Symptoms of Misfuelling
So you’ve just left the garage when suddenly your car starts acting up. Several indicators show up.
A car with a diesel engine:
Acceleration is slower and loses power.
loud banging or knocking noises when accelerating.
fumes or smoke from an acidic exhaust that will burn your eyes and nostrils. Very dangerous, don’t breathe it in.
The MIL for the engine could illuminate.
The engine shuts off.
If the automobile starts at all, it does so slowly.
A car with a petrol engine
The engine begins to lose power and misfire.
A lot of smoke coming from your exhaust.
The engine stops working.
The engine won’t start again
If these symptoms occur to you then it’s more than likely that you have misfuelled your car by putting either petrol in a diesel, or diesel in petrol. Now some of you might be wondering how far can you drive if you have put the wrong fuel in? Some people might think it’s okay to drive it to the nearest garage as it’s only “ a couple of miles down the road”. The answer is absolutely not!
Damages that occur from Misfuelling
When you start the car and leave, the true damage occurs. Your fuel pump has started operating the moment you turn the key in the ignition and the dashboard illuminates. When you mistakenly put petrol in the engine, which is meant to be primed with diesel before it begins, the engine will draw the offending liquid into the fuel lines. This means that in addition to draining your tank, you’ll also need to pay to flush your fuel pipes, which is expensive.
Your car might run for a short period, but then you’ll have to shell out lots of cash for pricey repairs. Before you begin filling up, it is advisable to double-check the pump you have selected and make sure the correct colours of pumps are in place and match up. Diesel with the black nozzle, and petrol with the green nozzle.
Solution
You should immediately turn off the engine and move your car to the nearest safest place available. Ideally out of the way from pedestrians and other oncoming cars. From there you should call a fuel draining company such as Fuel hero, as we will send one of our specialised technicians who will arrive at your exact location in rapid time and empty your tank and refuel it with the proper fuel. It’s generally accepted that you can mix up to 5% diesel in a petrol tank without wrecking your car or breaking the bank as long as you realise your error immediately.
The procedure shouldn’t take any longer than 30 to 90 minutes. After that, you are on your way!