WHAT TO DO IF YOU PUT THE WRONG FUEL

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Have you ever fuelded the wroung fuel type? Once the mishap has happened, you have to take action quickly, otherwise there is a risk of serious engine damage. Simply starting a diesel engine with petrol in the tank can lead to engine damage with alot of repair costs.

A misfuelling always has unpleasant consequences. At the very least, the engine will stop running and, in contemporary diesel vehicles, the delicate injection system is also prone to damage which can be quite expensive. As a general rule, the second you realise you have made this mistake, you have to stop refuelling right away. Don’t engage the engine again and make sure to leave the ignition off! In contemporary vehicles, the fuel pump of the injection system is usually already activated when the car door has been opened – or most certainly when the ignition has been turned on.

SYMPTOMS OF MISFUELING

• loud clunking sound when you accelerate.
• 
  excessive amount of smoke emitting from the exhaust.
• 
  decreased acceleration compared to normal.
• 
  engine warning light comes on.
• 
  engine stops altogether.
• 
  your car is hard to get started again.

• PETROL INSTEAD OF DIESEL

  If you haven’t started the engine or ignition, pumping the petrol-diesel mixture out of the tank may be sufficient. But, if the car has already been running, you may have to get a whole injection system. This can be quite expensive. Repair is mandatory if small particles have formed in the fuel system. Even if the engine is still working, the components of the high-pressure injection system have already been damaged because petrol immediately wipes off the urgently needed diesel lubricating film. This often shows up afterwards in the form of a total pump failure. There is a widespread misconception that a little petrol in the diesel does no damage. This is no longer the case with today’s cars. If, on the other hand, it is an older diesel model, a few litres of petrol together with diesel residue usually isn’t a problem.

• DIESEL INSTEAD OF PETROL

  In the case of small amounts of the wrong fuel, it is best to not start the engine at all. If you only notice the misfuelling while driving, stop immediately if your can and turn off the engine. This depends on the engine and the amount of incorrect fuel – you can either continue to drive carefully (and keep refilling with correct fuel) or you must have the tank pumped out. Take note that damage to the injection system is still quite likely.