Picture adding salt to your coffee instead of sugar. That does not sound (or taste) so good, right? Sometimes, we all get lost in our thoughts, and we end up mixing up something we shouldn’t. Now imagine what happens if you put the wrong gas in your car. Just think about it, and please don’t try it at home, because this experiment can cost you a lot, as you’re going to see shortly.
There are several scenarios in this situation, depending on what kind of fuel mix-up you’ve made. Even when you’re able to drive back home safely and without any necessary repairs, this is not something you should do intentionally or frequently. Let’s explore some of the most common misfuelling combinations.
Octane numbers might seem confusing, but they’re just indicators of different properties and gasoline performance. Using different octane is not going to cause severe damage, but things can get tricky when you use a lower one. Depending on the model of your auto, the lower octane might work fine, but it could also cause damage. You will be able to notice poor engine performance and even overheating.
Out of all options, this one is the least painful. Filling higher octane than recommended in the manual’s book is not going to harm your vehicle, but it’s also not going to help enhance its performance, which is a common myth. However, some engines aren’t designed to burn premium octane, so you could notice a lack of power.
Putting gasoline instead of diesel is one of the worst fuel replacements to make because it can cause severe engine damage if you turn on your vehicle. It is hard to tell what type of failure you can expect since it could be the entire engine or just the injection pump. On the other hand, putting diesel in a gas-fueled vehicle is not so fatal. You will quickly notice a lot of smoke, and your auto will most likely stop, but that’s it.
Although these two engines are similar, and both use numerous small explosions to convert fuel into energy, the difference lies in how these explosions occur. Gasoline engines mix fuel with air, compress it, ignite through with a spark plug, and then exhaust it through the valve. In diesel engines, the air is compressed first, and fuel is injected afterward.
It is a beautiful sunny day, and everything is going well, the radio is playing your favorite song, there’s no line at the petrol station, the ideal scenario. You thought you embarked on a stress-free road trip around the most famous routes in the United States until you realized you had made one small yet fatal mistake.
If you notice while filling, it is still too late. Mixing premium and regular will probably still take you home safely, but putting gas into diesel, yikes. Ever wondered how to tow or ship inoperable vehicles? You’re about to find out first hand. Here’s how things should happen:
If you realize that while you’re driving, your driving anxiety levels are about to go high, so stay calm. You probably didn’t see a scenario like this even in the worst car movies ever, but it is not all lost. Here’s a brief step-by-step guide on what you should do:
No matter how many tools and gadgets you have among the things you keep in your car, there is nothing you can do here on your own. One of the common misconceptions about new cars is that insurance covers all, but most of them specifically exclude the chance of covering the costs of misfuelling. We’ve seen that the damage is not always so severe, but just keep in mind that draining and flushing the entire system depends on the type of a car, and it is not always affordable. Not to mention the engine failures that can easily cost you thousands of dollars.
If you’re familiar with driving stress but still can’t imagine living without a car, keep your eyes wide open and stay focused. There are so many tips for staying focused while driving, but not so much on things you need to do when fueling. This is particularly essential in situations that are stressful or when you’re tired, for example, while relocating cross country. That is why it’s always better to rely on car shipping services and choose door-to-door auto transport, so you don’t have to worry about a thing.
