What a wally I am

[simba23]

I have to report back because I felt lost when I needed advice.
Yesterday I went into a BP petrol pump to fill my car up, now I have 2 petrol cars and the c class coupe is my only diesel. I accidentally pick up the unleaded nozzle putting in 9litres of unleaded.

The car had just reached reserve level and there was still some fuel in the tank. I only realised when I smelt the petrol.

Immediately I knew jerked, picked up the diesel nozzle and filled the rest of the tank with diesel.

Once I had finished my senses started to kick in and I realised that by filling up with diesel I had now made 2 mistakes. So I sat in the car frantically searching the web using my phone for information. Will it be ok or won't it be ok...

As I'm sitting there in my own world of embarrassment and self loathing, door gets pulled open and a police officer grabs me by the arm.

The bloody cashier had reported me to a passing police officer for maybe being a driver intending on running away.

Anyway after explaining what had happened the officer advised me not to start the car and helped push me in to a bay.

I then made calls to the RAC and MB uk both of whom were very helpful but said that they would have to have the car taken to a garage and professionally drained.

I rang around and found an amazingly helpful fuel contamination company that was able to come out in an hour for £160 + vat.


I booked them.

Now I was expecting a simple pipe in the fuel tank through the filler with some sort of pump in reverse to pull the fuel out.

This was the case but additionally they removed the back seat, accessed the tank to clean it. They also then bled out the fuel from the fuel pump. I was quite amazed at how thorough they were being.

They had the car started in 45 mins.

I then proceeded to refill the tank with the right fuel.

Total cost of this experience was:

£11.61 for the petrol
£72.15 for the diesel
£192.00 to clear the tank
And then £90.35 to refill the tank

Totalling £366.11

Funnily enough the car seems to drive a lot better after that or maybe I'm just assuring myself.

On the bright side got loads of nectar points.

But seriously guys if you fill up at BP especially check the pumps because the nozzles aren't marked like the shell ones are.

 

[Starky]

I have done the same in my work van. Luckily I'm employed by the company so they covered the cost. I try to only fill up shell, BP tend to be more expensive.

 

[a111r]

Sadly, your C220cdi would very likely have run fine on a 15% petrol/derv mix...

 

[Paul/]

On the bright side got loads of nectar points.

I like your attitude!

Thanks for sharing your experience.

 

[Spin_bowler]

Sadly, your C220cdi would very likely have run fine on a 15% petrol/derv mix...

Maybe but starting it up when you've no way of actually knowing that to be a fact would be a brave/foolhardy (delete as applicable) move.

 

[s88]

Surely it begs the question, why do we have to have the two nozzles on same pump?

Can they not be seperated?

 

[Dieselman]

Surely it begs the question, why do we have to have the two nozzles on same pump?

Can they not be seperated?

Been that way for donkeys years. Filling with the wrong fuel is a recent phenomena.

 

[Dieselman]

I rang around and found an amazingly helpful fuel contamination company that was able to come out in an hour for £160 + vat.




They had the car started in 45 mins.

A nice figure for an hours labour.

 

[Palfrem]

I wonder how much they get for the contaminated fuel?

 

[V12]

Car would have been fine, but better safe than sorry I guess.

 

[teddycatkin]

I have to report back because I felt lost when I needed advice.
Yesterday I went into a BP petrol pump to fill my car up, now I have 2 petrol cars and the c class coupe is my only diesel. I accidentally pick up the unleaded nozzle putting in 9litres of unleaded.

The car had just reached reserve level and there was still some fuel in the tank. I only realised when I smelt the petrol.

Immediately I knew jerked, picked up the diesel nozzle and filled the rest of the tank with diesel.

Once I had finished my senses started to kick in and I realised that by filling up with diesel I had now made 2 mistakes. So I sat in the car frantically searching the web using my phone for information. Will it be ok or won't it be ok...

As I'm sitting there in my own world of embarrassment and self loathing, door gets pulled open and a police officer grabs me by the arm.

The bloody cashier had reported me to a passing police officer for maybe being a driver intending on running away.

