AA Fuel Assist: did you put petrol in a diesel car? Or diesel in a petrol car?

Call the AA Fuel Assist Team at any time, day or night on 1890 456 226.

If this happens or has happened to you, the steps you should follow are:

• Do not turn on the ignition or start the engine
• Call the AA Fuel Assist Team on 1890 456 226

How Fuel Assist works:

The AA Fuel Assist service is available in the Dublin area 7 days a week from 8:30am to 8:30pm

We will:

• Drain, flush and refill your vehicle's fuel system.
• Ensure that the contaminated fuel is recycled

How much is AA Fuel Assist?

The cost of AA Fuel Assist will depend on the situation but prices start from as little as €245

Call the AA Fuel Assist Team on 1890 456 226

The Impact of mis-fuelling

• Diesel fuel pumps operate on very fine tolerances and are lubricated by the diesel fuel itself.
• Petrol in diesel acts as a solvent – it reduces lubrication and can cause damage to the pump through metal to metal contact.
• The further the contaminated petrol goes in the system the more expensive the repair – it can be cheaper in more extreme cases to fit a new engine.
• The newer common rail (or HDi) diesel engines are particularly vulnerable – if fuel contaminated by pump wear debris gets as far as the common rail system you may have to replace the low and high-pressure fuel pumps, injectors, fuel rail, line filters and the fuel tank too.
• Many systems use a low-pressure electric pump in the tank or sender unit and this begins to work as soon as the ignition is switched on, circulating the contaminated fuel through the pump and rail – so it's important not to turn the ignition on.
• Damage to the engine can be very expensive for some vehicle owners: manufacturers often:
  • Recommend change of parts (as high as €2,000* or more) and
  • Garages often charge €440* or more for a fuel drain

Petrol In a Diesel Car

• Do not turn on the ignition or start the car
• If the car's still under warranty you should check with the franchised dealer regarding their advice and correct remedial action – running with even a small amount of petrol in the tank might invalidate the warranty while some manufacturers advise that seals and filters should be renewed even if the engine has not been run.

Diesel In Petrol Car

• Do not turn on the ignition or start the car
• This is much less common because the standard diesel nozzle at fuel stations is larger than the fuel filler neck on modern petrol cars – you have to be pretty determined and patient to mis-fuel with diesel as a result.
• If the car's still under warranty you should check with the franchised dealer regarding their advice and correct remedial action.