Wrongly fueled the car – this has happened to many. This mistake can have expensive consequences. What to do now to avoid the worst.
Do this if you misfuel
The engine jerks and makes strange noises when driving? The engine warning light comes on or flashes? These can be signs that you have misfuelled. In such cases, switch off the engine and ignition immediately and notify your workshop or a towing service. Because in the worst case, incorrect refueling can lead to an engine defect and thus to a total loss. It often leads to damage to injectors, filters, fuel lines and pumps.
In order to avoid this fatal damage, it is best to act as early as possible. As soon as you realize you are filling up with the wrong fuel, stop filling the tank immediately. Never turn on the ignition or the engine. In the operating instructions you can read what needs to be done now.
How to intervene depends on which vehicle you drive and what fuel was used. If you’ve run diesel into a petrol engine, you might get lucky. In most cases the tank can be pumped out. Depending on the engine and the amount of wrong fuel, it is also possible to drive on slowly and gradually top up with the correct fuel. Nevertheless, damage to the vehicle can occur.
High costs when there is petrol in the diesel
The situation is different if you have filled up with petrol instead of diesel. If the engine has already been put into operation after incorrect fueling, repairs can cost several thousand euros. Total damage to the pump often occurs. Drivers of older diesel cars may be able to get away with it, a small amount of petrol usually does not harm these vehicles. If you haven’t started the engine yet, pumping it out can help.
Of course it can also happen that you make a mistake within the types of petrol. For example, if you fill up with Super E10 instead of E5, you can fill up the rest of the tank with Super Plus if you only have a small amount. This fuel is particularly low in ethanol, so that a harmless mixture can be prepared initially. But it can also be the case here that the fuel has to be pumped out.
If you don’t notice the mistake in time, it can get quite expensive. The towing service alone costs at least 120 euros. In addition, pumping out and rinsing out the fuel system costs about 150 to 200 euros. If vehicle parts have to be replaced, this can even cost up to 3000 euros. Neither the liability insurance nor the partially or fully comprehensive insurance will pay for your faux pas. You can only get the costs reimbursed if you have a motor vehicle protection letter.
