Wrong Fuel: Here’s What You Should Do

While we hear stories of fuel pump employees filling up a car with the wrong type of fuel, these type of incidents are a lot more common than you imagine.

Furthermore, thanks to more stringent emission regulations, many car manufacturers are phasing out their diesel powertrains. As such, cars that were once very common with diesel engines have switched to petrol powertrains with their latest iterations.

Since modern fueling systems in cars are highly sensitive, such mistakes could end up being very expensive repairs. This is especially true if you put petrol in a diesel car as the fuel injection pump in the diesel car requires the lubrication property of the diesel to function properly.

Also, these diesel fuel pumps are designed to pump fuel at much higher pressure compared to petrol engines as such they tend to be a lot more expensive to be replaced as well. That being said, putting diesel in a petrol car is also a big mistake as the diesel will clog the petrol filter and likely to cause spark plug-related problems.

If you are on the move and realise that you have put the wrong fuel in your car, we highly recommend stopping the car immediately in a safe manner and call an authorised service centre or a mechanic. On the other hand, if you have not started the engine, try to disconnect the fuel line that goes to the engine from the fuel tank.

What You Should Not Do

If you have put diesel in a petrol car, do not try to empty the tank yourself using a hose as some quantity of diesel is likely to be left at the bottom of the fuel tank. Furthermore, even when you fill the car with petrol, the diesel left at the bottom will continue to remain there as it is a heavier fuel and this diesel could be sucked into the engine while cranking.

Thoughts About Putting The Wrong Fuel In Car

Putting the wrong fuel in a car is a lot more common than you think. However, it is still a very serious issue and can lead to quite expensive repairs if not dealt with properly. That being said, if you follow the above-mentioned steps, you can manage the repercussions better.