Anyway after explaining what had happened the officer advised me not to start the car and helped push me in to a bay.

I then made calls to the RAC and MB uk both of whom were very helpful but said that they would have to have the car taken to a garage and professionally drained.

I rang around and found an amazingly helpful fuel contamination company that was able to come out in an hour for £160 + vat.


I booked them.

Now I was expecting a simple pipe in the fuel tank through the filler with some sort of pump in reverse to pull the fuel out.

This was the case but additionally they removed the back seat, accessed the tank to clean it. They also then bled out the fuel from the fuel pump. I was quite amazed at how thorough they were being.

They had the car started in 45 mins.

I then proceeded to refill the tank with the right fuel.

Total cost of this experience was:

£11.61 for the petrol
£72.15 for the diesel
£192.00 to clear the tank
And then £90.35 to refill the tank

Totalling £366.11

Funnily enough the car seems to drive a lot better after that or maybe I'm just assuring myself.

On the bright side got loads of nectar points.

But seriously guys if you fill up at BP especially check the pumps because the nozzles aren't marked like the shell ones are.

Local garage do them all time last week 62 plate GTI ---works out about £100 on average ---+ fuel costs

 

[Farmergeddon]

Back in the day not many people drove diesels because they were noisy, smokey and unrefined. It's only in the last 10 or so years that the number of diesels on the roads has soared. More people to make the mistake these days especially as many households are 2+ cars these days so potential to have one of each.

 

[Dieselman]

Back in the day not many people drove diesels because they were noisy, smokey and unrefined. It's only in the last 10 or so years that the number of diesels on the roads has soared. More people to make the mistake these days especially as many households are 2+ cars these days so potential to have one of each.

There have been plenty of diesel cars on the road for at least 20 years, but very few fueling mistakes.
Having managed company fleets I found the same drivers did it multiple times, even though it was the only car they drove.

 

[edstrom76]

There have been plenty of diesel cars on the road for at least 20 years, but very few fueling mistakes.
Having managed company fleets I found the same drivers did it multiple times, even though it was the only car they drove.

I'd challenge you on that statement. They reckon at least 150,000 drivers put the wrong fuel in their cars every year - not an insignificant figure and I'd say the op is in good company (although that's hardly any consolation in this case).

 

[renault12ts]

We've all done it...but you could have got away with it...by filling with diesel...the expensive bit was calling for help.

 

[developer]

We've all done it...

Not me - I just forget to tax the car .

 

[a111r]

A nice figure for an hours labour.

I suppose it's belt and braces (and fills the hour up) but why drain the IP and change the fuel filter etc. when the car was NOT started? A simple tank pump would have taken minutes...

5L of new rapeseed oil would have been the choice additive to that blend!

 

[davidjpowell]

A nice figure for an hours labour.

Not really just labour though DM.

Call out charge, travel, equipment etc.

Try calling out an MB dealer bet its more (not that they are mobile equipped).....

I believe the theory for draining the pumps is that some cars prime the system just by unlocking the car. Definitely by switching the ignition on. It's a bit belt or braces, but I'd guess it limits comeback if they do a proper job...

 

[markjay]

There have been plenty of diesel cars on the road for at least 20 years, but very few fueling mistakes.
Having managed company fleets I found the same drivers did it multiple times, even though it was the only car they drove.

Presumably it was the only company car they drove? But they (or the wife) may have had a privately owned petrol vehicle which they drove from time to time hence the confusion?

I agree that it is entirely down to the driver to ensure the correct fuel is used, but when a mistake is commonly made there is rational in putting in a fail-safe system.

There are devices available to prevent misfuelling, but perhaps what is really needed is an industry-wide standard.

 

[SavMan]

150,000 UK drivers in 2010 suggests better controls are needed from the industry, how about just a simple recorded message with 2 buttons to confirm (one Green and one Black) As you pick up the pump the recoding says "welcome to XXXX you are filling with UNLEADED press the Green button to confirm" or "welcome to XXXX you are filling with DIESEL press the Black button to confirm"