Wrong fuel woes – How to save on unwanted repair costs

An NRMA survey of more than 1,300 motorists has found almost a quarter of drivers have filled up with the incorrect fuel type. 

Putting petrol in appears to be the more common mistake than diesel in petrol cars because of greater familiarity with petrol cars. The larger diesel pump nozzles makes misfueling a little difficult.

Whilst this could be as a result of being new to the vehicle or simply being distracted while filling up, knowing what to do in this situation can save you thousands.

Serious issues that arise out of the misfueling (putting petrol in diesel vehicles) – safety (petrol is extremely flammable ), may cause  serious damage to fuel injection system and the engine, the resultant damage is not be covered  under warranty and the  insurance policies may not provide cover for the mistake.

Diesel fuel pumps operate on very fine tolerance at high pressures and is lubricated by the diesel fuel. When petrol is added to diesel fuel, the mix acts as a solvent, reducing lubrication. This can also cause damage to the fuel pump through metal to metal contact and create metal particles which can cause significant damage to the rest of the fuel system.

Serious engine damage may also occur due to detonation (knocking) caused by uncontrolled petrol ignition under a much higher compression pressure consistent with the diesel engine.

As a general rule, regardless of your vehicles fuel type, it’s important not to turn on the ignition or start the engine if you’ve filled up with the wrong type of fuel. Instead contact Roadside Assistance if you are an NRMA Member,who will arrange towing to a licensed mechanic/NRMA MotorServe for further assessment.

If you did not realise your mistake until you experienced performance problems or abnormal engine noises STOP and call for assistance – it may minimise further damage.

Never attempt to syphon fuel yourself. Apart from the safety risk, it is also an offence to pollute any waters with severe penalties imposed by the authority (EPA).

Vehicle owners can also prevent the use of misfuelling by installing aftermarket devices, such as , which has been designed to block the narrower diameter petrol nozzle.

Have you ever used the wrong fuel type in your vehicle? How much did it cost you to fix your vehicle?

Have any related questions that you would like us to answer? Our  Team provides professional advice for NRMA Members. You can reach the team on 13 11 22 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm)

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