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A 9-step guide to what you do if you put wrong fuel in your car.
Turn off the engine immediately to prevent the wrong fuel from circulating in the system.
Avoid inserting the keys in the ignition to stop the fuel pump from priming and moving the fuel.
Put the car in neutral to easily roll it to a safe location.
Move the car to a safe place, preferably where you can easily access help without obstructing traffic.
Call breakdown assistance and explain the situation for professional help.
Wait for the recovery specialist to arrive and assess the situation, especially if you’ve driven the car.
Follow the specialist's instructions regarding draining and flushing the fuel system.
Be prepared for potential towing if the damage is severe and the car needs to be taken to a garage.
Contact your local Kwik Fit centre for further advice and support if needed.
Putting the wrong fuel in your car can quickly turn a routine visit to the petrol station into a stressful situation. It’s more common than you might think, with many drivers mistakenly filling their tanks with diesel instead of petrol or vice versa. If you notice the error while still at the pump, you can take immediate action to minimise damage. However, if you’ve already driven away, the situation becomes more complicated, and prompt action is essential to prevent serious vehicle issues.
By following these steps, you can reduce the risk of costly repairs and get back on the road safely.
Two types of fuel damage
The wrong fuel damages cars in two main ways:
Diesel fuel in a petrol-engine vehicle will usually clog up the system quite quickly. Diesel is much more like an oil than petrol is and tends to have a lot of particulate matter in it.
Petrol in a diesel engine will usually damage a lot of the seals. Diesel tends to lubricate the rubber-based seals in the system, but petrol dissolves them quite quickly.
Turn the engine off and don’t put keys in the ignition
Fuel in the tank isn’t going to cause too much damage until it gets into the rest of the system. The main damage caused is by the fuel pump moving the fuel around the engine system. The pump itself can get damaged by the wrong fuel, but keeping the keys in the ignition, on some vehicles, makes the fuel pump start priming the system.
Put the car into neutral and get it to a safe place
If you’re lucky, you’ll still be at the pump when you realise you’ve been at the wrong pump. The next most important thing is to get the car into neutral and roll it to a safe place. Leaving the car in gear will make it nearly impossible to move, and could also prime the pump to begin circulating fuel as you move the car.
Call breakdown assistance
Then you’ll need to call a breakdown assistance provider and explain that you’ve misfuelled your car. Depending on where you are, waiting times can be around an hour for somebody to get to you. They’ll usually then need to drain and flush the fuel system – with some luck, no damage will have been done!
What if you’ve already started driving?
The damage is likely to be greater if you’ve already started driving, but the remedial process is the same: stop in a safe place, turn the car off, and leave it in neutral.
If the recovery specialist deems the damage to be too great, then towing will have to be arranged so that the engine can be reconditioned in a garage. This, however, can be very time consuming and therefore costly work.
Call your local Kwik Fit centre for advice
While we hope you never find yourself in this situation, if you do, the experts at Kwik Fit are here to help. Our trained technicians understand the complexities of misfuelling and can provide you with the guidance you need to navigate this stressful experience.
Whether you need immediate advice or help with draining and flushing your fuel system, our team has the expertise and tools to address the issue efficiently. We prioritise your safety and your vehicle’s health, minimising potential damage. For more assistance, contact your local Kwik Fit centre for reliable support and expert solutions tailored to your needs, or visit our blog section for more information or book in for your free vehicle health check today.
Your tyre size can be found on the sidewall of your current tyre and is a sequence of numbers and letters. The most common tyre size in the UK is 205/55R16 but there are many variations so it’s important to check your existing tyre first before searching for tyres.
Tip: Take a photo of your existing tyre sidewall to make it easier to identify your tyre size using the guide below.
The first three digits. This displays the width of the tyre in millimetres. A tyre marked 225 will measure 225mm across the tread from sidewall to sidewall.
Aspect Ratio
The fourth and fifth digits of the tyre code that immediately follow the tyre width. The aspect ratio or profile height of the tyre sidewall is expressed as a percentage of the tyre width. So an aspect ratio of 55 for example means that the profile height of the tyre is 55% of its width.
Rim Diameter
The next two digits represent the size of the wheel rim that the tyre can be fitted to. It is also the diameter of the tyre from bead to bead. So a tyre marked 16 will fit on a 16-inch wheel rim.
Speed Rating
The speed rating of a tyre is represented by a letter of the alphabet at the end of the tyre size code and indicates the maximum speed capability of the tyre. Tyres receive a speed rating based on a series of tests which measure the tyres capability to handle a set speed for a prolonged period of time.
Select your tyre speed rating to find out the maximum speed your tyres can maintain.
If you are unsure what speed rating you need, be sure to check your vehicle handbook. Choosing a lower speed rating than that recommended by your vehicle manufacturer could potentially invalidate your insurance.
Load Rating
The load index provides information on the maximum weight capability for the tyre. The load index is a numerical code that can be located just after the tyre size marking and before the speed rating.
Select your load index to find out the maximum load capability for your tyres.
Although not illegal, it is not advisable to have tyres with a lower speed rating or load index than the manufacturer recommended tyre specification for your vehicle, or to have a combination of different tyre construction types. Consult your vehicle handbook to confirm your vehicle’s tyre speed rating and load index as well as any additional requirements.
0800 75 76 77 You can reach our customer care team 6 days a week from 9:00am to 6:00pm on Monday and Thursday, 8:30am to 6:00pm Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday, 8:30am to 5:00pm Saturday, and 10:00am to 4:00pm on Bank Holidays.
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We endeavour to ensure we are displaying the correct tyres for your vehicle. However, we recommend all customers check the tyre size printed on the side wall of their tyres before proceeding with a tyre purchase as occasionally discrepancies do occur. By selecting the tyre sizes above and clicking 'Continue', you are indicating that you have checked your tyre sizes.
Please select your front and rear tyre size before clicking 'Continue'.
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Please note: There is a slope that the vehicle must be driven up to reach the vehicle ramp at this centre. This may prevent us from being able to work on some high-performance vehicles, Tesla vehicles or vehicles that have been lowered. If your vehicle has low ground clearance, please contact the centre team on 01342 314 111 before booking.
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