Shell customers are advised to get their tanks refilled with new gas after a bad batch has caused performance-related problems for drivers.

Shell Oil Products manager David Rose told The Royal Gazette yesterday that a handful of customers began to complain about the fuel early this week.

The problem, which relates only to gasoline and not fuel, has stalled vehicles, causing rattling and a hard cold start.

Mixing new gas with the old product was expected to solve the problem.

Mr. Rose said the defective gas was linked to low vapour pressure. A sample was sent to a lab in the United States last night for analysis.

The gas should not cause engine damage, but if Shell's fuel is responsible, Mr. Rose said the company will compensate. Most of Shell's local gas supply comes from refineries in Trinidad, Puerto Rico and St. Croix. However, about 30,000 barrels of the defective gas arrived from the UK on September 2.

Mr. Rose said Shell is currently removing the gas and replacing it with a new product expected to be stocked at all gas stations Island-wide by tomorrow.