Wrong Fuel Recovery Kilkenny
Putting the wrong fuel in a car is one of the most common mistakes at the pump, and it happens at every filling station in Kilkenny every week. Petrol in a diesel is the dangerous one: petrol strips the lubrication from the high pressure fuel pump and injectors, and a few minutes of running can turn a drain-and-flush into a repair bill in the thousands.
If you realise at the pump, do not start the engine. Do not even turn the key to the accessory position on some cars, because the fuel pump primes. Push the car clear of the pump if you can, and ring Kilkenny Recovery Truck on 087 288 2280. We recover the car to Webster's Garage or your own mechanic for draining and flushing.
What to do the moment you realise
- Do not start the engine. If it is already running, pull over safely and switch it off as soon as you can.
- Do not turn the ignition on, even to move the car a few feet.
- Tell the filling station staff. They will help you push the car to a safe spot.
- Note roughly how much of the wrong fuel went in and how much of the right fuel was already in the tank.
- Call 087 288 2280. We will recover the car on the flatbed so nothing is pumped through the system.
Petrol in a diesel car
This is the serious one. Diesel acts as a lubricant for the injection pump and injectors. Petrol does the opposite, so metal runs on metal. If the engine has not been started, a full drain and flush is usually all that is needed. If it has been driven, the pump, injectors, rail and filter may need replacing, and the cost climbs quickly. Speed matters: recover the car, do not drive it.
Diesel in a petrol car
Less damaging but still a problem. The car will usually run roughly, misfire and produce a lot of smoke before it stops. The tank has to be drained, the fuel system flushed and the spark plugs and possibly the catalytic converter checked. Again, the less it is driven, the cheaper the fix.
Draining and flushing at Webster's Garage
Once recovered to Three Castles the tank is drained, the fuel lines and filter are flushed, the correct fuel is added, and the car is run and checked. On a car that has not been started this is normally a same-day job. We dispose of the contaminated fuel correctly.
- Hazard lights on and, if it is safe, roll the car in off the road or into a gateway.
- At night or in bad weather, stay visible: hi-vis vest, sidelights on, warning triangle well back.
- Keep passengers away from the road, especially on narrow county roads with no verge.
- Send us your Eircode or a Google Maps pin so we find you first time.
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How wrong fuel recovery works with us
Wrong Fuel Recovery in Kilkenny: common questions
I only put a few litres of petrol in my diesel. Is it OK to drive?
No. Even small amounts of petrol reduce the lubrication the pump relies on. Modern common rail diesels are especially sensitive. The safe answer is always to drain the tank before starting.
I started the car and drove a bit before I noticed. What now?
Stop as soon as it is safe, switch off, and call us. The sooner the car stops running on the wrong fuel, the lower the repair bill is likely to be.
Does my insurance cover wrong fuel?
Some comprehensive policies cover misfuelling damage, many do not. Check your policy. Recovery and draining are often cheaper than the policy excess in any event.
Can you drain the fuel at the filling station forecourt?
No. Draining fuel on a forecourt is not permitted for safety reasons. We recover the car to the garage where it can be done safely and the fuel disposed of properly.