Wrong fuel in your car, van or motorbike?

Filled up with the wrong fuel?

Don’t turn on the ignition or start the engine!

If you’ve put the wrong fuel in your car, don’t turn on the ignition or start the engine as this will circulate the contaminated fuel and increase the risk of expensive damage. If you have just accidentally put the wrong fuel in your car you’re not alone. At least 150,000 drivers put the wrong fuel in their car every year. That’s one every three and a half minutes!

Mis-fuelling seems to be associated particularly with growth in diesel car sales – modern diesels are so quiet it’s easy to forget you’re driving one, particularly if it’s a second family car or hire car.

Also look at the colours of the writing in the Shell garages, the V-power unleaded and diesel are both red! And the Fuelsave unleaded and diesel are both green! Same applies in the BP garages where the pumps are all blue! No wonder people put the wrong fuel in.

If you have put the wrong fuel in and are still on the forecourt then call us now 07554851721 or 08007720397

If you have put the wrong fuel in and driven away from the petrol station forecourt then get the wrong fuel removed as soon as possible! Call us to book you in.

Potential damage

Diesel fuel pumps operate on very fine tolerances and at very high pressures – modern systems run at between 350 and 1600 bar) – and are lubricated by the fuel. Petrol in diesel acts as a solvent, reducing lubrication, and can cause damage to the pump through metal to metal contact. Metal particles from the damaged pump can be deposited in the fuel causing further damage to the rest of the fuel system. Some fuel system seals can be affected by the compounds in petrol too.The further the contaminated fuel goes in the system the more expensive the repair. In some cases it can be cheaper to fit a new engine!

Common rail (or HDi)

Diesel engines are particularly vulnerable – If fuel contaminated by pump wear debris gets as far as the common rail system you may have to replace the low and high-pressure fuel pumps, injectors, fuel rail, line filters and the fuel tank.

Gasoline Direct Injection (GDI)

Petrol engines are particularly susceptible to damage too. Many cars have a low-pressure electric pump in the tank which starts to work as soon as the ignition is switched on, circulating contaminated fuel through the pump and rail, so it’s important not to turn the ignition on.

Wrong fuel removal, Petrol in diesel or Diesel in petrol call us now 07554851721 or 08007720397

We are a specialist roadside service that drains, flushes and replenishes vehicle fuel systems on the spot, saving you time, money and inconvenience.