What to do when you put the wrong fuel in your diesel car

It’s easy to think that you’d never make the mistake of putting petrol into a diesel car. After all, how hard is it to remember what kind of fuel your car takes? However, it’s more common than you might think and instances of people using the wrong fuel can and does happen. If it happens to you, it’s important to know what you need to do as having the right information means you can avoid damage to your engine.

How does it happen?

Some of you are probably reading this and wondering how people could put the wrong fuel in their diesel car. Well, it can happen for a number of reasons. Firstly, there are more and more diesel cars on the road and they are now often as quiet as their petrol counterparts. This means that people can often assume they take petrol,particularly if the car is being borrowed or rented.

Even if the car belongs to you, old habits die hard and you might automatically fill up with petrol if you’re used to driving petrol cars. As you can see, it’s an easy enough mistake to make which is why you need to know what to you if it happens to you. It’s especially important to get the issue sorted out as quickly as possible as related damage may not be covered on your vehicle’s warranty.

What damage can it cause?

Obviously, diesel cars are not designed to take petrol and it can cause damage to the engine. Petrol can affect the lubrication in the pump affecting the metal components. Petrol can also damage the diesel pump and fuel system seals. The amount of damage caused depends on how long the engine was run after it was filled with petrol.

What can you do?

If you’ve realised straight after filling your car, the most important thing is not to turn on the ignition. Even if you live around the corner, arrange for car to be towed or a mobile service to attend. This means you can hopefully avoid damage to the engine.

You may not realise you’ve put the wrong fuel in until it’s too late. Once you’ve realised your mistake, which usually happens when you hear engine noises or experience performance issues, stop the car and contact a mechanic for assistance. Never attempt to siphon the fuel yourself.

If you’ve used the wrong fuel in your diesel car, always contact a professional diesel mechanic. They will be able to drain the contaminated fuel and complete a fuel system flush. They can also check for any damage to the engine.

At Perth-based Diesel West Mechanical Services, we offer convenient mobile servicing and repairs. Whether you need urgent assistance following a fuel mishap or require a scheduled service, our experienced diesel mechanic can diagnose and repair any problems.

For quality mobile diesel servicing, contact Diesel West Mechanical Services today on 0427 501 378 or fill in our easy online form.