Accidents happen

It’s pretty much the biggest shock you can get at a gas station: finding out you’ve filled your car with the wrong type of fuel. We know it’s bad for your car to put diesel in a gas car, but just how bad is it exactly?

There’s quite a big difference between the two types of fuel.

Big difference

You can get both at the gas station and if used correctly, you can drive a good amount of kilometres before having to visit one again. When you put it like this, it sounds as if there’s not much of a difference between diesel and gas, but that’s not true at all. Jake McKenzie from Auto Accessories Garage explains to Reader’s Digest: “Diesel is a much thicker substance than traditional gasoline and it is ignited by pressure rather than spark-ignition.”

Damage

A few accidental litres of diesel in your gas car can have negative consequences already. “Because of its thickness, even a small amount of diesel fuel in a gas vehicle can clog the engine’s fuel injectors, filters and lines,” Jake explains.

Advice

Did you accidentally put diesel in your gas car and did you find out just in time before driving away from the gas station? Then Jake advises you to call a garage. Have your car towed to the garage so they can remove the fuel from the tank, clean it and replace fuel filters if necessary. Jake explains: “Time is of the essence. Even if you don’t drive the vehicle, diesel fuel in the tank will still begin to clog up the fuel system, engine and injectors.” If you do drive away with diesel in your gas car you won’t get very far before your car comes to a stop.

Small chance

We all know a mistake is easily made, but the chance of you putting the wrong type of fuel into your car is pretty small. Gas stations clearly indicate which type of fuel goes with which pump.