If you have recently filled in the wrong fuel in your car, here is some news for you. You are not the only person who
has done it. There are numerous people who have made this mistake and are still
doing it regularly. Even the police department has done it over and over again!
has done it. There are numerous people who have made this mistake and are still
doing it regularly. Even the police department has done it over and over again!
According to a recent survey done by Oxford
Mail, the Thames Valley Police alone has filled in the wrong fuel in their
vehicles twenty one times over the past three years. This data was collected by
Oxford Mail when they requested for such information based on the Freedom of
Information laws.
Mail, the Thames Valley Police alone has filled in the wrong fuel in their
vehicles twenty one times over the past three years. This data was collected by
Oxford Mail when they requested for such information based on the Freedom of
Information laws.
The
actual numbers
actual numbers
Oxford Mail further cited that the Thames
Valley Police department had actually spent £1,413.16 on fixing vehicles in
which they had filled in the wrong fuel by mistake. This included repairing
costs, labour charges and cost of parts that needed to be replaced. This
department owns a fleet of 1,258 vehicles, out of which 140 vehicles service
the Oxfordshire area.
Valley Police department had actually spent £1,413.16 on fixing vehicles in
which they had filled in the wrong fuel by mistake. This included repairing
costs, labour charges and cost of parts that needed to be replaced. This
department owns a fleet of 1,258 vehicles, out of which 140 vehicles service
the Oxfordshire area.
Can
these numbers be brought down?
these numbers be brought down?
According to the police department, this
issue could easily be resolved by fitting specialised devices in their
vehicles. These devices can prevent such mistakes and can bring down the cost
of fixing the vehicles that have been misfuelled.
issue could easily be resolved by fitting specialised devices in their
vehicles. These devices can prevent such mistakes and can bring down the cost
of fixing the vehicles that have been misfuelled.
However, installing such devices would
require money to be spent, which is around £50 for each vehicle. Accordingly to
Dave McDonald, this ultimately means spending £7,000 to cater to their entire
fleet. Dave is a fleet operations manager with Thames Valley Police department.
require money to be spent, which is around £50 for each vehicle. Accordingly to
Dave McDonald, this ultimately means spending £7,000 to cater to their entire
fleet. Dave is a fleet operations manager with Thames Valley Police department.
Are
these devices really effective?
these devices really effective?
A closer look at the devices in question
proved that they may not always be as effective as one may have expected them
to be. These devices sometimes showed mechanical failure and often resulted in
fuel splashing back at the officer filling in the car.
proved that they may not always be as effective as one may have expected them
to be. These devices sometimes showed mechanical failure and often resulted in
fuel splashing back at the officer filling in the car.
The best option, so far, seemed to be using
some sort of a sticker or label that displayed the correct fuel type for a
particular car on the lid of the fuel tank.
some sort of a sticker or label that displayed the correct fuel type for a
particular car on the lid of the fuel tank.
What
is the outcome?
is the outcome?
Looking at the incidents, the remedies and
the costs associated with them, it seems that the best way to work around
misfuelling would be to be more alert when one visits any particular service
station for refueling. Devices that can be installed may not be really cost
effective after all, considering the success rates seen after having them
installed on cars.
the costs associated with them, it seems that the best way to work around
misfuelling would be to be more alert when one visits any particular service
station for refueling. Devices that can be installed may not be really cost
effective after all, considering the success rates seen after having them
installed on cars.
What
is the best thing to do?
is the best thing to do?
So, if you accidentally fill in the wrong
fuel in your car, what would be the best thing to do? For
starters, drive off the road and switch off the ignition. Turn on the hazard
lights and park your car beside the road.
fuel in your car, what would be the best thing to do? For
starters, drive off the road and switch off the ignition. Turn on the hazard
lights and park your car beside the road.
Next, get hold of a reliable business like Wrong-Fuel-Recovery.co.uk that
can send a trained and experienced technician to you. The technician will
inspect your vehicle, clean up the fuel system, do the repairs if at all they
are necessary and fill in the correct fuel in your car. That should solve the
problem and let you be on your way again!
can send a trained and experienced technician to you. The technician will
inspect your vehicle, clean up the fuel system, do the repairs if at all they
are necessary and fill in the correct fuel in your car. That should solve the
problem and let you be on your way again!