What Happens If You Put the Wrong Fuel in Your Car?
2 Answers
Putting the wrong fuel in a car can lead to issues such as insufficient power, a sharp increase in fuel consumption, and in some vehicles, the engine malfunction indicator light may come on, or even cause the engine to stall and fail to start. Below are the recommended solutions for handling the wrong fuel: In cases of different fuel grades: If you accidentally use a higher-grade fuel instead of a lower-grade one, there is generally no major issue. However, if you use a significantly lower-grade fuel than required or add too much of it, it is advisable to drain the fuel tank or purchase relevant fuel additives to improve fuel quality. In cases of mistakenly adding diesel to a gasoline car: It is best to promptly contact an auto repair shop to clean the fuel tank and fuel system, as well as to inspect the engine.
Once at a gas station, I saw a novice driver accidentally fill a gasoline car with diesel. The car made a clattering noise upon starting and couldn't move at all. This is a serious issue because diesel and gasoline have different properties: gasoline engines rely on spark ignition, while diesel engines ignite through high compression. Adding diesel can clog the fuel system, jam the injectors, and cause severe engine vibration, potentially leading to complete engine failure in severe cases. I immediately advised him not to start the engine and called a tow truck to take the car to a repair shop for fuel tank and line cleaning, which cost over a thousand dollars to fix. Always double-check the fuel pump label before refueling—don't rush to insert the nozzle. Confirm whether your car runs on gasoline or diesel. The engine is the heart of the vehicle, and using the wrong fuel means paying for costly repairs unnecessarily. Remember, taking an extra second to verify at the pump saves you a lot of trouble later—it's safer and more economical.