DON'T BE A FUEL
I’m a car mechanic – here’s what you should do if you put the wrong fuel in your motor… and it takes just 5 steps
Check out other ways to prevent the dreaded mishap
A CAR mechanic has revealed what you should do if you put the wrong fuel in your motor.
Filling up your car with the wrong fuel is not only embarrassing but it can also be a costly mistake to make.
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The dreaded slip-up can leave you with a pricey repair bill and even invalidate your insurance.
Luckily, an expert mechanic has shared crucial advice on what to do to save your vehicle.
Taking to TikTok, the mechanic from TQ Auto Care starts told drivers “don’t panic” if they make this simple gas pump error.
If you ever fill a petrol motor with diesel the first rule is to keep the ignition switched off.
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The expert explained: “Make sure you don’t turn your engine over, leave the car sitting, get a tow truck, tow the car to your local shop, then get fuel flushed out of the vehicle.”
He added that his easy tip also works for petrol that goes into a diesel motor.
Adding petrol to a diesel creates a solvent solution, reducing lubrication in the engine and damaging the fuel pump.
He said: “The reason why we say this is gas is more flammable than diesel, and on a combustion chamber like a diesel engine, when you put [in] gas, it causes a lot of stress on the motor.”
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The stress caused by the fuel on your vehicle can cause damage like engine seal breakage.
And you could end up being forced to replace your entire fuel system.
But there are other ways you can prevent further damage.
Motorists can have their fuel tank drained to get back on the road.
But until you've had all the fuel removed, you shouldn't switch the car on.
How much will it cost to fix?
A fuel drain call-out with one of the major providers will cost you between £100-£200 - as long as you haven't started the engine.
If you have turned your car on, the damage could be far more extensive, leaving you with repairs bills well into the thousands.
And unfortunately, it's unlikely your insurer will cover all of these costs either.
Most policies don't automatically pay out for misfuelling, while some will ask you to select it as an optional extra if you wish to be covered for the error.
Does this invalidate my insurance?
Many insurance companies will often refuse to pay out for any damage caused by filling your motor with the wrong fuel.
Figures from Defaqto revealed almost 60 per cent of car insurance policies exclude repairs for putting the incorrect petrol in your tank.
Other insurers may cover the mistake under accidental damage, but you will need to carefully read over the clause to find out the finer details.
Drivers can also be hit with a £5,000 fine for letting their car run out of fuel.
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It comes as customers were left fuming after claiming that fuel from a major supermarket is "contaminated" and "causing cars to break down".
Disgruntled shoppers at the Morrisons' petrol station in Bristol have reported motor issues after filling up with what they believe to be problems with the fuel.
Five basic steps to avoid ruining your engine
THE most feared mistake among motorists is filling the car with the wrong fuel.
But whether that's diesel or petrol there is an easy five-step tip to avoid a hefty bill.
- Make sure you don't turn your engine over
- Leave the car setting
- Get a tow truck
- Tow the car to your local shop
- Get fuel flushed out of the vehicle