Regulatory agency outlines procedures for filing complaints about dangerous gasoline additive

The Public Services Regulatory Authority (ARESEP) published a guide that car owners should follow if they believe their vehicles were damaged by the use of gasoline with the toxic component Methylcyclopentadienyl manganese tricarbonyl (MMT).

MMT mainly affects a vehicle’s exhaust system, states the guide, so users should be aware if vehicles show: increased fuel consumption, low traction power, random surges when the vehicle is running or frequent flashes of the “check engine” light.

To file a complaint with ARESEP, car owners should write a letter explaining damages and the cost of repairing them.

The letter must include: full name, address, contact info for notifications (fax, email or mail), telephone number and signature (digital or scanned).

Also, the complaint must include a photocopy (both sides) of a valid ID or passport, copy of the car registration, circulation permit, a report of at least the last two years of technical inspection (Riteve) and a mechanic’s report from a registered mechanic shop.

A study by ARESEP released this month found that “Super” and “Plus” gasoline imported into the country on Dec. 15, 2011 has up to 93 mg of MMT per liter, while international standards recommend suppliers use a maximum of 18 mg per liter.

The guide can be downloaded at ARESEP’s website in PDF format (Spanish only): http://www.aresep.go.cr/docs/quejas%20gasolina.pdf