Fuel Mishap: Petrol Vehicle with Diesel – Now What?
Making a mistake at the fuel pump is more common than you might think. Every three minutes, around 150,000 motorists in the UK accidentally fill their petrol cars with diesel or vice versa [1]. If you find yourself in this situation, it's essential to act quickly to limit potential damage to your vehicle.
**What to Do if You've Put Diesel in a Petrol Car**
1. **Do Not Start the Engine**: This is crucial to prevent the diesel from circulating through the petrol fuel system and causing damage.
2. **Contact a Professional Fuel Drain Service**: Specialist companies, such as Fuel Doctor UK, offer rapid, nationwide services for misfuelling cases. They can come to your location and safely drain and flush the system [4]. Alternatively, many garages, mechanics, and breakdown services also offer fuel draining if you contact them promptly.
3. **Drain and Flush the Fuel System**: Experts will drain the contaminated fuel and flush the system to protect the engine and fuel components.
4. **Fuel Filter Replacement**: If the engine has been run, the fuel filter will likely need to be changed to avoid clogging and engine problems.
5. **Refill with Correct Fuel**: Once drained and cleaned, refill the tank with petrol.
**Preventive Tips**
- Always double-check fuel pump labels and fill caps before refueling. - Place reminders or stickers inside the fuel cap area. - Consider fuel filler neck stoppers on diesel vehicles to prevent petrol nozzle insertion, and vice versa for petrol cars.
**Important Notes**
- If only a very small amount of diesel is added (less than 5% of tank volume), sometimes filling the remainder with petrol may reduce the risk, but a complete drain is still best for safety. - Misfuelling petrol cars with diesel generally causes clogging, and unlike diesel engines, petrol engines are less likely to suffer catastrophic damage—but running the engine on wrong fuel should be avoided. - Some insurance policies may cover the cost of fuel draining if you notify them promptly, so it's worth checking with your insurer.
Remember, being aware of the potential risks and consequences of refueling your car with the wrong type of fuel can help you avoid costly repairs and downtime. So, always double-check before you fill up!
[1] Source: RAC (2021) [3] Source: Fuel Doctor UK (2021) [4] Source: AA (2021)
- After misfueling your car with diesel, practicing regular health-and-wellness activities such as fitness-and-exercise and maintaining a balanced lifestyle can help reduce stress during this unexpected situation.
- In light of the importance of car-maintenance, it's crucial to consider investing in lifestyle choices like electric or hybrid vehicles, which don't require the concern of misfueling and can contribute positively to reducing emissions for the betterment of our planet's science and environment.
- To further support a healthy and sustainable lifestyle, one can also consider purchasing automobiles made by manufacturers known for their commitment to health-and-wellness and emission-reduction initiatives, like active transportation solutions such as e-bikes for fitness-and-exercise and car sharing programs for reducing individual car ownership needs.
