Dealer puts wrong fuel in new car

[Tea Pot One]

I went to pick up a 'new' pre registered diesel Smart today ... 30 miles on it ... had driven it and thought it was great.

I paid, shook hands, drove off and it coughed and spluttered it's way up the road nearly dying. I turned around when I could and limped it back. It appears one of their staff filled it up with petrol instead of diesel yesterday ...

Seriously unimpressed but the sales staff have tried to do what they could and were genuinely mortified. It will get looked at on Tuesday when their mechanics are back in and they lent me a car in the meantime.

Do people think driving a mile on the wrong fuel for 1-2 miles means serious issues further down the line or will a full flush out be OK ??

They have offered to repair whatever is needed, give me my money back or replace with a nearly identical car - same mileage, age, colour, etc.

What are people's view on it being emptied and refilled ??

[carreauchompeur]

Stuff that... There's likely to be damage to the fuel system. Take the replacement!

[Paulm4]

Replace the car with a similar one, I wouldn't trust it after that!

[Marcellus]

I'd take the new car to be on the safe side.

[Mafioso]

Wouldn't know but I'd rather have a different car if you've been offered one.

[northandy]

Marcellus said:

I'd take the new car to be on the safe side.

This!

[Wheat]

I have no idea about the damage done or not done. Personally though I would take them up on the offer of a different car which is nearly the same. Let some other poor bd take that one! Apart from the initial problem (everyone makes mistakes, bet whoever has done it feels a fool) it sounds like they are offering you very good service. And so they should. Good luck whatever you choose to do. Keep us informed.

Edit to say: Buy an MX5 of course!!!

[Rupert Rigsby]

Or get your money back its a Smart ffs!

[LooneyTunes]

northandy said:

Marcellus said:

I'd take the new car to be on the safe side.

This!

Without even a second thought.

Why risk any damage that you don't need to?

[tbc]

REJECT IT

even if they flush it out the tiny engine in the Smart will probably have suffered

the most technical term for this is fkED

[Stuartggray]

Smart engines are pretty frail without abuse like that. Go for another one!

[valais]

They sound like a good dealer.

I'd take a near identical replacement, personally, and any difference in spec in cash or some credit towards next service (they will have more flex in the latter)

[williredale]

Fair play to the dealer. There's been a few tales of woe recently but they sound like they are being very fair to you after their mistake.

[saaby93]

Marcellus said:

I'd take the new car to be on the safe side.

How do you know they haven't done the same with that too?

[IforB]

Either take the refubd or the replacement, do not keep it.

Whilst you might get away with it, there is a strong possibility of problems in the long run.

[The Moose]

There are hundreds of cars misfueled each year and they don't seem to have problems moving forward. Having said that, I'd still take the replacement vehicle...especially if you can get it as a higher spec

[Agrispeed]

Doesn't diesel lubricate the fuel pump? therefore if there was petrol in it it could cause the pump to wear and emit metal shavings (or so I was told, I'm not sure about the last bit)...


However my mother has run her diesel fiat on petrol until it stopped twice and its still ok...

[Tea Pot One]

Thanks for the comments everyone - I have emailed the dealer asking for the alternative car so lets see what happens.

[GoodDoc]

Agrispeed said:

Doesn't diesel lubricate the fuel pump?

It depends, common rail engines use the diesel to lubricate the fuel system, but older engines (including those with Unit injectors) use engine oil to lubricate the fuel pumps/injectors.

Agrispeed said:

However my mother has run her diesel fiat on petrol until it stopped twice and its still ok...

Mis fuel a common rail engine and you may need to replace the entire fuel system, misfuel an older engine and you need to replace the filters, may explain why your mother's Fiat keeps going despite multiple attempts to run it on petrol.

[Tea Pot One]

Car rejected ... the replacement hopefully arrives tomorrow