Motorists are falling foul of a major fuel station error that's emptying wallets and costing petrol and diesel road users £1000s across the country. According to fleet mobility experts at Radius, drivers are being caught out by putting the wrong fuel in their vehicles.
Misfuelling vehicles can have serious consequences, with road users at risk of causing significant engine damage to their vehicles. Many are taking to TikTok to share their experience, with motorists highlighting the scale of the issue in one popular video. Commenters admitted they frantically check the pump many times to ensure they have the right compound.
One posted: “The amount of times I check the colour I’ve grabbed while putting in fuel”, while another added, “Sometimes I stare at the pump so hard and then still not sure if I really believe it’s diesel.”
Kerry Fawcett, spokesperson for Radius, explained: “Petrol and diesel engines work in fundamentally different ways. Diesel engines rely on compression ignition, whereas petrol engines employ spark ignition. When petrol enters a diesel engine, it removes the fluid that keeps fuel pumps and injectors functioning smoothly. This causes friction, misfiring, and in difficult situations, complete engine failure.
“Misfuelling repairs can easily cost hundreds or even thousands of pounds. Drivers may need to have the system drained, lines cleansed, filters replaced, and the tank refilled. If the engine has been started, the incorrect fuel circulates throughout the system, often meaning the entire fuel pump or injectors need to be replaced.
“For HGVs, the replacement of high-pressure pumps or injectors can run into several thousand pounds, due to the larger tank sizes.”
Accidentally putting petrol in a diesel car is far worse and can lead to much more expensive damage. This one simple move could destroy car fuel pumps, injectors, and lines, with road users likely to require a full fuel system flush.
Motorists who have accidentally made the mistake should not start the engine and instead consider getting the tank drained and flushed immediately. Pouring diesel into a petrol car is less risky, but motorists will still notice the engine running rough and losing power.
Experts at the RAC previously explained: “Whether it’s putting diesel in a petrol car or vice versa, this common mistake happens around once every three minutes in the UK and is easily done when not paying full attention at the pumps.
“The unfortunate reality is the error can end up proving rather costly, as fuel systems may need to be completely replaced. But that’s not always the case.”