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Put the wrong fuel in your car? Here’s what to do

Put the wrong fuel in your car? Not to panic, you’re not the only one. Each year, 7500 cases of misfuelling are reported across the country making it one of the most common reasons for roadside assistance callouts.

Marshall Batteries is a roadside assistance provider operating in all six states, and we have responded to thousands of requests for wrong fuel rescue for the past 75 years. Based on our experience and what we’ve seen on the job, we put together some helpful tips to minimise the potential damage to your car and avoid any unnecessary costs.

Here’s what this guide will cover.

#1 most important rule is, DO NOT TURN ON THE IGNITION

Turning on the ignition can cause the most serious, permanent damage to your engine that will cost a lot to repair. So, if you have realised your error before starting the engine, this is what you should do,

  •      Keep your engine turned off and take the key off the ignition.
  •      Alert the staff at the petrol station
  •      Shift the car into neutral
  •      Push your car towards a secure place, preventing other cars from being blocked.
  •      Call your mechanic or have the vehicle towed to flush and drain your fuel system.
  •     Get in touch with your insurance provider.

What to do if you have already turned the ignition on after misfuelling

If you only realised you put the wrong fuel in after starting the engine you should,

  •       Immediately turn the engine off and don’t illuminate the dashboard lights
  •       Alert the staff at the petrol station
  •       Shift the car into neutral
  •       Push the car over to a safe spot
  •       Call your mechanic or have the vehicle towed to flush and drain your fuel system.
  •       Get in touch with your insurance provider.

 

Getting your car fixed after misfuelling

Have your car towed, it is a much cheaper exercise than causing damage to the engine. You need to drain and flush away the contaminated fuel in your car. 

If you had turned on the ignition before realising the mistake, the car is likely to have suffered serious damage. Don’t take this lightly, arrange to tow your vehicle to the nearest mechanical repairer and ensure they do ‘drain & flush’.

How much does wrong fuel rescue cost?

Depending on the make and model of your vehicle, this service should range from $295-$700 and should include proper fuel disposal, systems checks, filter change and other diagnostics. A scan-tool like we use on car battery replacements, to re-set the computer in modern vehicles, is also important to ask about. 

Signs of the wrong fuel in your car

If you have put diesel in a petrol car, you will see,

  •       Excessive smoke coming out from the car exhaust
  •       The engine misfiring
  •       Failure to restart
  •       Your car engine will stall or cut out.

If you have put petrol in a diesel car, you will see,

  •       Excessive smoke coming out from the car exhaust
  •       Your car will struggle to restart
  •       Slow acceleration
  •       The engine warning light will shine
  •       The engine could stop altogether
  •       You will hear a knocking sound when accelerating

What happens to your car after misfuelling?

Let’s find out what happens when you put the wrong fuel in your car.

When you put petrol in a diesel car

This situation is far more serious than putting diesel in a petrol car. Diesel cars use the fuel as a lubricant preventing any wear and tear and ensuring the engine runs smoothly. When petrol is mixed with diesel, it acts as a solvent by dissolving the lubricant.

If the engine is turned on when the wrong fuel is used, the ignition distributes this mixture, increasing friction between the different parts and damaging them. Some of the parts that are at risk of being damaged include the fuel lines and pump. So, repairs can become very expensive as you would then need to replace the entire fuel system.

When you put diesel in a petrol car

This situation is far less serious than putting petrol in a diesel car. After the engine is turned on, the diesel in the petrol car will coat and clot the fuel pump and spark plugs which would result in an engine misfire. You’ll notice excessive smoke coming out from the exhaust and the engine will cut out and fail to start.

In conclusion, if you find that you have put the wrong fuel in the best thing is to turn the engine off as soon as safely possible.

Please be aware this article is for informational purposes only. Marshall Batteries roadside assistance call-out services cannot service misfuelling issues.

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