Did you put the wrong fuel in your car?

Imagine this: you’ve just filled up at a petrol station late at night, hit the road, and suddenly your engine sputters and loses power. You pull over, check the receipt and realise you’ve pumped the...

Misfuelling your car might feel like a small mistake, but the costs can add up fast if you don’t act quickly. From fuel pump damage to full engine replacement, a few minutes of driving after adding...

Picture this: you’ve just filled up, driven a few kilometres down the road, and suddenly your car starts jerking or losing power. Then it hits you, you might have used the wrong fuel.
Your first instinct might be to “just drive it out,” but that’s one of the worst things you can do. Here’s why driving after misfuelling can cause serious and expensive damage, and what to do instead.

What Happens When You Start the Engine
The moment you start the car, the wrong fuel begins circulating through your system. That includes:
Fuel lines
Filters
Injectors
Pump
Combustion chamber
Each of these parts is engineered for a specific fuel type. Mixing petrol and diesel throws off the entire process, leading to friction, corrosion, and in many cases total engine failure.

Petrol in a Diesel Engine
This is the most damaging type of misfuelling. Diesel acts as a lubricant for your fuel system, but petrol strips away that lubrication. When you start the car:
The metal components grind together, causing premature wear.
The injectors may seize or fail.
The fuel pump can overheat or break.
Eventually, the engine could seize completely.
Even a small amount of petrol can cause irreversible harm if the engine runs long enough.

Diesel in a Petrol Engine
While this mistake isn’t quite as catastrophic, it’s still risky. Diesel doesn’t vaporise like petrol, which means it clogs spark plugs and fuel filters. The result?
Poor ignition
Rough idling
Smoke from the exhaust
Engine misfiring or stalling
Driving further only pushes the diesel deeper into your system, making the cleanup more difficult.

How Quickly Damage Happens
Damage begins as soon as the wrong fuel reaches the fuel pump. For most vehicles, that’s almost instantly after starting the engine. The more you drive, the more widespread the contamination becomes and the more expensive the repair.

The Right Response: Stop, Don’t Start
If you suspect you’ve misfuelled:
Do not turn on the ignition.
If you’ve already started the car, pull over safely and turn it off.
Call Wrong Fuel Recovery & Mobile Mechanic at 0422 987 222 for immediate roadside assistance.

Our 24/7 mobile team will:
Drain the wrong fuel safely
Clean and flush the entire system
Refill with the correct fuel
Inspect for any damage
Most of the time, if you stop early enough, no lasting damage will occur.

Why Call the Professionals?
Draining the wrong fuel yourself is dangerous and illegal at many fuel stations. It requires special vacuum equipment and safe disposal of contaminated fuel.
Our technicians are fully equipped and trained for on-site misfuel recovery, ensuring your car is handled safely and your engine stays protected.
Driving after misfuelling can turn a simple mistake into a major expense. But stopping right away and calling the experts can save your car and your wallet.
At Wrong Fuel Recovery & Mobile Mechanic, we’re ready to respond 24/7 with fast, professional roadside fuel drain services anywhere in Australia.
Call 0422 987 222 now or visit our website to request immediate wrong fuel assistance. One call could save your engine.