It’s something that we all laugh at happening; one of those silly mistakes that result from a moment’s lapse in concentration. Yet, a surprising number of people have found themselves in the embarrassing situation of having used the wrong fuel - in fact, garages are called out for just this every three minutes in the UK. So, if you find yourself in this situation, know that you are not the first, or the last!
When you realise your error, it can be easy to act on impulse. Most of us know that when you drop your phone in the water, the last thing you should do is switch it on to see if it works. It’s the same with your vehicle: the moment you realise that you have used the wrong fuel you should stop and take a step back to limit the damage.
If you haven’t yet started the engine
Don’t panic! All is not lost. Leave your engine off – put the vehicle into neutral and don’t even put the key in the ignition (it is amazing what you can do without even thinking about it). First, alert the staff at the petrol station so that they know why you’re not moving. They may even offer to help you. Take the handbrake off and push the car to somewhere safe and out of the way, if possible.
Once your car is safely tucked away, call your breakdown service or a nearby garage; they will be able to come out and drain your fuel system. If you haven’t started the engine, the fuel will remain in the tank, and limited damage will have been done.
If you start your engine before realising your error
Stop your car as soon as it is safe to do so, and park it in a safe place. Put the vehicle in neutral and remove the key. Call your local garage. The severity of the issue will depend on whether you put diesel in a petrol car, or petrol in a diesel one; putting petrol in a diesel car is a much more serious and expensive mistake than putting diesel in a petrol one.
If you don’t realise that you used the wrong fuel – the signs
Using the wrong fuel is an easy mistake to make – and you might not always realise that you have made it. If you drive a diesel car and you notice:
- Sluggish acceleration, or knocking when you accelerate
- Smoke coming from your exhaust
- The engine warning light coming on suddenly
- The engine cutting out or struggling to start at all
It is possible that you have used the wrong fuel. Likewise, signs that you have put diesel in a petrol car are:
- Smoke coming from the exhaust,
- Engine cutting out or failing to start
- Your engine misfiring
All is not lost, but the sooner you identify the problem and get your engine flushed by a reliable local garage, the more likely your vehicle is to recover from the error.
If you are looking for a reliable local vehicle recovery service, look no further than Trust A Garage. For more advice and information, follow us on Twitter or Facebook.