How to Fix if you Put Petrol in Diesel Car

If you have ever made the grave mistake of filling up your petrol vehicle with diesel then there is no need to feel ashamed as this is just a human mistake and you are not alone in doing so. Every year 150000 drivers in the United Kingdom alone commits the same mistake. According to the statistics, every 4 minutes a driver commits the mistake of filling the wrong fuel in their vehicle.

Let’s have a detailed look at what difference it makes to fill your diesel vehicle with petrol and how could you fix this situation.

How Petrol Reacts in A Diesel Engine

Both diesel and petrol engines are built by keeping their respective fuel characteristics in mind. Both types of fuel are vastly different. Petrol is much lighter than diesel and ignites at a much lower temperature than diesel does. Your fuel injection system is the first to feel this difference when you fill it with petrol and it would put an immense amount of pressure on the engine. A diesel engine relies on lubrication properties that are seriously reduced when the petrol is circulated inside. This results in minute metal particle creation within the engine that would severely affect the engine’s ability to work properly.

It is not easy to know the presence of petrol in a diesel car and by the time you do realize it, it may cause significant damage to the engine anyway. It takes some time to realize the damage when you see black fumes coming out of the exhaust pipe. The engine starts to stutter and lose power and eventually, you are unable to keep the engine running and face an engine overhaul or engine replacement.

How to Fix This Situation

The general remedial measures remain the same as in the above scenario. If you realize that your diesel car has petrol in the tank, immediately tow the vehicle to the service station. Get the fuel tank and fuel lines cleaned and flushed before refuelling diesel. However, there are two scenarios you should be extremely careful about. Below are more details on the same.

If you start the engine

Even if you turn the ignition key on, the fuel pump may send fuel through the lines. That means the tank and fuel lines need a thorough clean and flush. If you start the engine, the procedure gets a bit complicated as the wrong fuel may have damaged the engine’s internal components. Hence, the engine needs a thorough inspection.

If you drive the car for some time

It’s the worst-case scenario. If you have driven a diesel car with petrol fuel, the petrol may have entered the nook and corner of the engine. Immediately switch off the engine and call for roadside assistance/tow service. Tow the vehicle to the nearest service centre and get help from an expert mechanic because it requires more than cleaning and flushing the fuel tank and fuel lines. The amount of work and repair bill depends on the extent of damage to the engine components.

Contact the Professionals

Once you have done everything that is in your power to keep the engine safe. You should contact the professionals. The only solution, once the wrong fuel is in the tank of your vehicle, is to get the fuel drain before it damages the engine. Some professionals have dedicated equipment and a trained workforce to drain the wrong fuel from the tank of your vehicle. They can also flush out your engine and clean out your vehicle’s fuel line. As long as you can call them, they can send their mobile units that are fully equipped and, on the road, to assist 24/7. If you have deeper problems that cannot be fixed by those roadside wrong fuel assistance then they can recover your vehicle to the nearest specialist.

GMM1 manages a large fleet of fully equipped wrong fuel recovery vehicles that are driven by expert and experienced technicians who can help you recover the wrong fuel while you are stuck on the roadside and get you back on the road. They provide excellent service at incredibly low prices. You can contact them any time as their service is available 24/7.