Wrong fuel in the tank. What to do?
It would seem that it is impossible to refuel with the wrong type of fuel. Theoretically, every driver knows whether he has a diesel engine or a "gasoline" one. And yet such situations do occur, albeit rarely. What then?
It is easy to imagine several scenarios in which we refuel with the wrong fuel:
- lack of proper concentration. Haste and irritation are very bad advisers. If we are nervous, and our thoughts go somewhere far away, it is not a great art to mix up pistols at a gas station. We can take care of talking on the phone or with a passenger, and the misfortune is ready.
We drive in a rented car. This could be a company car, a friend's car, or a rental car. If it runs on a different fuel than our car, it's easy to make a mistake. We do some things automatically.
A quick reaction can save you from misfortune
Let's suppose that such a misfortune overtook us and we filled in the wrong fuel, as expected. What exactly happens when we pour gasoline into a diesel car? – Gasoline in diesel fuel acts as a solvent that restricts lubrication, which can lead to mechanical damage due to metal-to-metal friction. In turn, metal particles abraded in this process, pressed together with fuel, can cause damage to other parts of the fuel system. According to engineer Maciej Fabianski, the presence of gasoline in diesel fuel also has a negative effect on some seals.
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How does it work the other way around? – Starting a gasoline engine with crude oil in it usually results in poor performance and smoke. Eventually the engine stops working and cannot be restarted. Sometimes it fails to start almost immediately after refueling with the wrong fuel. Once the oil-contaminated gasoline is removed, the engine should start without problems,” Fabianski adds.
Luckily, we spotted our mistake at the gas station and haven't started the engine yet. Then there is still a chance to reduce unhappiness and costs. – In such a situation, the vehicle should be towed to a workshop to drain the bad fuel from the tank. This will certainly be much cheaper than cleaning the entire fuel system, which should be carried out even after a short engine start, Fabiansky explains.
– Under no circumstances should the driver start the engine with the wrong fuel. This will prevent “bad” fuel from entering the injection system, pump, etc. The best thing a driver can do is call for help and wait,” says Kamil Sokolowski from Volvo Car Poland.
Luckily, insurance companies offer help if you fill up with the wrong fuel. – In such a situation, the advantage is included in each of the Autoassistance options. If such a situation arises for the insured, we will usually tow the customer's car to a workshop where the fuel can be pumped out and possibly repaired. In 2016, less than 1% of customers took advantage of this benefit,” Marek Baran, director of public relations at Link4, told us.
How to check penalty points online?
– Our assistance consists in trying to repair the car on the spot by cleaning the tank of the wrong fuel and delivering the right fuel for up to PLN 500 in Poland or EUR 150 abroad. If repair is not possible, we will evacuate the car to a workshop up to 200 km from the accident site. There are no restrictions on the use of this type of assistance. The price includes only the service, and not, for example, compensation for the “correct” fuel. Among our customers, there are cases of using this type of assistance, although it is not as popular a service as, for example, towing or arranging a replacement car, says Jakub Lukowski, Product Development Specialist at AXA Ubezpieczenia.
