...she has now filled the almost empty tank with petrol instead of diesel. And yes, then driven it until it started spluttering.
So, recovery are on there way to fetch her and the car home. It's only two years old with three years left on the warranty, so my first instinct is to get Toyota to sort it out try and maintain the warranty.
Can't see misfuelling as a specific exclusion on my policy, but that will be her third claim in three years if we go that way. Let's have your guesses for the costs for Toyota to fix this.
Perhaps she just doesn't like it?!
I eliminate that risk by always filling both our cars.
Possibly just a statistical cluster though. When my wife got her last car she had a 50:50 car park bump within a week. The next week it got a dent from neds throwing a stone at it. Another 7 years later and not another scratch on it.
aa and rac offer a [b]miss fueling[/b] service for women drivers.
Cost? Less than this.
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So a tandem for you both to get around on then?
What about an electric car with a dodgy plug socket, you could sell it on as only used once.
with three years left on the warranty
Yes, and you might be quite fond of her, but the patio is the cheaper long-term option.
So, recovery are on there way to fetch her and the car home. It's only two years old with three years left on the warranty, so my first instinct is to get Toyota to sort it out try and maintain the warranty.
Your warranty is safe no matter who you get to sort it out. As long as they use the right parts.
My last two new cars have ended up with a cracked windscreen within the first month. Just totally random clustering.
Rachel
We have 2 cars - the black one uses he black pump, the green one uses the green hose!!
Your warranty is safe no matter who you get to sort it out. As long as they use the right parts.
Even for something like this? The recovery people also run one of the local garages. The chap was trying to persuade me to let him take it there for them to do it and never to tell Toyota about it. While I'm not against the other local garage doing work on my cars, I won't let this lot touch them - they're nice enough, but the place is a shambles!
Even for something like this?
Yes. You don't even have to have your servicing done at main dealers anymore to keep your warranty.
There are conditions to be met (correct parts, correct schedule etc )but it doesn't have to go to the main dealers for anything really.
But for repairs, go wherebmver you want. As long as they use the right parts, you are fine.
Jokes aside (which I am starting to appreciate) do I need to go to Toyota (80 miles away) or shall I talk to my competent local garage in the morning? I'm sure they would use genuine Toyota parts if I asked them to. I would really like to not do anything to invalidate my warranty, it's the main reason I chose this car. But if it's a few hundred quid at the local rather than thousands at Toyota, that makes the difference between an insurance claim or not, and since she's already on her second in three years, still ongoing, I could do without a third.
Crossed posts, thanks neal.
Have a read (this is regarding servicing) Lots of other info online about the regulations though.
http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/car-news/consumer-news/35704/watchdog-keeping-your-warranty-valid
Main dealer Repairs have never been a requirement though, just stick with genuine parts and a decent independent garage and it's all fine.
Petrol in a diesel? Diesel is oily and acts like, erm, oil, and she's just stripped all that out of the engine. That'll be expensive.
(IANAmechanic)
The vw van centre told me to just get it serviced at a vat registered garage with vw parts and warranty will be fine. Same guys pretty much refused to fit a towbar as it would be 50% less elsewhere.
I'm aware of the general rules about independent servicing. I'm just concerned with misfuelling being such a potentially monumental disaster.
I was under the (perhaps mistaken) impression that putting petrol in a diesel car is less calamitous than putting diesel in a petrol car. ?
I was under the (perhaps mistaken) impression that putting petrol in a diesel car is less calamitous than putting diesel in a petrol car. ?
I think that was true in the olden days before diesels got very complicated.
It still had about five litres of diesel in, and was driven 3/4 of a mile until she pulled over because it was a bit juddery. Might that be sufficiently not-too-bad that draining/flushing etc. might be enough?
Might that be sufficiently not-too-bad that draining/flushing etc. might be enough?
I seriously doubt it, driven for 3/4 of a mile on a practically full tank of petrol it's gonna be a new engine as "[i]it was a bit juddery[/i]" is indication of partial engine seizure and major expense
Can you actually hump a patio, though?
My missus did it. She only slapped £15 quids worth of petrol in a diesel. Drove up the motorway till it spluttered.
