Sylvie Willis
Putting the wrong fuel in your car can have serious consequences, but the severity of the situation depends on the type of fuel used and your car's engine. If you realise your mistake before turning on the ignition, you're in luck—don't turn on the engine and call for a tow. If you've put diesel in a gasoline engine, you may experience engine misfires, poor combustion, and a significant lack of power. On the other hand, gasoline in a diesel engine can act as a solvent, stripping away lubrication and causing increased friction and heat buildup, which can damage the engine's internals. In any case, it's important to be mindful of the type of fuel your vehicle requires and to take immediate action to minimise any damage.
How to know if you put the wrong fuel in your car
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Engine misfiring | Misfiring, knocking or pinging |
| Engine not starting | Engine fails to start |
| Engine noise | Rattling or high-pitched pinging noise |
| Engine performance | Loss of power, reduced performance, engine stalling |
| Fuel injectors | Clogged or damaged |
| Fuel smell | Strong smell of fuel |
| Fuel system | May need to be flushed and cleaned |
| Engine damage | Serious internal damage |
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What You'll Learn
Don't panic, but don't start the ignition either
It's easy to get distracted at the pump and accidentally put the wrong fuel in your car, but it's important to remain calm and not turn on the ignition. Misfuelling can have serious consequences, but there are solutions available. The most serious damage from misfuelling occurs after turning on the ignition, so you're in luck if you've realised your mistake before starting the engine.
Leave your engine switched off and avoid putting your key in the ignition. If you've already started driving, pull over to a safe spot and turn off the engine. Then, inform the staff at the petrol station about the mistake.
If you've accidentally put diesel in a gasoline engine, do not start the engine. Diesel is thicker and oilier than gasoline, and it can clog the fuel injectors and filters. If the engine is started, it may run poorly, produce excessive smoke, and eventually stall. Long-term damage can occur if diesel circulates through the fuel system, which will necessitate extensive and costly repairs.
If you've put gasoline in a diesel engine, it's best to turn off the engine as gasoline acts as a solvent, stripping away the lubrication necessary for the smooth operation of metal components. This lack of lubrication can cause increased friction, damaging the engine's internals, such as pistons and cylinder walls.
In either scenario, you will need to drain the incorrect fuel and flush the system. Contact a professional mechanic or auto repair service to assist you with this process.
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Call for help and get the car towed
If you've put the wrong fuel in your car, don't panic and don't start the engine. Even if the key is in the ignition, don't turn it. Put the car in neutral and, if it's safe to do so, push the car to a safe spot away from traffic.
Next, call a breakdown assistance provider and explain that you've misfuelled your car. Depending on your location, the waiting time for a recovery specialist to arrive can be around an hour. They will then drain and flush the fuel system. If you've driven the car, you may need to have it towed to a garage for repairs if the damage is severe.
The remedial process is the same if you've driven the car: pull over in a safe place, turn the car off, and leave it in neutral. If the recovery specialist deems the damage to be too great, then towing will have to be arranged so that the engine can be reconditioned in a garage. This can be time-consuming and costly.
If you have breakdown cover, call your provider to see if they offer wrong fuel recovery services. For example, the RAC's wrong fuel recovery service drains the tank and fuel system of contaminated fuel and provides you with enough clean fuel to get going again. Check with your insurance agent to see if your policy covers misfuelling, as many policies do not, but some may offer specialty riders that do.
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Drain the wrong fuel and flush the system
If you've put the wrong fuel in your car, don't panic and don't turn on the ignition. The most serious damage from misfuelling occurs after turning on the ignition. So, if you realise your mistake before starting your engine, leave your engine switched off and avoid putting your key in the ignition. Then, turn off the engine if it's safe to do so, or pull over to a safe spot if you're already driving.
Now, you have a few options to drain the wrong fuel and flush the system:
- Contact a professional service like Fuel Fixer or Wrong Fuel Recovery, which have 24/7 wrong fuel cleanup crews that can come to your location, drain your fuel tank, and flush the system to prevent lasting damage to your engine.
