Filling up the car with the wrong type of fuel, whether
petrol in a diesel car or diesel in a petrol car, is proving to be very expensive
for motorists in the UK; costing a staggering £150 million per year minimum.
Wrong fuel is pumped
into cars once every 1.45 minutes in the UK
into cars once every 1.45 minutes in the UK
When you consider that petrol is put into a diesel car or
vice versa each 1 minute and 45 seconds it is not surprising that around
300,000 vehicles have to be repaired annually.
Worse, is that the cost of repair in these circumstances can be anything
from £500 to £3,000 and only 50% of car owners will be reimbursed by their
insurance providers.
vice versa each 1 minute and 45 seconds it is not surprising that around
300,000 vehicles have to be repaired annually.
Worse, is that the cost of repair in these circumstances can be anything
from £500 to £3,000 and only 50% of car owners will be reimbursed by their
insurance providers.
Wrong fuel mistakes
may lead to the purchase of new diesel cars
may lead to the purchase of new diesel cars
Recent research done by Halfords Autocentres, revealed that there
were more people putting the wrong fuel I their cars between the months of
March and September which coincidentally are the peak times when people buy new
vehicles. Hence it would appear that mis-fuelling
mistakes could have something to do with people buying new diesel cars to
replace their more expensive petrol vehicles.
were more people putting the wrong fuel I their cars between the months of
March and September which coincidentally are the peak times when people buy new
vehicles. Hence it would appear that mis-fuelling
mistakes could have something to do with people buying new diesel cars to
replace their more expensive petrol vehicles.
It’s not just
motorists that make mistakes with fuel
motorists that make mistakes with fuel
It isn’t just motorists who make mistakes with fuel. Last May, a tanker driver accidentally poured
diesel into a storage tank that should have contained unleaded petrol;
resulting in 44 motorists facing repair bills of hundreds of pounds. The Sainsbury’s petrol station, in Regent
Road, Salford, Manchester, that sold the fuel closed the pumps after receiving
reports of several cars breaking down in the surrounding area.
diesel into a storage tank that should have contained unleaded petrol;
resulting in 44 motorists facing repair bills of hundreds of pounds. The Sainsbury’s petrol station, in Regent
Road, Salford, Manchester, that sold the fuel closed the pumps after receiving
reports of several cars breaking down in the surrounding area.
There was a happy ending when Sainsbury’s accepted
responsibility and covered the cost of repairs to the cars.
responsibility and covered the cost of repairs to the cars.
If you have put
petrol in a diesel car, don’t start the engine or drive off
petrol in a diesel car, don’t start the engine or drive off
However, in normal circumstances assuming you know that you
have put petrol in a diesel car or diesel in a petrol car; you shouldn’t start
the ignition, let alone drive the vehicle since this will cause the wrong fuel
to circulate and may result in considerable damage to your car.
have put petrol in a diesel car or diesel in a petrol car; you shouldn’t start
the ignition, let alone drive the vehicle since this will cause the wrong fuel
to circulate and may result in considerable damage to your car.
Call a specialist
fuel recovery technician
fuel recovery technician
If you do make this mistake by far the best and most cost
effective method of resolving the problem is to call a mobile specialist fuel
recovery technician who will have all the necessary equipment to remove the
fuel and flush out the engine. In many
cases, if caught early enough, these guys can get you back on the road quickly
and save you money on car repairs.
effective method of resolving the problem is to call a mobile specialist fuel
recovery technician who will have all the necessary equipment to remove the
fuel and flush out the engine. In many
cases, if caught early enough, these guys can get you back on the road quickly
and save you money on car repairs.