Was flushed out and £30 worth of diesel put in. Ran fine afterwards. 12 months later still runs fine.
It will be fine, modern diesel isn't very lubricating since they took sulphur out of it so fuel pumps are designed accordingly.
Drain it, flush diesel thru the system, start it up.
The fuel pump and /or injectors will probably have a reduced life compared to not misfueling it but you might have to change them at 100k miles rather than 150k. It sounds like your Mrs would have written it off way before then anyway.
A good mate did this with a nearly new L322 Rangie - full tank of petrol drove till it spluttered to a halt. Flushed, refilled fine ever since. Just changed main HP fuel pump and an injector at 130k miles.
That's what I'm hoping RNP. Apparently, about half a mile along the road, it started to judder 'like I was in the wrong gear'. Her initial thought was that it may have been caused by one of the hitch-hikers she had picked up at the petrol station 'somehow getting in the car wrong'. So she pulled over and phoned me for an over the phone diagnosis. At this point the actual cause was discovered. The car is outside the house now, and I will go to the decent local independent in the morning.
I wouldn't be going to Toyota. You'll probably have to pay as its user error, and they'll have you wrapped round their finger as its a newish valuable car, and end up paying for loads of new components 'just in case' and a voided warranty on anything fuel related in future.
Take it somewhere local, get it flushed etc, if something breaks in six months, thats the time to replace it. (whether you claim you were 'just driving along' or come clean and pay for it)
Her initial thought was that it may have been caused by one of the hitch-hikers she had picked up at the petrol station 'somehow getting in the car wrong'.
You have my wife. That's the exact sort of thing that she'd say 🙂
Do you want her back, I can't afford her any more.
Her initial thought was that it may have been caused by one of the hitch-hikers she had picked up at the petrol station 'somehow getting in the car wrong'.
I wouldn't discount that being the actual cause The hitcher may, for example, have chosen to enter the car through the fuelling system then emerge via one of the wiring conduits. Forcing a human being through a tiny space like that could cause all sorts of damage. We had a similar incident with a mouse, though to be fair, most of the damage in the case was caused by putting some shopping in the boot funny.
I wouldn't mention picking up the hitchhiker to Toyota in case that voids your warranty though. Don't rule out a visit to a local exorcist either.
Sorry, I was being flippant about the exorcist. Very few of them are suitable for use with diesel cars.
Buy her a Zoé
She'd probably put petrol in that as well.
BWD - noted, I'll mention all that to the garage.
BWD - noted, I'll mention all that to the garage.
it's not a coincidence that you see so few hitchhikers these days Much of the unreliability of older cars was simply down to picking up randoms who simply didn't know how to get into a car safely. One tip is always to put hitchhikers in the boot where they can't cause any harm. Be careful though, some cars have their engines misplaced at the wrong end.
AA or RAC cover ? They do mis fuelling call outs.
I would get it drained , then add 5ltr derv and run it for 2 mins at idle then drain again. Then refill and try it.
I am not a mechanic but if it were me thats what I would do.
Should be fine mechanically, juddering is just pre ignition as the petrol was detonating on compression .At least she stopped quickly enough and didnt try an italian tune up.
More importantly , what happened to the pesky hitch hikers?
Probably still in it, I ought to check.
My breakdown cover is through the Police Fed, it comes bundled with some other insurances, so it's just local recovery contractors who get called.
I filled my diesel Passat with petrol a few years ago. Drove it until it cut out before I realised. Cost me about £150/200 for the tow and flush iirc at an independent (car was out of warranty anyway). I was more annoyed at the full tank of petrol wasted
I wonder which tank at the filling station all this mix ends up in, petrol or diesel? The diesel tank I suspect.
come clean and pay for it
Why do that when the manufacturers know that petrol stations have to be delivered to which stirs up all the muck and the damage could easily have been caused by poor quality diesel. Diesel is sold on the international market, I can't believe the UK is immune to the problems caused by palm oil among other additives. [url= http://www.60millions-mag.com/web_plus_outils/images/60M-Pannes_et_carburants.pdf ]Diesel quality woes[/url]
I know what you want in a moment like this OP is some kind words and reassurance. But through all this one important thing to keep in mind is : For all her failings she married you. She's the best you can get - resign yourself to it. 🙂
She must be a Louise?
