PETROL IN
A DIESEL CAR?
Don’t turn on the ignition.
Mobile petrol-in-diesel fuel drains across Ayrshire. Call with your vehicle details and location for advice, a quote and an arrival estimate.
CALL NOW: 01563 614247 ↗
Why petrol in a diesel tank needs attention
Diesel helps lubricate parts of a diesel vehicle’s fuel system. Adding petrol changes the mixture and can reduce that protection. If contaminated fuel circulates, components such as the pump and injectors may be affected. The practical step is to leave the ignition off and arrange an assessment, rather than trying to judge the risk from the amount added.
Caught it before starting the engine?
Leave the vehicle as it is, replace the nozzle and let forecourt staff know. Do not start it to clear the pump or add more diesel. Call with the registration or make and model, the approximate amount of petrol and the filling station location. Tell us if the ignition was switched on even though the engine never started.
Symptoms after driving on the wrong fuel
Rough running, unusual knocking, smoke, loss of power, warning lights or the engine cutting out can follow a misfuel. They are not a reliable way to judge how much damage has occurred. Stop safely, switch off and do not attempt another start. Describe the symptoms and how far the car travelled when you call.
A petrol-in-diesel drain and flush
Our mobile fuel drain fleet comes to a suitable location in Ayrshire. After checking the contamination and agreeing the price, the technician drains the incorrect fuel and carries out the appropriate flush and checks. Work on a vehicle that has already run can be more involved than work on a vehicle that remained switched off. Any finding that changes the work required is explained to you.
Small amounts and diesel top-ups
Do not use a generic percentage or an online dilution rule to decide the vehicle is safe to drive. The fuel system, amount already in the tank and whether the ignition was used all matter. Adding more diesel does not remove the petrol and increases the volume that may need to be extracted. Ask us about your particular vehicle before doing anything further.
Cars, diesel vans and company vehicles
The same engine-off instruction applies to a diesel van or a borrowed vehicle. If the vehicle belongs to an employer, hire company or fleet, tell the responsible person and keep the fuel receipt. We provide a written job report after the work. Call for an arrival estimate in Ayr, Kilmarnock, Irvine or another Ayrshire location; we confirm availability for the exact address.
FROM THE FIRST CALL
TO THE FINAL CHECK.
We ask the right questions.
Your location, vehicle, what was added and whether the engine ran. We discuss availability and an arrival estimate.
We assess your vehicle.
The technician checks the contamination, explains the proposed work and discusses the quote.
We drain, flush and check.
We remove the contaminated fuel, carry out the appropriate flush and operational checks, and provide a job report.
Will the engine need replacing?
A misfuel does not automatically mean an engine replacement. The outcome depends on the vehicle, contamination and what happened afterwards. The technician assesses the situation before recommending work.
Can I drive a short distance to a garage?
Do not drive on the contaminated fuel. Leave the engine off and call to discuss a mobile visit to the vehicle’s current location.
Does every petrol-in-diesel job need the same procedure?
No. Vehicle layout, contamination and whether the fuel has circulated affect the work. We explain the appropriate procedure and quote after assessing the vehicle.