If you accidentally fill your petrol car with diesel, it can have serious consequences for your car’s engine and may cause significant damage if you attempt to drive the car. Here’s what could happen:
- Fuel system damage: Diesel fuel is a heavier, oilier fuel than petrol. If you fill a petrol car’s fuel tank with diesel, the diesel may not be properly ignited in the engine, and it could clog or damage the fuel injectors, fuel pump, or fuel filter.
- Engine damage: Diesel fuel is not compatible with petrol engines, which are designed to burn petrol. If you drive a petrol car that has been filled with diesel, the diesel can cause serious damage to the engine, including piston damage, cylinder damage, or damage to the valve train.
- Difficult starting or no start: Diesel fuel requires a different ignition process than petrol, so if you fill your petrol car’s fuel tank with diesel, the engine may not start at all, or it may be difficult to start.
If you realize that you have put diesel fuel in your petrol car, do not attempt to start the car. Instead, have the car towed to a mechanic or a petrol station, where the fuel tank can be drained and flushed, and any damaged components can be repaired or replaced.