It is quite a simple mistake to put the wrong fuel in by putting unleaded petrol in a diesel car. If you make such a mistake, just know that it has become more commonplace for a motorist to do just that; filling their diesel cars with petrol.
There are various factors that contribute to that like:
- Motorists have to switch from petrol to diesel cars and then suffer a memory lapse while at the pump
- Having to borrow someone’s diesel car or having to hire a diesel car when what you used normally is a petrol car
- Color code of the pump nozzle confusion especially for foreigners
- Poor concentration due to fatigue
- Work or life pressure as well as stress that is caused by distraction momentarily
So in case the worst happens and you fill up accidentally your diesel car fuel tank with unleaded petrol, what you expect to happen to the engine of your vehicle is a great problem.
What happens whenever the diesel is placed in the petrol fuel system?
There are various problems which are caused by the unleaded petrol being in the fuel system of the diesel engine. The first one is that unleaded petrol doesn’t have similar lubricating qualities as compared to diesel fuel which means that if you try running a fuel pump with the unleaded petrol in it, there will be no lubrication where the metal and metal components contact inside the pump body and it could lead to components ending up grinding each other, producing small fragments of the metal that further ends up contaminating the petrol. The sharp, small fragments of metal will work their way via the fuel system of the car which causes further damage to various components and thus further blockage.
The other detrimental property that the unleaded petrol could cause is that it acts as a solvent and thus, might damage the fuel system seals which normally cannot be replaced without having to replace the whole component that is affected.
In the majority of cases, in case the diesel engine of a car starts and the vehicle gets driven after it is filled with the wrong type of fuel, then it will be able to run for a short period before the effects of the same kick in and later, it stalls. The normal cause of the stalling is the small metal particles which get in the petrol, blocking the diesel engine injectors, it starves the engine of getting any fuel.
Experts’ advice You shouldn’t start the engine and what should you do in case you have already started it? If you realize that you have placed the wrong fuel while you are in the act, you should never start the engine. You shouldn’t even lock or unlock the car as certain diesel cars utilize low-pressure electric fuel pumps which get primed whenever the ignition is turned on or whatever electrical activity which takes place with eh vehicle like unlocking.
