I know of 2 people who have done this ith no adverse effects after draining. Hope you're as lucky.

Oh no, you poor thing - so easily done when your mind is on a hundred and one things. hope it gets sorted and you are back on the road soon.

When i went to fill up on sunday i was repeating unleaded, unleaded, unleaded over and over again in my head as I've had to re-train myself after having had a diesel car for 18 months ... only ever had unleaded before.

Am i right in thinking that diesel nozzles don't fit into petrol filler holes on cars? Or is that one of those urban myths? doesn't help though if you've got a diesel and you accidentally go to put petrol on................

i thought diesel filler holes were black to match the pump handle colour mine is green same as the handle ( petrol) as for damage the car stoped after 1/2 a mile when it had used the deisel in it's "pipes" then because petrol needs ignition to burn it simply cut out diesel engines use compresion so the fuel wouldn't ignite in the cylinders, i would think draining and new filters it should be fine may take some re-starting though, when you get it back it should be fine..

Four years ago I put about half a tank of petrol in my Doblo. It pinked almost immediately and I ran it a mile to the dealer, who confirmed the worst.
They were brilliant and rang the filling station to confirm my mistake. However, I had put BPs expensive (forget the name) petrol in on the assumption that it was the expensive Diesel fuel. The pumps are/were poorly labelled and in bad light the shades of blue/green are/were indistinguishable. Anyway, BP has/had? a dedicated helpline for this problem, and a system which automatically paid for the necessary work to make good the car. In fact the garage just flushed everything through and I have had no more problems over the past four years. Apparently BP was paying for replacement engines on a regular basis. All this admitted liability because their signage was so poor. The filling station said it happened tens of times a week to them alone, so on a national level...:bang:

So, there may not have been any long term damage to your engine or fuel pump; but my car didn't break down, it only pinked, and I was 'lucky' in buying the preium fuel. I have never visited a BP station since, however, as I don't trust myself.

The Fiat insurance will nnot cover such damage as it is assumed to be self inflicted.

Heidi said:

Am i right in thinking that diesel nozzles don't fit into petrol filler holes on cars? Or is that one of those urban myths? doesn't help though if you've got a diesel and you accidentally go to put petrol on................

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You are right, the diesel nozzles are too big to fit into the unleaded petrol filler necks. The nozzles are designed to stop errors.
Unfortunately, you can still fit a small nozzle into a big hole (the actress said to the bishop)
Old 4 star petrol cars can still fit big nozzles, but new cars can't.

Deeyup

Great news! My Fiat dealer has been really good about the issue and the good news is that there was no permanent damage done. They did the necessary checks, flushed the engine and replaced he fuel filter, tested, filled up with diesel and test drove the engine.

I pick up the car again ommorrow in the knowledge that my silly mistake has at least been sorted by a Fiat dealer, who have re-assured me that it won't affect my warranty.

The bad news is it cost me £240.00, but a least £200 is being paid for out of my Fiat vouchers that Fiat issued when my car was delayed.

Thanks to everyone for their support....... goes off now to buy the Dragons Den filler neck accessory.

Cheers

Rich

Great news, it's a mistake anyone can make so don't feel too bad, looks like you've got off relitively likely. Any mention of the warranty?

I heard on the radio that it happens on average every 3 minutes.
One of those things almost everyone will either do or almost do at some point.

Good you have been able to have it sorted with the minimum of fuss.

Really glad it's all sorted

deeyup said:

Unfortunately, you can still fit a small nozzle into a big hole

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some petrol pump's say "diesel" from a loud speaker when you lift of the filler nozzle

dizzyheights said:

Great news! My Fiat dealer has been really good about the issue and the good news is that there was no permanent damage done. They did the necessary checks, flushed the engine and replaced he fuel filter, tested, filled up with diesel and test drove the engine.

I pick up the car again ommorrow in the knowledge that my silly mistake has at least been sorted by a Fiat dealer, who have re-assured me that it won't affect my warranty.

The bad news is it cost me £240.00, but a least £200 is being paid for out of my Fiat vouchers that Fiat issued when my car was delayed.

Thanks to everyone for their support....... goes off now to buy the Dragons Den filler neck accessory.

Cheers

Rich

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That is great news ,pleased for you!!

white 500 said:

some petrol pump's say "diesel" from a loud speaker when you lift of the filler nozzle

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I'll remember to shout out random things at work over the forecourt tannoy when I'm next on then


Glad that you managed to get it all sorted, with minimum of fuss, and luckily only cost in theiory £40.

Jon.

Thanks for all your kind comments.

Cheers

Rich

dizzyheights said:

Thanks for all your kind comments.

Cheers

Rich

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That's ok, I just am glad that it cause no real damage. Testiment to Fiat making bulit proof engines. I knew the FIRE engines were but never knew the Diesel one's were

BTW your normal car insurance should cover this as it's accidental damage. But whether you'd want to make a claim for £240......?

Glad you got it sorted, cant imagine what id do if it happened to me

Take care, im sre now you've doe it, you wont do it again

pearce_jj said:

BTW your normal car insurance should cover this as it's accidental damage. But whether you'd want to make a claim for £240......?

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I'd be very surprised if that was the case, my insurers certainly wouldn't cover my car when I put petrol in it by mistake. I would advise you never take it to a franchise dealer if in warranty as they'll always blame everything on your error and say the warranty doesn't cover it. I took mine to an independent garage he drained and flushed the engine, £60 and I was on my way.

Good to hear its sorted.

Since buying my girlfriend a panda multijet after the seicento I have been waiting for this to happen. Its good to know that if filling up at 1/4 of a tank and getting the wrong fuel the odds are the fuel pump might survive!!
(i have done this in my car and to this day dont know what I was thinking at the time as i had it for atleast two years).

Still doesnt help us choose whether the eventual 500 after the panda will be petrol or diesel but that is a whole other discussion.)

the seals throughout the fuel system are the issue, they depend on lubrication provided by the diesel. Bio Diesel causes the same problems...