Can Fuel Quality Cause Power Issues?

whadafook

I drive a 1.9JTD Alfa GT with aprox 62K miles on the clock

Car had a full service at a main dealer with no issues last month.

Since the service I've filled it up twice at a independent garage and have begun to notice what I can only describe as power blips. This only happens when cruising or excelerating gently between 2,000 and 2,500 RPM. It seems to drop power momentarily for less then a second. I don't see any smoke from exhaust or hear anything from the engine

I contacted the dealer and described the problem. He asked where I'd been filling it up and put it down to poor diesel quality. I asked if I should bring it in to be checked he said no advising me to fill up at a "branded" garage to dilute the potentially poor diesel down. With half a tank used I topped up but the problem is still occuring

So could it be the fuel, should I top up again or empty the tank. Would a diesel additive help clean injectors etc or does it sound like something more serious?

Cheers

neilboard

It could be that there's a split in one of the air pipes running to the engine. Had this happen to a car of mine before. Generally happened on bumpy roads as the vibration made split open more and this made the engine lose power for a second.
Hope this helps.