From BZ/dpa
Reaching for the wrong fuel nozzle can cause a lot of damage in the engine and can be quite expensive. You can do this if you mix up petrol and diesel when filling up.
A big shock for every driver: You are standing at the gas station, about to drive off and realize: “Damn, I used the wrong pump nozzle.”
In the worst case, costs of several thousand euros can arise. The Society for Technical Monitoring (GTÜ) explains how greater adversity can be prevented after the mishap.
Stop refueling and never start the engine
If you notice while refueling that you are using the wrong fuel, you should stop the refueling process immediately.
You should never start the engine. Just turning on the ignition can damage the technology in the engine – even more so if you try to start it, GTÜ warns.
Her advice: push the car to the side and ask the gas station staff about specialist companies who can siphon off the wrong fuel with equipment. Costs time and money, but can usually still prevent major and very expensive damage to the car’s fuel system.
Gasoline instead of diesel is the worst
According to the GTÜ, if the vehicle is started after incorrect refueling, this has different effects – depending on which fuel was incorrectly refueled.
If you fill up with diesel instead of petrol, the engine will not start at all or will start to sputter before it dies, say the experts. Uncontrolled combustion can cause engine defects, and the catalytic converter or lambda probe can also be damaged.
According to the GTÜ, it is even more critical for the technology to accidentally fill up a diesel engine with petrol. Because if gasoline gets into the diesel lines or even up to the high-pressure injection pump, there is a risk of massive damage to the fuel system.
Super instead of Super plus, E10 instead of E5 – and now?
Motorists who have filled up with Super instead of Super plus in a gasoline engine can be quite unconcerned. The GTÜ advises that you should only press the accelerator pedal a little less deeply until the next refueling stop in order to put less strain on the engine.
It is somewhat more critical if E10 is used instead of E5, unless the engine is designed for E10 fuel with its higher ethanol content. If the tank is not yet completely full, the recommendation here is: top up with Super plus to reduce the ethanol content. If the tank is already completely incorrectly filled with E10, seals or fuel lines can suffer on older engines.
Whether the car is designed for E10, you can read in the manual.
By the way: According to the GTÜ, incorrect refueling is classified as operational damage caused by gross negligence. Insurance companies therefore do not cover any damage that may have occurred. If in doubt, it is better to check whether you have gripped correctly before applying the nozzle.