Diesel in petrol car Melbourne
Call us now. We come to you and fix it on the spot.
Diesel in a petrol car is less common than the other way round, but just as serious. We drain and flush the fuel system wherever you are, at the servo, on the roadside or at home. We aim to reach you within 30 to 60 minutes across Melbourne, 7 days a week.
First things first
1
Don't start the engine
Starting it pulls diesel into the engine.
2
Stay with your vehicle
Wait somewhere safe nearby.
3
Turn on your hazard lights
Stay visible at the pump.
4
Call us on 1300 692 469
Tap to call. We come straight to you.
What you need to know
Petrol engines use spark plugs to ignite a light, fast-burning fuel. Diesel is thicker and oilier and doesn’t ignite properly from a spark, so it fouls the spark plugs, coats the injectors and clogs the fuel filter. Run for long enough, it can damage the catalytic converter.
The good news: it is fully recoverable
If you caught it at the bowser before starting the engine, a complete drain and flush fixes it with no lasting damage. Even if it has been started, we fix it right there at the roadside.
Already started it? Still call us
We recently got a Hummer H2 stretch limo running at the servo after it was driven out on a tank of diesel. It took a drain, a flush, new spark plugs and plenty of patience, but it made its booking that night.
How to tell
If you are not sure what went in, look out for these. Stop and call us if you notice any of them.
The engine cranks but won’t fire, or struggles to start.
It misfires, runs roughly or cuts out soon after starting.
Thick black or grey smoke from the exhaust as the diesel burns.
Engine, fuel system or loss of power warnings on the dash.
Our process
Our specialist team comes to your exact location across Melbourne and does a complete fuel system drain and flush. Every job includes:
Step 1
We drain all the contaminated fuel with specialist equipment. No mess, no spills, and all waste disposed of under EPA Victoria rules.
Step 2
We flush the fuel lines and system to remove every trace of diesel before refuelling.
Step 3
If the engine was started, the plugs can be fouled with diesel. We check them and replace them where needed.
Step 4
We put clean petrol in, restart it, check everything over and test drive it before we hand it back.
Most jobs take around 45 minutes from when we arrive to when you drive away.
Real diesel in petrol jobs
Real jobs from across Melbourne and regional Victoria, from engines never started to cars driven off the pump.
GreenvaleA Hummer H2 stretch limo was filled with diesel at the Liberty servo in Greenvale. The driver pulled out, realised straight away something was wrong, and brought it back in.
We drained the tank, flushed the fuel system and fitted new spark plugs. It took plenty of cranking before it fired, then it blew out a big cloud of smoke as the diesel burnt off, and it was running just in time for a booking that night.
SeafordA petrol Toyota HiAce was filled with diesel at a servo in Seaford. Luckily the driver realised before starting the engine and called us.
Because the engine was never started, the diesel stayed in the tank. That made it a straightforward job: we drained the tank, flushed the fuel system and put clean petrol in.
We then started it, checked everything over and test drove it. This is the best case with any wrong fuel: don't start it, and call 1300 692 469.
SaleA Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid from the Victorian Department of Government Services (DGS) fleet was filled with diesel by mistake and driven off the pump. Luckily it was only driven a short distance before the driver stopped.
Because it had been driven, we did a full assessment first, then flushed and cleaned the fuel system and checked everything over.
We got the Santa Fe back on the road so the DGS team could carry on with their day. Even after driving, most cars are still a roadside fix if you stop early and call us.
GembrookThe owner of a Mitsubishi Outlander plug-in hybrid filled it with diesel. They did not start the engine or drive it afterwards at all, which was the best thing they could have done.
We came to them in Gembrook and completed our full clean of the fuel system, then put fresh petrol in.
We then started it, tested and checked everything, and they were back on their way. Plug-in hybrids are sensitive, so not starting it made all the difference.
All we do is wrong fuel
Not tyre changes, not jump starts, not general roadside work. Every single callout is a wrong fuel job, and the equipment, technique and speed all come from doing this exact job day in, day out across Melbourne.
1,000+
wrong fuel jobs every year
On the spot
no tow truck and no workshop
Fixed price
quoted over the phone before we dispatch
Jobs we see every day
Petrol cars filled at the truck bay pumps. Hire cars and work cars where the driver is used to a diesel. Big petrol V8s and limos. We see diesel in petrol cars right across Melbourne, and the earlier we get there, the simpler the job.
When you call, you speak directly to the technician attending your job. We tell you honestly what we find and don’t leave until the vehicle is running. We can also provide paperwork for warranty, insurance or fleet records.
Our diesel in petrol services include
We come to you
Trusted. Licensed. Transparent.
1000+
cars fixed every year
EPA
EPA permitted, all waste is handled responsibly
FIXED
pricing guaranteed
$0
card fees ever
no surcharges,
no surprises
Insured
fully licensed and insured
100%
Australian owned
proudly local
Got a question?
Both are serious but in different ways. Petrol in a diesel car damages the fuel pump and injectors rapidly due to lack of lubrication. Diesel in a petrol car causes misfiring, smoke and can damage spark plugs and the catalytic converter if the engine is started. In both cases the key is to not start the engine and call us immediately on 1300 692 469.
Not always — diesel and petrol can look similar. The easiest way to tell is by the fuel pump colour and nozzle size — diesel nozzles are larger and usually green or black. If you’re unsure whether you’ve filled with the wrong fuel don’t start the engine and call us on 1300 692 469 — we’ll help you identify the issue.
Most diesel in petrol car jobs take around 45 minutes from when we arrive to when you’re driving away again. Some are quicker and some take longer. Times can vary depending on your vehicle’s fuel system and how much diesel was added. We’ll give you a realistic estimate when you call.
If the engine was run briefly on diesel there is a risk of catalytic converter damage. However the extent depends on how long it was run. Call us immediately — the sooner we drain the system the better the outcome. We’ll assess the situation on arrival and advise you honestly on any potential damage.
Pull over somewhere safe, switch it off and don’t restart it. Diesel won’t ignite properly from a spark, so the engine will run rougher the longer it goes. We fix it at the roadside: drain, flush and check the plugs. Call 1300 692 469. For more, read the difference between petrol in diesel and diesel in petrol.
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