Have you turned the ignition yet? If not, don’t! The most serious damage from misfuelling occurs after turning on the ignition. So if you realise you’ve put the wrong fuel in your car before starting your engine, you’re in luck. Here’s what you should do: 1. Leave your engine switched off and avoid putting your key in the ignition 2. Let staff at the petrol station know what’s happened 3. Put the car in neutral 4. Push the car to a safe place 5. Call your insurance provider as soon as possible

What to do if you start your engine after misfuelling

If you’ve started your engine after filling up with the wrong fuel you should: 1. Turn off the engine immediately if it’s safe to do so. If not, pull over to a safe spot 2. Put the vehicle in neutral 3. Call your insurance provider as soon as possible

Fixing your car after misfuelling

Your insurance provider will tow your vehicle to a closet Nissan Dealer that will drain the tank and fuel system of contaminated fuel so that you refuel with clean fuel to start moving again. We have trained mechanics that hold accreditation to allow them to work safely on a misfuelled vehicle, so you don’t have to worry about getting your vehicle sorted out if you happen to get caught up in this kind of an accident.

Wrong fuel in your car: the symptoms

If you’ve used petrol in a diesel car you might notice: • a loud knocking sound while accelerating • excessive smoke coming from your exhaust • slower than usual acceleration • the engine warning light illuminating • the engine stopping altogether • your car struggling to restart If you’ve used diesel in a petrol car you might notice: • your engine misfiring • excessive smoke from your exhaust • your engine cutting out • your engine failing to restart Putting petrol in a diesel car is far more serious than putting diesel in a petrol car. However, you can limit the damage to your engine by leaving it switched off and your keys well away from the ignition.

Putting petrol in a diesel car

Diesel cars use fuel as a lubrication oil, ensuring engine parts run smoothly to prevent wear and tear. When petrol is added to diesel the mixture acts like a solvent, dissolving the lubricant. Switching on your ignition circulates the mixture and increases friction between components, damaging parts including your fuel lines and pump. Repairs are often expensive and you may need to replace your entire fuel system.

Putting diesel in a petrol car

Putting diesel in a petrol car is less serious than putting petrol in a diesel car. After starting your engine, the diesel will coat spark plugs and the fuel system, which often leads to misfiring. Your engine may give off smoke, cut out, or fail to start at all. You should drain the fuel system as soon as possible.