Right now
- Don’t start the engine, and don’t even switch the ignition on. On many cars that primes the fuel pump.
- Tell the forecourt staff. They’ll help you push the car to a safe spot, put it in neutral and take the handbrake off.
- Call us with the filling station name. We’ll get the car off the forecourt and to a garage that can drain and flush the tank.
If you’ve already driven it
Pull over as soon as it’s safe, switch off and don’t restart. Typical signs of petrol in a diesel are knocking, white smoke, losing power and then stalling. With diesel in a petrol car you get misfiring and smoke, and it’s usually less damaging. Either way, the car now needs to be towed, not driven.
Drain at the roadside or at a garage?
Mobile fuel-drain vans exist and can be quicker if you caught it before starting. If you’ve driven on the wrong fuel, a garage should check the fuel system. Tell us exactly what happened and we’ll suggest the cheaper sensible option.
FAQ
Questions people ask
I put a little petrol in my diesel. Can I just top up with diesel?
It isn’t worth the risk on a modern common-rail diesel. Even a small amount of petrol reduces lubrication in the high-pressure pump. Have it drained.
Does insurance cover wrong fuel?
Some policies and breakdown covers include misfuelling, often with an excess. Check your documents and keep our invoice for a claim.