If you have put the wrong fuel in your vehicle, you are not alone. What matters most is what you do next.
This what to do if you have put the wrong fuel in:
Recovery & Additional Services
Fuel Draining
- 1. Do not try to start the vehicle - This is important; starting the vehicle can cause permanent damage and mean costly repair work. Remove the keys from the ignition instead.
- 2. Get to a safe location - Put the vehicle in neutral. If you are still at the petrol station, get someone to help you push the vehicle to a safe spot.
- 3. Call us and we will arrange for someone to come to you - Call us on 07773 313318 and we will drain the wrong fuel and put in the right one. We will make sure you will have enough of the correct fuel to get you going.
What happens if you put petrol in a diesel engine?
Putting petrol into a diesel tank causes more damage than diesel in a petrol car. Plus, petrol nozzles can easily fit into most modern diesel filter necks. It makes it far easier to accidentally put petrol into a diesel tank than vice versa.
Petrol damages diesel engines because: Diesel acts as a lubricant, helping the fuel pump to do its job. Petrol does the opposite - it increases friction between parts in the diesel engine. The friction is not good news for your diesel engine. The more petrol that is pumped through the diesel engine, the more damage it'll do. That is why it is so important not to start the car.
Common rail (or HDi) diesel engines are particularly likely to be damaged by the wrong fuel. If there is a lot of damage, it could mean new fuel pumps, injectors, pipes, filters, fuel tank – or even a whole new engine.
What happens if you put diesel in a petrol engine?
The diesel pump nozzle is bigger than most petrol filler necks, so it does not really fit. That makes it far less common to put the wrong fuel in a petrol car than putting petrol in a diesel car. Plus, it is not as bad for a petrol engine to have diesel in it so there's usually not as much damage.
Here is what happens when you put diesel in a petrol car: Petrol ignites by a spark from the spark plugs. Diesel in a petrol engine clogs up the spark plugs and fuel system. That means the car simply won’t start. It is a real pain. But it is not as bad as the damage that petrol can cause to a diesel engine. Your petrol engine should not have any permanent damage once the fuel's drained out.
Common Questions
Fuel Draining FAQ
What should I do if I've put the wrong fuel in my car?
Don't start the engine. If you're still at the petrol station, stay where you are and call us. Starting the engine circulates the wrong fuel through the system and can cause significantly more damage. The sooner we can drain it, the better.
How long does a fuel drain take?
In most cases we can complete the drain and flush within a couple of hours, though this depends on how much contaminated fuel is in the system and whether any damage has already occurred.
Is a fuel drain always enough, or will there be lasting damage?
If the engine hasn't been started, a full drain and flush is usually all that's needed. If the vehicle was driven on the wrong fuel, there may be additional repairs required. We'll check everything thoroughly and let you know.
Can you come to me if my car won't start?
Yes. If your car is at a petrol station or at home and won't start, we can come to you. Call us and we'll arrange to get there as quickly as possible.
Recovery & Additional Services
Fuel Draining
If you have put the wrong fuel in your vehicle, you are not alone. What matters most is what you do next.
This what to do if you have put the wrong fuel in:
- 1. Do not try to start the car - This is important; starting the car can cause permanent damage and mean costly repair work. Remove the keys from the ignition instead.
- 2. Get to a safe location -Put the car in neutral. If you are still at the petrol station, get someone to help you push the car to a safe spot.
- 3. Call us and we will arrange for someone to come to you - Call us on 07773 313318 and we will drain the wrong fuel and put in the right one. We will make sure you will have enough of the correct fuel to get you going.
What happens if you put petrol in a diesel engine?
Putting petrol into a diesel tank causes more damage than diesel in a petrol car. Plus, petrol nozzles can easily fit into most modern diesel filter necks. It makes it far easier to accidentally put petrol into a diesel tank than vice versa.
Petrol damages diesel engines because: Diesel acts as a lubricant, helping the fuel pump to do its job. Petrol does the opposite - it increases friction between parts in the diesel engine. The friction is not good news for your diesel engine. The more petrol that is pumped through the diesel engine, the more damage it'll do. That is why it is so important not to start the car.
Common rail (or HDi) diesel engines are particularly likely to be damaged by the wrong fuel. If there is a lot of damage, it could mean new fuel pumps, injectors, pipes, filters, fuel tank – or even a whole new engine.
What happens if you put diesel in a petrol engine?
The diesel pump nozzle is bigger than most petrol filler necks, so it does not really fit. That makes it far less common to put the wrong fuel in a petrol car than putting petrol in a diesel car. Plus, it is not as bad for a petrol engine to have diesel in it so there's usually not as much damage.
Here is what happens when you put diesel in a petrol car: Petrol ignites by a spark from the spark plugs. Diesel in a petrol engine clogs up the spark plugs and fuel system. That means the car simply won’t start. It is a real pain. But it is not as bad as the damage that petrol can cause to a diesel engine. Your petrol engine should not have any permanent damage once the fuel's drained out.
Common Questions
Fuel Draining FAQ
What should I do if I've put the wrong fuel in my car?
Don't start the engine. If you're still at the petrol station, stay where you are and call us. Starting the engine circulates the wrong fuel through the system and can cause significantly more damage. The sooner we can drain it, the better.
How long does a fuel drain take?
In most cases we can complete the drain and flush within a couple of hours, though this depends on how much contaminated fuel is in the system and whether any damage has already occurred.
Is a fuel drain always enough, or will there be lasting damage?
If the engine hasn't been started, a full drain and flush is usually all that's needed. If the vehicle was driven on the wrong fuel, there may be additional repairs required. We'll check everything thoroughly and let you know.
Can you come to me if my car won't start?
Yes. If your car is at a petrol station or at home and won't start, we can come to you. Call us and we'll arrange to get there as quickly as possible.
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