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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Help! I put petrol in diesel car

138 replies

WhatdoIdoooooo · 15/08/2024 14:22

Nightmare.

Just been to the petrol station, car was on v low no petrol (I know I know)
Our car has been in the garage for a while, so we’ve had a hire car-a petrol one (ours is Diesel)
I only had enough in my purse to put €10 in and by accident I put petrol in, instead of Diesel. Thankfully I realised my mistake when I was putting the pump back and didn’t start the car.
I went in to ask for help, they recommended I go to the garage nearby, then saw it was shut for lunch, I had to move my car out of the way, so people would have to help push 😩
The woman there said I hadn’t put much petrol in so if I was to put a lot of Diesel in it might be ok. I managed to convince them to let me put €50 in so I could drive home and get the €50 and bring it back to them. The car started and I managed to do this, car was running ok, is the car ok now??? Or do I need to do more? Have messsged Dh but he’s at work and hasn’t seen the message yet

OP posts:
thursdaymurderclub · 16/08/2024 16:17

afraid i did this... full take of petrol in a diesal... cost me about sixty quid, only realised when my car shuddered and stopped! a lovely 5 hour wait for recovery in the pooring rain. tank drained and they refilled.... an expensive mistake i hope to not make again

Whammyammy · 16/08/2024 16:20

Fill it up with diesel and you'll be ok. When we lived in labrador and new foundland (years ago) most people put a few litres of petrol in their diesel cars to stop the diesel freezing into a slight slush.

So long as it's not diesel in a petrol car

Astonmaid · 16/08/2024 16:49

SweetBirdsong · 16/08/2024 15:59

@Astonmaid

Of course it's not 'a very different situation.' WTF are you going on about?!

OP put petrol in a diesel car, I put diesel in a petrol car!

The situation is virtually the same! I put the wrong fuel in my car too.

Yeah, the damage done to a diesel car by putting petrol in it, will be worse than the damage done to a petrol car if you put diesel into it, but they will both suffer damage if you drive off with the wrong fuel in.

Were you half asleep when you typed this? Or did you mean to respond to someone else?! Because you comment to me makes no sense. Confused

Show quote history

You put diesel in a petrol car. It has a very different effect to petrol in a diesel car and you've made yourself look a bit daft. 😅

Balloonhearts · 16/08/2024 17:16

It's only a little bit, at that ratio, I don't think it'll cause an issue. Diesel in a petrol car would fuck you over but a small amount of petrol in a diesel car you'll get away with. Just keep topping it off with diesel regularly, don't let it run down, dilute it as much as possible.

Motomum23 · 16/08/2024 17:28

Petrol into diesel is OK. Its diesel into petrol than causes problems. Just dilute the petrol with diesel and it will be fine.

Astonmaid · 16/08/2024 18:20

Motomum23 · 16/08/2024 17:28

Petrol into diesel is OK. Its diesel into petrol than causes problems. Just dilute the petrol with diesel and it will be fine.

Oh please stop! RTFT before you give out incorrect advice. Just use Google -

Putting diesel in a petrol car is less serious than putting petrol in a diesel car. After starting your engine, the diesel will coat spark plugs and the fuel system, which often leads to misfiring. Your engine may give off smoke, cut out, or fail to start at all. You should drain the fuel system as soon as possible.5 Apr 2024

I'm out, if Op can't work out what they need to do by now there's no hope. 😂

Magnastorm · 16/08/2024 18:55

Motomum23 · 16/08/2024 17:28

Petrol into diesel is OK. Its diesel into petrol than causes problems. Just dilute the petrol with diesel and it will be fine.

Someone else who has no idea.

SweetBirdsong · 16/08/2024 20:10

Astonmaid · 16/08/2024 16:49

You put diesel in a petrol car. It has a very different effect to petrol in a diesel car and you've made yourself look a bit daft. 😅

Edited
Show quote history

WTF are you banging on about?! Confused

I put the wrong fuel in my car. So as I said, I DID do the same thing as the OP. Why are you drivelling on about the difference between petrol and diesel?! What I put in my car and what the OP put in hers is irrelevant. I did the same thing as her!

YOU are the one who is 'looking a bit daft' as well as obnoxious and rude with your sneering, and how you are talking down to people. Not just me but other posters too, with your superiority complex! Who do you think you are? 🙄

Will you just go away and stop hounding me! What is your problem?! I wasn't even talking to you, I was talking to the OP!

I'm ignoring you from now on. Just leave me alone! 🙄
.

Bogginsthe3rd · 16/08/2024 21:38

SweetBirdsong · 16/08/2024 20:10

WTF are you banging on about?! Confused

I put the wrong fuel in my car. So as I said, I DID do the same thing as the OP. Why are you drivelling on about the difference between petrol and diesel?! What I put in my car and what the OP put in hers is irrelevant. I did the same thing as her!

YOU are the one who is 'looking a bit daft' as well as obnoxious and rude with your sneering, and how you are talking down to people. Not just me but other posters too, with your superiority complex! Who do you think you are? 🙄

Will you just go away and stop hounding me! What is your problem?! I wasn't even talking to you, I was talking to the OP!

I'm ignoring you from now on. Just leave me alone! 🙄
.

Edited
Show quote history

I think you mean the opposite ? Either way you should drain tank.

LostMySocks · 16/08/2024 21:45

I did this with a works car and drove 50miles before I realised.
Petrol in a diesel usually ok as petrol floats on diesel. In ski resorts they put some petrol in Diesels to stop fuel freezing.
Diesel in petrol is a complete no no as fuel sinks and diesel not good for a petrol engine

UprootedSunflower · 16/08/2024 21:49

Depends how old it is.
My 22nd yr old diesel doesn’t mind a bit of petrol (or even cooking oil tbh) but the newer ones are more sensitive. If it’s driven home at this point I’d just keep the tank very full for a bit and hope

Notamum12345577 · 16/08/2024 22:57

WhatdoIdoooooo · 16/08/2024 09:41

@Astonmaid Its an older car does that make a difference

Yes, older diesel engines were tougher

Original poster
WhatdoIdoooooo · 16/08/2024 23:48

Thanks anyone trying to help, such contrasting opinions though-very confusing! Dh went to the mechanic and he says it should be ok due to the ratio and year of car. We have to keep topping up and not let it get low. So far there has been zero problems 🙏

OP posts:
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