This should be the word of the day!! My lack of concentration this morning nearly caused me an expensive problem with my car. I went to the garage to fill up as the tank was nearly on empty. I had been talking to my sister about the price of diesel and there was an item in this morning's news about diesel cars loosing value as they are such bad air polluters. Not sure where my brain was as I suddenly realised I was putting unleaded petrol into my car and not diesel!! I could have cried!! I have never been so careless in my life!! Luckily - I think - I had only put 7 litres in the car and the attendants assured me it would be ok if I topped my car up with Diesel and just keep going in for a top up to keep the two well mixed. I was frightened I would damage the engine but they reassured me that it would be ok. I hope this is the case!! For goodness sake I must concentrate on what I am doing and not do things on auto pilot while looking around for something to take a photo of!!
Oh Pam don't feel alone... a few years back now I brimmed my diesel car up with unleaded fuel... I only realised when I noticed that the pump hose that I replaced was green. Lucky I didn't start the engine... cost me a fortune to get the tank drained and refuelled!!
You were lucky
@newbank Haha!!! So have I -- in Yugoslavia, when the car stopped on the top of a mountain as useless as can be. Jim and our friend had to hitch a ride into the nearest town. My other friend and I stayed in a teeny area with a shadow in about 100 degree weather, with the car. All a nightmare. But unlike you, Pam, we didn't notice and it was too late! You'll be fine, I'm sure. I like the image -- like your car has a tummy ache!
Been there, done that and got the tee-shirt with a motor-bike. Have been ultra-careful ever since!! I have heard the same advice about cocktailing the fuel and think you should be all right. Fingers crossed, it's so easy to have such a momentary lapse of concentration.
Oh no! My husband did that 2 years ago. If I was you I would check what the attendants said is correct because it may be costly if it's not. My hubby had to have the tank drained which cost him.
I had a similar, but opposite, experience when I rented the Harley in Australia last year. I filled the gasoline tank with diesel by mistake - and I mean filled! I had to limp over to a service station where a mechanic kindly helped me pump out the diesel and get it started - not easy with today's electronic ignition!
Since you wrote me about this, I kept wondering why something about this didn't sound right. Then I read Joan's @joansmor comment and I recalled! Our gas nozzles are set up so that can't be done! Clearly it's a problem many other places in the world...I wouldn't trust myself not to do it as well! (I wonder if the nozzles are different sizes in Canada, too... Nova? @novab )
@Weezilou I have to say I always thought the nozzle would stop anyone doing this. maybe its the other way round and the Diesel nozzle won't go into the petrol car. Although reading people's comments it seems that it has happened the other way round which seems to be the worse way possible and you have to have your tank drained. Thankfully my car is running ok. I have topped it up again so am diluting the mixture.
You were lucky