- Drain the fuel tank yourself using a hose, an air compressor, or a manual pump. Using a hose is the most common and straightforward method. Draining a fuel tank using an air compressor is also a relatively simple process that can be completed with just a few tools: an air compressor, a fuel tank adapter, and a fuel line. Once you have these tools, connect the fuel line to the tank adapter and the adapter to the air compressor. Then, start the compressor. Similarly, using a manual pump to drain a fuel tank can be done with a few tools: a manual pump, a fuel tank adapter, and a fuel line. Connect the fuel line to the tank adapter and the adapter to the manual pump, then start the pump.
- If you've put E10 fuel in an incompatible car, fill up with a compatible fuel as soon as possible to reduce the amount of E10 in your car's fuel system.
- If you've put ethanol in a car that isn't a flexible-fuel vehicle, top off your tank with regular gasoline, and your car should eventually run as normal.
- If you've put diesel in a gasoline tank, you may not need to drain the tank. Just fill up with gasoline as soon as possible.
Remember, it's important to act quickly to avoid potential damage to your vehicle and always put your safety first.
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Check for damage and get the car inspected
If you've put the wrong fuel in your car, don't panic. Thousands of people make the same mistake every year, and solutions are available. However, it is important to act quickly to prevent further damage. The most serious damage from misfuelling occurs after turning on the ignition. Therefore, if you realise your mistake before starting your engine, leave your engine switched off and avoid putting your key in the ignition. Turn off the engine immediately if it's safe to do so. If not, pull over to a safe spot.
The next step is to get your car inspected by a qualified mechanic. They will be able to assess the extent of the damage and determine the necessary repairs. Depending on the situation, they may recommend draining the fuel tank and flushing the fuel system to prevent further damage. This process can take anywhere from a few minutes to a few hours, depending on the amount of fuel in the tank and the accessibility of the tank. Modern vehicles with sealed tanks may require more time for the process.
If you have put petrol in a diesel car, the mixture can act like a solvent, dissolving the lubricant that diesel provides. This can lead to increased friction and potential damage to engine components such as fuel lines, fuel injectors, pistons, and cylinder walls. In this case, repairs can be costly, and you may need to replace your entire fuel system.
On the other hand, if you have put diesel in a petrol car, the diesel can coat spark plugs and the fuel system, often leading to misfiring. While engine damage is less likely in this scenario, the vehicle may stall, and the fuel system will likely require a thorough flush and cleaning.
In both cases, it is crucial to seek professional help as soon as possible to minimise the potential damage and cost of repairs.
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Top up with the correct fuel to dilute the contaminated fuel
If you've put the wrong fuel in your car, don't panic and don't start the ignition. The most serious damage from misfuelling occurs after turning on the ignition as this circulates the contaminated fuel and increases the risk of damage. If you haven't turned on the ignition, you may be able to avoid damage by calling a professional service to drain the tank and fuel system of contaminated fuel.
If you have a flexible-fuel vehicle, it may be possible to top up with the correct fuel to dilute the contaminated fuel. This is a solution for vehicles capable of running on gasoline or gasoline-ethanol blends of up to 83%. In this case, you can top off your tank with regular gasoline, and your car should eventually run as normal. However, it is important to check your manufacturer's warranty to see if using E85 voids the warranty.
If your vehicle is not a flexible-fuel vehicle, topping up with the correct fuel may not be a suitable solution. For example, diesel vehicles can only use diesel. If you put petrol in a diesel vehicle, it can dilute the diesel fuel. This can cause the engine to smoke excessively, misfire, and have difficulty starting. Therefore, it is important to know your vehicle and understand which types of fuel are compatible.
In some cases, driving with mixed fuels may be unavoidable, especially if you have already driven a short distance after misfuelling. If you are unable to get your tank drained, topping up with the correct fuel may be a temporary solution to dilute the contaminated fuel until you can get the tank drained. However, this is not recommended as even short journeys with the wrong fuel can lead to major issues with your car's engine.
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Frequently asked questions
If you realise your mistake before starting the car, avoid turning on the engine. Call for help and have your car towed to a service centre or mechanic, where a professional can drain the incorrect fuel from the tank and flush the system.
Signs that you've put the wrong fuel in your car include the engine misfiring, a loss of power, and the smell of fuel within the vehicle.
If you put diesel in a petrol car, your car may not start because gas engines cannot combust diesel. If the car does start, it will probably smoke. While engine damage is unlikely, you might need to have the vehicle towed and get the tank drained.
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