Wrong Fuel in Car?

Wrong fuel in car needn't be a serious problem. Simply give us a call and we'll sort it all out for you and have you back on the road in no time.

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Wrong Fuel in car: Services

Wrong Fuel in Car

If you have put the wrong fuel in car it is always going to be disruptive to your day. You are certainly going to be delayed and you will probably have to re-arrange your schedule. You are also likely to find the situation stressful which always has a negative impact on one’s day in general.


Wrong Fuel in car: Causes


Common causes of putting the wrong fuel in a car are: not concentrating and picking up a petrol nozzle instead of the diesel fuel pump; being distracted or rushing; as well as being in a vehicle you aren’t used to. Whatever the root cause, we cannot take all the hassle and stress out of your day when you have put the wrong fuel in your car, but we can ease the pain for you to a great extent.


First Steps

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If you are unlucky enough to put petrol in a diesel car the first thing to remember is to try to stay calm. Staying calm ensures that you will think more clearly and do the right things, in the right order.

If you spot your mistake before leaving the petrol station, no matter how little wrong fuel you have put in your tank, you cannot solve it by adding more of the correct fuel. The contamination is already there, and the fuel mix will have to be professionally removed. Avoid starting the engine or even switching on the ignition, as this will begin introducing the wrong fuel mix into the fuel lines and engine.

If you have already left the filling station, the first thing you are likely to experience is a loss of engine power, the engine running erratically and excess smoke from the exhaust system, closely followed by the engine stalling completely. If this happens, it is important that you stop the vehicle as soon as it is safe to do so and try to find a safe spot away from traffic. If you are on the motorway, the official advice is for everybody in the vehicle, to get out through the nearside doors and find a safe place, well back from the side of the road and speeding traffic.

Once you are safe, the next important step is to contact your breakdown cover provider, or even better, wrongfuelincaruk.co.uk. Putting the wrong fuel in car is unlikely to cause it permanent damage however, it does need to be professionally rectified as soon as possible. Once we have all the relevant information we will be able to give you a wrong fuel in car cost and dispatch a technician to get you on the road again.


Our Wrong Fuel Rescue Mechanics

Wrong Fuel Help

All our mechanics are SPA qualified and 100% mobile. In their emergency response vehicle, they carry all the equipment necessary to clear your system of contaminated fuel and introduce fresh, clean fuel to get you on your way. Wherever you find yourself in the UK with the wrong fuel in your car, we aim to get one of our mechanics to you in an hour or less.

When you contact us, we will ask you a few simple questions that will enable us to give you a fixed price, on the spot, before we despatch one of our fuel doctors (Wrong Fuel Technicians) to you. Once they arrive, our mechanic should have you on your way in around half an hour. Once the job is done, we can accept payment from most major credit and debit cards, and you can rest assured that all contaminated liquids are disposed of correctly as we are Environment Agency registered.

If you find your vehicle experiencing the symptoms of putting the wrong fuel in car but aren’t sure whether you have or not, there are a few things you can do. Your fuel receipt will clearly state the type of fuel purchased. Petrol and diesel fuels have distinctly different aromas and sometimes smelling your fuel can indicate this is the issue. If you are still unsure, contact us and we will despatch one of our mechanics. Their equipment will enable them to verify whether you have put wrong fuel in your car, and put it right for you at the roadside if you have.

Wrong Fuel Drain
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Wrong Fuel in car: Advice

If you do find yourself saying - Help, I put the wrong fuel in my car, I've run out of fuel or something that shouldn’t be in the fuel in your car, don’t panic.

  • If the vehicle is moving and begins to show the tell-tale wrong fuel in car symptoms of problems with your fuel system, stop somewhere away from traffic as soon as it is safe to do so. The symptoms are likely to be loss of power, engine running erratically and excess smoke from the exhaust system.
  • As soon as the vehicle is stopped in a safe place, get out of the nearside if you are on a motorway, stand somewhere safe and contact wrongfuelincaruk.co.uk straight away.
  • After a few short questions you will be provided with a quote, and one of our mechanics will be despatched.
  • They will aim to be with you in an hour or less, and just half an hour later you should have the wrong fuel out and be back on the road, getting on with your journey.
Wrong Fuel Assistance

Other Fuel Problems


We can solve other fuel problems for you as well as putting diesel in a petrol car engine. Running out of fuel is another common issue, and along with it come other problems. There is likely to be air in your fuel system, pulled in as the last drops of fuel were used. These air locks have to be removed before the car will run. You may also have a flat or very depleted battery if you have been trying to restart the car without success, for some time. Our mechanics can solve all these related problems, as well as providing sufficient fuel at forecourt prices, to get you to the nearest petrol station.


We can also handle other contaminants in fuel such as water or AdBlue mistakenly added directly into the vehicle fuel tank, instead of through the automatic dosing system. In both cases, the symptoms are very similar to putting wrong fuel in a car, so you may not know what the problem is, but rest assured, our trained mechanics will be able to identify and solve the problem for you. In the case of water in the system, the fuel filter is likely to be damaged and a new one will be required, another part of the complete service we provide.

Common Wrong Fuel Symptoms

The most usual symptoms of wrong fuel in a car are:

Loss of engine power

Car starting to cough or splutter. Running rough

Excessive smoke

Difficulty in starting the car

Unusual smell

Putting petrol into a diesel engine, or diesel into a petrol engine or petrol car, shouldn't be a big problem as long as it is removed quickly and correctly.


Wrong fuel in car Helpline
0800 711 7114

Wrong Fuel

About Us:

We are a 24/7 national wrong fuel drain service and cover the entirety of England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. We have technicians based in strategic locations around the country to ensure that we are able to get out to most locations within the shortest time possible. Our average call-out time over the last 2 years has been 49 minutes.

We have professionally trained technicians and call-centre staff who are able to give relevant and honest advice and guidance on the subject of misfuelling. We are able to attend all makes and models – including modern vehicles that other service operators tend to shy away from (this includes hybrids).

We are certified to operate on petrol station forecourts, roadside or at commercial or residential locations.

If you have any questions at all about contaminated fuel issues then please don’t hesitate to contact us. We are open 24 hours a day and are always ready and willing to help.

Note: we are not mobile mechanics and will not deal with or address any issues not related to contaminated fuel.