Photo: Melinda Fawver (Shutterstock)
As the price of gasoline goes up, everyone is thinking more about what fuel to put in their car, but you already know that there are two types of fuel available at local gas stations: regular gasoline and diesel.
Both are refined from crude oil, but are manufactured using very different processes and additives and are not compatible. For many, the pumps are color-coded (diesel pumps usually have a green handle) or at least clearly labeled, and diesel nozzles are larger than petrol nozzles, making them difficult to adapt to gas. Because of the car filler neck, it claims that refueling mistakes are not easy.
Oh, but keep in mind that the word “difficult” does not mean “impossible”. Despite these challenges, people can refuel their cars each year. All you need is a combination of stress, distraction, and determination, but you can also get errors on the other side, such as when a delivery truck accidentally pumps diesel into an underground gas storage tank. But even if that happens, what does it mean to put diesel in a petrol car?
Not all fuels are the same
Diesel and gasoline are very different fuels. Diesel is heavier than gas, has a much lower octane number, and ignites in a completely different way. Gasoline has a unique odor, and diesel is much thicker than gas, which is a thin, watery substance.
If you have any doubts that you just pumped your car, don’t miss your chance. Putting diesel in a petrol tank is a very bad idea. Depending on the amount of diesel injected into it, it may drive for a short time before the car knocks and begins to spatter, but it will eventually stall. Driving a car after pumping diesel is the worst idea. Because it requires serious efforts to distribute the diesel throughout the fuel line and the engine, gum up and clean up everything.
What if I just refueled with diesel
If you notice a mistake before trying to drive a vehicle, you need to do the following:
- Please do not drive. Did you clarify this? Diesel in a petrol tank is a small problem. Driving a gas vehicle on diesel fuel will be a big problem. A small amount is fine. If you put in diesel, keep it away from the igniter.
- Note the amount of diesel pumped there. This doesn’t have to be accurate, but a confused (and perhaps amusing) mechanic who will eventually help save your car has a half tank, an entire tank, or just a small amount of diesel. There it helps to know if it is mixed.
- Call the mechanic. If you are at a service station, especially if you weren’t driving a car, the kind people who work there may be able to help you. This is what needs to happen: your gas tank needs to be drained and cleaned. It will crimp your schedule and your wallet, but it’s relatively easy.
If your car makes a very worrisome noise and cools down, you don’t notice it in time and you notice a mistake a quarter mile away, you’ll need to call a tow truck to have a mechanic repair it. .. Please note that this will be expensive. Your best scenario is that the fuel system just needs drainage and cleaning. The mechanic drains the gas tank, cleans the fuel lines and fuel injectors (they need to be disassembled and removed to clear the blockage, which can be costly) and inspect everything for damage. need to do it. This can take hours and can cost as much as $ 1,000 depending on the problems you encounter with your car.
The worst case is serious damage to the car’s cylinder by trying to burn the wrong fuel. This can be incredibly expensive and can cost even more than your car is worth repairing. That’s right. If you accidentally buy $ 20 worth of diesel fuel, it can cost you a whole new car.
Again, making this mistake is not easy, but it does happen. Always be careful when handling dangerous items such as fuel.