It might not be something that people own up to all that much but people fill their cars with the wrong type of fuel all the time.

                                               

It might happen if you are getting used to a new car or simply daydreaming but it can be very bad for your vehicle...

1. A small amount of the wrong fuel should not damage your car so if you realise soon after you start filling, you might just get away with your mistake. If you have put less than 10 per cent of the wrong fuel into your car and have not started it, you should get away with filling the tank up with the correct fuel (if the manufacturer advises differently, follow their instructions).

 

2. Putting a lot of petrol into a diesel car or diesel into a petrol car is not good. In fact it is very bad and could lead to you having to get a completely new engine so if it does happen, do not start your car. If you turn on the ignition this will circulate the fuel and could cause more damage to your vehicle.

3. Call for help. If you are a member of the AA, they will be able to tell you what to do next. Most likely, if you have filled your car over 10 per cent the engine will have to be drained and refilled with the correct fuel.

 

4. Nowadays most diesel nozzles are bigger than the filler neck on petrol cars therefore diesel into petrol is a less common occurrence. But you can ensure that it doesn’t happen to you by checking and double-checking what fuel your car takes. Most cars will have a label beside the filler neck so be sure, not sorry.

Check back here for weekly driving tips, with thanks to MSL Ballsbridge