Fuel
If you see any leaks or feel that your fuel cap does not fit properly, check your car in to a local garage such as A1 Clutches who will check this for you, as running out of fuel on the way to work, a meeting, the school run or on your way to your holiday destination is most inconvenient.
You should keep eye on your fuel gauge as before you know it, the warning light comes on and there may not be a petrol station nearby. This can be a major problem whilst travelling on the motorway if you are some distance from the next services area.
Never let your petrol levels run low and never rely upon your fuel gauge to alert you in time, since the warning light can sometimes come on too late.
Be aware of putting the wrong kind of fuel in your car. This is an easy mistake to make but one which is fully avoidable. If you put the wrong fuel in your vehicle this will cause you to break down and can cause permanent damage to your vehicle. To help you remember which fuel to put in, stick the appropriate coloured label on your fuel cap. For instance, if your car needs unleaded fuel, place a green sticker on your fuel cap and for diesel place a black sticker on your fuel cap. Below you can find more information for misfuelling your vehicle:
Misfuelling
The term “misfuelling” is used when the wrong fuel is put into a vehicle. According to the AA, over 150,000 drivers fill up their vehicle with the wrong fuel each year. It is an easy mistake to make especially if you are fuelling a vehicle you are unfamiliar with. Most drivers who make the mistake do so while driving a friend or family member’s car, driving a new car, driving a hire car or driving a work pool car. It is easy for your mind to go into auto-pilot in these circumstance and automatically fill your car up with the fuel you are used to using.
Filling up your car with the wrong fuel can result in your vehicle breaking down and you may need to replace some parts in your vehicle. Always pay attention and double check you know which fuel is required in your vehicle each time you fill up.
Generally it is difficult to put diesel into a petrol vehicle as the standard diesel nozzle is bigger than the filler neck on modern petrol vehicles. It is most likely that motorists will put petrol into a diesel vehicle than the other way around.
What to do if you misfuel
If you do fill your vehicle with the wrong fuel, it is very important that you do not turn on your ignition or start the engine as the fuel will circulate in the tank and cause damage to your engine. Therefore, if you have misfuelled you should put your vehicle into neutral and push your vehicle to a safe location.
Then call a local garage such as A1 Clutches who will attend your location with a gallon of the correct fuel for your vehicle, drain and flush the fuel out of your vehicle’s system and you will ready to continue your journey.
Petrol in a diesel
When you put petrol in a diesel tank it acts like a solvent, reducing the lubrication processes in the engine. Due to this, adding petrol to a diesel can cause considerable damage to the fuel pump and other parts of the engine.
Should you add petrol to a diesel tank will need professional assistance. You will require your vehicle to be drained and the parts cleaned or you may also require to have some parts replaced if you have driven your vehicle on the roads with the wrong fuel in your tank which can be an expensive exercise.
Diesel in a petrol
As stated above, adding diesel to a petrol tank is less common than putting petrol in a diesel tank because the diesel nozzle at fuel stations is much larger than the filler neck for petrol vehicles.
If diesel is added to a petrol vehicle, the diesel will not ignite the spark plug in the way petrol would and the vehicle will not move. The vehicle will then need to be drained and the fuel replaced.
Diesel in a petrol tank is less damaging than petrol in a diesel tank.
Claiming on your insurance
If you put the wrong fuel in your tank and then start the engine, you will have to take your vehicle to a local garage such as A1 Clutches, you may be lucky and only require your tank to be drained, the hoses cleaned and remove the fuel from the pumps. On some occasions the wrong fuel will cause major damage to your engine resulting in an expensive repair.
Several car insurance providers cover the costs of a new engine and repairs when the wrong fuel has been put into a vehicle. They will usually cover it under accidental damage to the vehicle. However, as more and more diesel cars come on to the market and the problem increases, some insurers do not to cover the repairs for wrong fuel type in their policies. Therefore you should always read your car insurance policy wording closely to see if misfuelling is covered.