Unlike petrol pumps, diesel fuel nozzles are larger in diameter which makes it physically harder to put diesel in a petrol car — but it does happen. When diesel enters a petrol fuel system it coats the fuel lines, injectors, spark plugs and catalytic converter with a thick oily residue.

If the engine is started the diesel is ignited incorrectly causing misfiring, stalling, excessive smoke and potentially serious damage to your catalytic converter and spark plugs — components that are expensive to replace.

The good news — if you catch it early and don’t start the engine, a complete fuel drain and flush will resolve the issue with no lasting damage in most cases.

Diesel is thicker and oilier than petrol. In a petrol fuel system it can clog fuel filters, foul spark plugs, and coat fuel injectors. If the engine has been started and run on diesel-contaminated fuel, black smoke from the exhaust is common and the engine may misfire, stall or run very roughly.

The good news — if you haven’t started the engine, a complete fuel drain and flush can resolve the problem with no lasting damage. Call Rapid Fuel Assist immediately and we’ll come directly to your location.