When you are at a gas station, you might mistakenly pick up the wrong handle. You might not be aware but the wrong fuel in your car causes serious damage to your engine.
If you use a petrol car, you should use petrol as fuel and diesel for diesel vehicles. You have to remember that there is no other way.
Fortunately, diesel and petrol pumps are clearly labelled at a gas station. However, you might take a passive glance and end up picking up the wrong handle.
So, what happens if the wrong fuel is used?
If petrol is poured into a diesel engine, it enters the fuel system and significantly reduces the lubrication abilities of the diesel fuel. This means that the diesel fuel pump and other parts of the system are damaged.
Also, in diesel engines, there are higher compression ratios in the combustion chambers which can cause pre-ignition. It reduces the power of your engine and ultimately causes damage.
Petrol in Diesel Engines
If you put petrol in your diesel car, the petrol won't be able to provide adequate lubrication for the engine’s inner parts.
This lack of lubrication can cause several problems for the engine including degradation of parts, clogging and engine failure.
When you switch on the car’s ignition, it will circulate the mix of petrol in diesel through your fuel system. It causes contamination of other components and damages the vehicle’s engine.
You would have to face costly repairs that your fuel system requires, in worst cases, you might have to replace it completely.
Diesel in a Petrol Engine
The damage is less serious because it might cause misfiring, smoke, and eventual stalling.
The engine might not start.
The diesel in a petrol engine will coat the spark plugs and the entire fuel system. The symptoms include misfiring, engine smoking and vehicle stopping.
What to do?
The best policy to maintain is to never put the wrong fuel in the car by carefully picking up the right nozzle at the gas station. However, in case it happens, here’s what you need to do after realising your mistake.
- Do not start the engine
If you are aware of the mistake at the station itself, then put the key in your pocket and don’t start the car.
Even if you don’t start the car, the damage is already done as petrol ends up going through the diesel engine. So, the best-case scenario is to not move your car and call roadside assistance. - If you’re obstruction, see if you can push the car into a safe spot
In case you are driving and notice something different in driving, then pull over your car to the side and park where it’s safe. Turn on the hazard lights and call roadside assistance, a mechanic or a tow truck.
The symptoms of finding that you have put in the wrong fuel are a car running roughly, a smoky engine or a sudden loss of power. - If possible, contact fuel recovery services
Before relying on roadside assistance, ensure that you are calling fuel recovery services. They know what to do and salvage the situation. - After the tank is drained - refuel properly and keep an eye out for unusual signs
As a solution, you should know that the tank is drained and the parts like the fuel pump, injector, fuel rail, and other parts are replaced. If it further goes into the engine, it becomes more expensive to repair.
Modern engine systems like Common-rail diesel and Gasoline-direct injection can tolerate the damage if the wrong fuel is installed. If you catch the issue soon, then all you need to do is empty the tank and refill it. Doing this will not cause more problems for your car.
However, to be on the safe side, it’s best to book a consultation with a professional mechanic to know the extent of the damage.
Final Thoughts
Instead of dealing with the wrong fuel in your car, you have to avoid it by being careful at the station. Be attentive and pick the right nozzle and you can save a lot of time, money and effort.
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