17/06/2020
With more and more people now coming out of hibernation Dr Jim is seeing a lot more people putting the wrong fuel in their car. As many people tell him filling your car with the wrong fuel sounds like the kind of problem that happens to somebody else.
It’s surprisingly easy to do, especially when it concerns putting petrol in a diesel car, because a petrol pump nozzle will fit into most diesel car filler caps. Though Dr Jim does see a few people put diesel in a petrol car, but the diesel nozzle is larger than the majority of petrol filler necks, making it far less common. In either case call Dr Jim 0333 121 9999
In either case, do not start the engine.
The severity of the problem will depend on how much incorrect fuel you have put in the tank, and whether you’ve put petrol in a diesel car or diesel in a petrol car.
Around 90 percent of wrong fuel mistakes occur when petrol is poured into a diesel tank.
Do not even switch on your ignition, as this could kickstart the fuel pump, circulating the mixed fuel around the engine. In a diesel car, the diesel acts as a lubricant, whereas petrol acts as a solvent, causing damage to the fuel system.
Without lubrication, the fuel pump will create internal friction, with the high-pressure injectors also affected.
As soon as you notice your mistake, click off the fuel filler pump and stop fuelling. If you’ve added a small amount of petrol to a diesel tank, you could get away with filling the rest of the tank with diesel. Though Dr Jim recommends you phone the Fuel Doctor 0333 121 9999 for advice.
Remember, do not start it, although turning the key from ‘lock’ to ‘accessory’ might be required to release the steering lock.
Alternatively, if you have taken out misfuelling insurance cover, get in touch with your insurance provider who will arrange for the draining and removal of the contaminated fuel.
Cleaning and flushing the system should take anything from 30 minutes to an hour, and will set you back around £150
Remember call the Fuel Doctor 0333 121 9999.
