loyalty card logs where I have been and when.

[skyrover]

fuel is a red herring here IMO

problem was already there

[stick100]

Change your fuel filter

[jebus]

Just change the filter, its a easy job, and a garage ain't going to charge you much at all if don't want tackle it yourself.

Its very unlikely that its the "cleaning" stuff in fuel or anything from the tanks etc, more likely a coincidence.

[Garett]

At first I didn't suspect the fuel at all and thought it was the car, but as it miraculously cured itself after I'd emptied the tank and refilled I then suspected the fuel.
Fuel filter is already on order, my pal with the code reader happens to work at a motor factors. I'l change it again in another couple of months just to be sure as it'll be due a service anyway.