I wonder which tank at the filling station all this mix ends up in, petrol or diesel? The diesel tank I suspect.
The filling station isn't involved in the transaction - Its not M&S, they don't have a returns counter. The mixed up fuel ends up in the RAC van man's pal's lawnmower.
Wife did it in our diesel. People who towed it away sorted it at their depot.
Just drained and ran through as above, no parts needed
I am well and truly resigned to it. Should I try and swap her for a Louise?
Local garage will pick it up later, drain it, flush it, clean the filter etc. and get it running. Guy said the problems can manifest themselves in 5k miles or so rather than immediately as the petrol strips some sort of coating from the pump.
Drain add new filter refill and fully bleed system to injectors before cranking. I'd imagine Toyota would void the warranty on fuel system so if it did have problems later it would be on you.
Alot / All of the misfuelled blends go to a special fuel depot which supplies multi fuel for ex military vehicles. Tanks etc can run on all sorts of fuel as in times of war the petrol pumps are not always switched on.
Ah thanks for this thread.
I now feel better about other half putting a 10cm gash in the sidewall of £100 worth of brand new Goodyear Eagle F1 last week.
In other news... she's called Louise, should I be worried?!
Drain add new filter refill and fully bleed system to injectors before cranking
That's what they're going to do.
Just have to take my chances thereafter I reckon.
I wonder which tank at the filling station all this mix ends up in, petrol or diesel? The diesel tank I suspect.
What?
Why would a fuel station be buying tiny amounts of contaminated fuel from local garages in buckets and random containers?
Wouldn't they just get it delivered in big tankers and make life easy for themselves.
I filled my diesel Passat with petrol a few years ago. Drove it until it cut out before I realised. Cost me about £150/200 for the tow and flush iirc at an independent (car was out of warranty anyway). I was more annoyed at the full tank of petrol wasted
Same, except my partner managed to do the same thing a few months later. Car was fine when I sold it 60,000 miles later.
She's also managed to put diesel in a petrol which isn't technically possible due to the larger diesel pump nozzle. She is very determined...
I know "somebody" who's done this recently. Switched it off as it started to judder. Flushed out and a new fuel filter fitted and all seems to be fine a couple of thousand miles later. The biggest problem is the filter disintegrating and hitting the injectors apparently.
@slackboy....how did she do that. I was just going to post that the error is always petrol into diesel and not the other way....because a diesel nozzle won't fit into a petrol car 😯 Kudos to your partner
The biggest problem is the filter disintegrating and hitting the injectors apparently.
They're going to change that. I read on one of the posted links that the lack of lubrication can lead the pump to wear so swarf gets in the injectors. I'm hoping that the short distance travelled and the suggestion that diesel is not as lubricating as it used to be so engines don't rely on it so much goes in my favour in that respect.
I'm basically crossing my fingers I think 🙂
In other news, she has just texted me to say the petrol light has come on in our other car, so she'll try and fill it up if she leaves work I need good time. Thankfully you can't put diesel in a petrol car.
Oh...
I know 'somebody' who put 20 quid's worth of petrol in his T5, realised his mistake and topped it off with 80 quids worth of diesel. That was five years and about 60k miles ago, and the van is still running fine.
She's also managed to put diesel in a petrol which isn't technically possible due to the larger diesel pump nozzle.
I did this once, but it was an old 1992 Polo and I have a feeling that the different nozzle size enforcement came in a bit later. I stopped after a few litres cos I noticed the smell was wrong.
I figured that the diesel would have sunk to the bottom of the tank so I walked to Halfords, bought some washer hose and a diesel can, and siphoned from the bottom of the tank until it stopped smelling like diesel and started smelling like petrol. Car juddered slightly for a bit but then ran fine.
I'll put my hand up to putting petrol into a diesel on two occasions, my excuse being that I am a dick - first one I had filled from empty and called AA out, think the charge was £150 plus the £80 or so of wasted petrol - AA man said you would be surprised how many people managed to put diesel in a petrol car despite the nozzle not fitting!
I am well and truly resigned to it. Should I try and swap her for a Louise?
