According to the British Insurance Brokers’ Association (BIBA), every year 150,000 motorists put the wrong fuel in their car – that’s one every three minutes! The report also found that 95% of those who misfuel are diesel drivers.
And the scale of the problem has been getting bigger too, especially over the last five years with growth in diesel car sales – modern diesels are so quiet it's easy to forget you're driving one, particularly if it's a second family car or hire car.
So what should you do if you’ve put the wrong fuel in your car? First of all, don’t panic. Generally a small amount of incorrect fuel should not damage the engine as long as you have not started the car. It is crucial that you do not turn on the ignition or start the engine as this will circulate the contaminated fuel and increase the risk of damage. If your car is still under warranty you should check with the franchised dealer regarding their advice and remedial action – running with even a small amount of wrong fuel in the tank might invalidate the warranty. For other vehicles you should contact your local Good Garage Scheme member for advice, assistance and the correct remedial action.
Graeme Trudgill, BIBA Technical and Corporate Affairs Executive, said: “Nobody is immune to misfuelling, from TV celebrities like Philip Schofield to Wayne Rooney’s reported misfuelling mishap, it is easily done”.
To find your local Good Garage Scheme member, visit www.goodgaragescheme.com, and be sure to keep their contact details safe in your phone and vehicle in the event this does happen.
And the scale of the problem has been getting bigger too, especially over the last five years with growth in diesel car sales – modern diesels are so quiet it's easy to forget you're driving one, particularly if it's a second family car or hire car.
So what should you do if you’ve put the wrong fuel in your car? First of all, don’t panic. Generally a small amount of incorrect fuel should not damage the engine as long as you have not started the car. It is crucial that you do not turn on the ignition or start the engine as this will circulate the contaminated fuel and increase the risk of damage. If your car is still under warranty you should check with the franchised dealer regarding their advice and remedial action – running with even a small amount of wrong fuel in the tank might invalidate the warranty. For other vehicles you should contact your local Good Garage Scheme member for advice, assistance and the correct remedial action.
Graeme Trudgill, BIBA Technical and Corporate Affairs Executive, said: “Nobody is immune to misfuelling, from TV celebrities like Philip Schofield to Wayne Rooney’s reported misfuelling mishap, it is easily done”.
To find your local Good Garage Scheme member, visit www.goodgaragescheme.com, and be sure to keep their contact details safe in your phone and vehicle in the event this does happen.
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