Misfuelling your car can be a very costly mistake. Not only do you have to pay for the fuel you have put in, but you will also have to have it drained out of your car and filled with the correct fuel. To avoid any misfuelling mishaps, here are some helpful tips on how to prevent misfuelling your car.
1. Be Mindful of What Type of Fuel Your Car Needs
Different cars require different fuel types, so it’s important to know and understand which fuel your car needs. This information can usually be found in the owner’s manual or the fuel cap.
2. Familiarise Yourself with the Fuel Pumps at the Gas Station
Most fuel pumps have different colours and labels indicating the type of fuel they contain. Pay attention to the colours, labels, and signs at the gas station to ensure you select the correct fuel for your car.
3. When You Are Selecting the Fuel, Make Sure to Double-Check the Fuel Cap
Before selecting the fuel, double-check that the fuel cap matches the fuel you select. If the fuel cap does not match the fuel type you are selecting, do not proceed with fueling your car.
4. Be Mindful of the Fuel You’ve Put Before
It is also important to be mindful of the fuel you have put in your car in the past. If you have filled your car with the wrong fuel in the past, it is best to make a conscious effort to ensure that you are using the correct fuel next time.
What Amount of Wrong Fuel Is Considered Safe?
The question of how much wrong fuel is considered safe is important for drivers who have accidentally filled up their cars with the wrong fuel. This is because the wrong fuel can cause significant damage to a car’s engine. However, it is possible to safely drive a vehicle with a certain amount of wrong fuel in it.
It is recommended that if you have accidentally put a small amount of wrong fuel in your car, it is safe to drive. This is because a small amount of wrong fuel is unlikely to cause any significant damage to the engine, and you should be able to make it home or to a garage without any problems.
The amount of wrong fuel considered safe to drive will depend on the wrong fuel type and engine size. Generally, gasoline engines are more tolerant of wrong fuel than diesel engines. For gasoline engines, a safe amount of wrong fuel is usually considered up to 10% of the total fuel in the tank. For diesel engines, the safe amount of wrong fuel is usually up to 5% of the total fuel in the tank.
If you have accidentally put more than the recommended amount of wrong fuel in your car, it is not safe to drive. You should have the fuel drained and replaced with the correct fuel as soon as possible. If you drive with too much wrong fuel in your car, it can cause irreversible damage to the engine and potentially lead to a breakdown.
Conclusion
Preventing misfuelling is an essential step to protect your vehicle. To avoid any potential damage, it is important to be aware of the fuel your vehicle requires and only use the correct type. While it is possible to drive a short distance with the wrong fuel, it is not recommended to do so, as it can cause significant damage to your vehicle. If you do mistakenly fill your vehicle with the wrong fuel, contact a fuel draining specialist immediately to have the wrong fuel removed.
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