Come to your senses man! That's some seriously drastic action you're contemplating. Surely divorce would be less painful and costly?
diesel in a petrol which isn't technically possible due to the larger diesel pump nozzle.
Well I suppose you could just get the tip in and then pump away.
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Maybe, I haven't experienced a Louise, so I can't compare.
Worst case you can claim on your insurance for it, but if she's crashed it already you might get rinsed come renewal time so might not be worth it.
As someone said above mixed fuel gets bought by specialist companies who sell it on to whoever can use it.
One claim years ago, another last month, this would be a third 🙁
My wife filled our Fiat diesel with petrol a few years ago, then drove it for about 10 miles.
It went to the local garage, they drained it, put some diesel in it and all was fine.
We kept it for at least two years after that, never had a problem with it..
Pfffrt. That's nowt. Autocrossing at the weekend my air filter came off, so I filled the engine with grass.
Spent an hour scraping mashed grass and mud out of the throttle bodies 😆
Its gone all raspy now, so I reckon it'll let go some time soon.
My friend mis-fueled a work lease BMW.
It was fixed at BMW, they insisted on changing every part the fuel touched. It cost 5k iirc
I did it to my old car, and just got it drained for 200 quid.
It had endless problems after that though I have no idea if connected to the fueling thing. These problems still didn't cost 5k though.
https://www.ford.co.uk/shop/research/technology/comfort-and-convenience/ford-easy-fuel
Ford say it's almost 🙂 impossible to miss fuel
Same guys pretty much refused to fit a towbar as it would be 50% less elsewhere.
and probably far beyond the realms of their abilities too !!
Guy said the problems can manifest themselves in 5k miles or so rather than immediately
Don't worry , she will probably have written it off way before then 
Seriously doubt it'll be a new engine!!!
I filled my diesel with petrol about 8 months ago (no idea why, haven't owned a petrol car since 2012) cost £150 or so to get sorted. It drove home fine, only found out when next morning it wouldn't start! Running fine ever since too!
FWIW, depending on what fault codes have been recorded, and what type of codes they are, Toyota will probably be able to tell that the cars been misfueled if anything fails further down the line, if they have time to check, and the right data recorded.
Also, some lift pumps (and some HP pumps) have a telltale inside the body that will change colour if it's been misfueled. Again, depends what toyota have paid for.
I wouldn't lie about it anyway. I would take the tack that I got it sorted as quickly as possible and followed the advice given by the garage, given that I can't drive it the 80 miles to the main dealer. I appreciate that might not help, but the only alternative is to go through the insurance and have 3 at fault claims within 3 years, which I imagine will hammer us at renewal time.
My dad used to pour a gallon of petrol into the tank of a diesel VW Caddy pickup to help it run better in cold winters. Fairly diluted I guess. Suspect it was rather old fashioned thinking but it did work.
@slackboy....how did she do that. I was just going to post that the error is always petrol into diesel and not the other way....because a diesel nozzle won't fit into a petrol car Kudos to your partner
my mum did this a couple of years back too. She doesn't take any crap from some pesky petrol pump.
You'd be amazed what people will try to get to fit once they are certain the manufacturers have done it all wrong.
My dad used to pour a gallon of petrol into the tank of a diesel VW Caddy pickup to help it run better in cold winters
Truck drivers used to add paraffin during cold winters because diesel would produce waxy flakes that blocked the fuel filter. HMG didn't like it because paraffin carries less duty, and refiners now produce winter grade fuels that they supply to forecourts during winter. Waxing can still happen though
My sister-in-law filled their diesel Volvo with petrol, the drained-off fuel ran well in my pre-cat petrol VW
I saw a vid on YouTube where a VW mechanic described what they'd swap out if a diesel had been misfuelled. Basically it was everything in the fuel system from (and including) the fuel filter housing onwards.
I stuck £18 worth of diesel into a petrol Astra GTC last year! I know that the nozzles are designed to not fit, but I was forced to park away from the only empty pump, and I could just get the nozzle to touch the outer edge of the filler hole.
My other excuse, and the one that meant I got away without having to cough up the £250 penalty, was the fact that the filler cover had a black Vauxhall label stuck to the inside that clearly, and quite unequivocally, said 'Diesel'!
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Go figure, as they say somewhere.