Wrong fuel
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Discussion

Summerdru

Original Poster:

1 posts

33 months

Tuesday 2nd January 2024
quotequote all
I picked up my courtesy car which I've had for a week now. Needed to put fuel in for the first time since I have had it. I asked before I left with the car is it petrol the lady replied yes it is. So I put petrol in I drove 1 minute down the road and the car wasn't running smoothly. When the Rac came he told me it was diseal but he could only tell by opening the bonnet it was not labelled when you opend the cap. Who is a fault here I had to pay £250 for someone to come and flush it out.

BoRED S2upid

21,057 posts

270 months

Tuesday 2nd January 2024
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Nothing at all to inform you it’s not petrol? Nothing on the fuel filler cap? A TDi badge on the back? I’m sure these things are factory fitted there is usually a clue.

Dog Star

17,606 posts

198 months

Tuesday 2nd January 2024
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If I were you OP I’d just take the £250 on the chin and keep quiet about it.

Some people get very very funny about misfuellingvand think you need to replace the entire fuel injection system which can cost thousands and will also cancel the warranty. Your courtesy car people might be the same.

Personally I’d keep very quiet about it and just chalk it up to experience.

Do not say anything.

Triumph Man

9,605 posts

198 months

Tuesday 2nd January 2024
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Tachometer not give a clue?

I agree with Dog Star - pay the £250 and titter about it around the dinner table in years to come.

Sycamore

2,203 posts

148 months

Tuesday 2nd January 2024
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I'd not be telling them you put the wrong fuel in their car..... Just write off the £250.

Did you get any paperwork or receipts with the car? I'd think that'd tell you the fuel type no?

GeniusOfLove

5,768 posts

42 months

Tuesday 2nd January 2024
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I thought the kids were back in school today?

Richard-390a0

3,517 posts

121 months

Tuesday 2nd January 2024
quotequote all
Summerdru said:
I picked up my courtesy car which I've had for a week now. Needed to put fuel in for the first time since I have had it. I asked before I left with the car is it petrol the lady replied yes it is. So I put petrol in I drove 1 minute down the road and the car wasn't running smoothly. When the Rac came he told me it was diseal but he could only tell by opening the bonnet it was not labelled when you opend the cap. Who is a fault here I had to pay £250 for someone to come and flush it out.
No glowplug warning light on the dash or warning by the fuel cap?. Jackanory post quoted before the flounce...

Felix Leiter

4 posts

33 months

Tuesday 2nd January 2024
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I'd be paying the £250 and keeping schtum if it were me.


the-norseman

15,831 posts

201 months

Tuesday 2nd January 2024
quotequote all
he could only tell by opening the bonnet... or looking at the rev counter.

AW111

9,674 posts

163 months

Tuesday 2nd January 2024
quotequote all
Dog Star said:
If I were you OP I’d just take the £250 on the chin and keep quiet about it.

Some people get very very funny about misfuellingvand think you need to replace the entire fuel injection system which can cost thousands and will also cancel the warranty. Your courtesy car people might be the same.

Personally I’d keep very quiet about it and just chalk it up to experience.

Do not say anything.
Guy at work filled his high-end diesel (I forget what make) with petrol a decade back on a delivery trip.
Cost thousands, as apparently the un-lubricated fuel pump filled the injection system with metal filings before it stopped running (fully loaded and towing at highway speeds).

New fuel pump, lines, and injectors.

AW111

9,674 posts

163 months

Tuesday 2nd January 2024
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I assume the future version of this tale is "I charged my DC car on AC and now it won't start".

TikTak

3,081 posts

49 months

Tuesday 2nd January 2024
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I mean there must have been signs, I'd be shocked if you can say nothing told you at all. That said a courtesy might just be a stock car, rather than labelled up like a rental so I guess it could be easier to make this mistake.

However if you'd only put in say 1/4 or 1/2 a tank and not had it drained, I'd of brimmed it with diesel, kept quiet and just got on with it, no one would have been any the wiser.

I suppose it's too late if you had it drained, so just suck it up and don't tell them.


Tyrell Corp

258 posts

50 months

Tuesday 2nd January 2024
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AW111 said:
I assume the future version of this tale is "I charged my DC car on AC and now it won't start".
Mis-fueling not exactly unheard of, a regular occurrence at any filling station. I suspect rentals, fleet, courtesy cars and new owners probably the biggest culprits here.

I even managed to accidentally put a litre of diesel in my triumph stag - just brimmed the tank with petrol and no problems.

Radec

5,965 posts

77 months

Tuesday 2nd January 2024
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I get quite a lot of hire cars for work.

It's the first thing I do is check the paperwork for type of fuel and even as far as putting the reg in eurocar parts website and see what fuel type it comes back with.

Normally it's also on the keychain

Baldchap

9,627 posts

122 months

Tuesday 2nd January 2024
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You can surely tell by the noise, the rev counter and the disappointment.

Freddie Fitch

190 posts

101 months

Tuesday 2nd January 2024
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OP had the presence of mind to ask whether it was petrol or diesel.
I think we need a photo to show that there was no diesel sticker inside the fuel cap cover.
But I'm back to the school holidays hypothesis.

edthefed

828 posts

97 months

Tuesday 2nd January 2024
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Whoever put the wrong fuel in thew car is to blame !

Accept responsibility for YOUR actions !

Pica-Pica

16,608 posts

114 months

Tuesday 2nd January 2024
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Baldchap said:
You can surely tell by the noise, the rev counter and the disappointment.
Yes, 0 to 60 in 4.8 secs makes me very disappointing!

75Black

1,100 posts

112 months

Tuesday 2nd January 2024
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Don't worry about the £250, schools are back on soon anyway!

Tyrell Corp

258 posts

50 months

Tuesday 2nd January 2024
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Baldchap said:
You can surely tell by the noise, the rev counter and the disappointment.
Actually had to ask a cabbie recently what fuel his cab was, assuming it was petrol; modern diesels are so quiet and smooth now it isn't always that obvious these days.