Oh no!!!!! After only getting my car back from the dealer today, I have tonight put petrol into my diesel 500. (I have been driving a petrol courtersy car for the last two weeks and was on auto pilot). The AA towed me to the dealers and I await thir bad news tommorrow and their bill. Anyone any idea as to how this will affect the 1.3 multi jet engine and whether it will invalidate the warranty and affect future fuel consumption? Google brings up some real horror stories and talk of new engines

I feel such a fool.

dizzyheights said:

Oh no!!!!! After only getting my car back from the dealer today, I have tonight put petrol into my diesel 500. (I have been driving a petrol courtersy car for the last two weeks and was on auto pilot). The AA towed me to the dealers and I await thir bad news tommorrow and their bill. Anyone any idea as to how this will affect the 1.3 multi jet engine and whether it will invalidate the warranty and affect future fuel consumption? Google brings up some real horror stories and talk of new engines

I feel such a fool.

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Oh dear, I really feel for you - this is my worst nightmare.

I would've thought that this does invalidate your warranty as its human error and not a mechanical fault, through production error or defective parts

Did you run the car after fueling?

How much did you put in ?

I manged to travel around half a mile befiore it spluttered and I pulled over. I put around £25.00 in with a quarter tank of diesel.

I could kick myself. I think i Iam being too precious about my 500, worrying about dents, stone chips any anyone that coud dare to spoil it. This is making me nervous and probabbly part of the reason for my mistake tonight. Does that sound stupid?

dizzyheights said:

I manged to travel around half a mile befiore it spluttered and I pulled over. I put around £25.00 in with a quarter tank of diesel.

I could kick myself. I think i Iam being too precious about my 500, worrying about dents, stone chips any anyone that coud dare to spoil it, that it is making me nervous. Does that sound stupid?

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Not at all

My last car (smart ForTwo) was my first ever new car. I bought it last November (57 plate) and was the most paranoid driver on the road. Ironically I was so over cautious that I had a massive stone smash into the drivers door and then someone ran a key down the side that I had to have a whole new panel fitted.
I sold it with the intention of getting a 500 and whilst I've sorted out my finances I've been driving a Rover 214Si 1995 N reg. Not a wreck, but nearly there.

I've not given two s**ts about it and I've not had a single stone chip, dent or anything that I had with my new car.

Also, because I was too cautious with the smart I kerbed it twice whilst parking. I can fly the Rover into any space and from any angle and NOTHING!

The only way I can describe it is that when I drive the Rover, because I don't car (rather like having a hire car) I actually drive like someone who has been driving for 14 years. When I had my new car I drove like a bloody learner!!

I've got all that to come with the 500 again

trouble is the 500 is a masterpiece (Fiat's words too!) and its a thing of beauty. It should almost just be in the Tate modern and not driven around at all.

I've got my fingers crossed that not too much damage is done.

Steve

Thanks whitePOP. The car is amazing, I just hope that the multi jet engine after being drained still delivers the excellent MPG that it does now.

How long before you get yours?

Rich

dizzyheights said:

Thanks whitePOP. The car is amazing, I just hope that the multi jet engine after being drained still delivers the excellent MPG that it does now.

How long before you get yours?

Rich

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Good question

Its built and on its way, I'm just waiting for the call from the dealer - and then like you the nervous style of driving kicks in again.

Steve

WhitePOP said:

Good question

Its built and on its way, I'm just waiting for the call from the dealer - and then like you the nervous style of driving kicks in again.

Steve

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I'm sure you will be fine. It's a really great car.
Cheers.

Rich

Oh no I really feel for you. We pick up our 1.3 MJ on Thursday and I'm already worried that I may fill it with petrol by mistake. The 500 will be my 2nd car and I've been driving a petrol car for the past 8 years, I'm going to have to be really careful when filling up.
I hope you get your baby sorted and it doesn't cost too much.

Get one of these and stick it inside your filler cap to remind you ,most motor factors have them also ,hope it helps...link below
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Diesel-Fuel-Only-Car-Sticker_W0QQitemZ110288991505QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item110288991505&_trkparms=72%3A984%7C39%3A1%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C240%3A1318&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14

The fact you have run the engine to a halt means the liklihood of serious engine damage is real possibility. Had the car not run following the mistake you could have got away with emptying the tank and a flush through.

All the best.

ensonricky said:

The fact you have run the engine to a halt means the liklihood of serious engine damage is real possibility. Had the car not run following the mistake you could have got away with emptying the tank and a flush through.

All the best.

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:yeahthat:

Unfortunatly you'll need all pumps replacing as a minumum I would have though, and with the engine, well, anything could be wrong with it. TBH your probably looking at needing to go through your insurance.

Do insurance companies cover this as standard, or is it only some (I know of a few people who have claimed).

Jon.

dizzyheights said:

Oh no!!!!! After only getting my car back from the dealer today, I have tonight put petrol into my diesel 500. (I have been driving a petrol courtersy car for the last two weeks and was on auto pilot). The AA towed me to the dealers and I await thir bad news tommorrow and their bill. Anyone any idea as to how this will affect the 1.3 multi jet engine and whether it will invalidate the warranty and affect future fuel consumption? Google brings up some real horror stories and talk of new engines

I feel such a fool.

Click to expand...

If you only drove the car for half a mile, it's unlikely to have caused any permanent damage. Your dealer should drain out the petrol/diesel mixture, replace the fuel filter and refill with diesel. You should then drive the car for 100 miles or so ASAP to flush out any remaining petrol from the pipes and seals.

Unfortunately, because you have had the car taken to a dealer, they will record the mis-fueling and are likely to use it as a reason to refuse any warranty claims to the fuel system and maybe the engine.

It would have been better to have taken the car to a non-franchise garage to have the fuel drained. It would also have been better not to have used the AA to recover the car. I think they are still contracted to Fiat and advise Fiat whenever they attend a contracted mis-fueling job even if they don't take the car to a Fiat dealer.

Sorry this advice is too late for you, but it may help someone.

Dave.

Dave, it's Petrol in a Derv, the pumps are going to be almost certainly gonners, and if the engine has died, then damage is quite possible. After all, mileage hasn't really anything to do with it. That could have been half a mile at 70MPH, half a mile at 30MPH or half a mile in traffic.

Also depends upon quantity of diesel to petrol. You put £25 in, so about 21L, and how many litres is 1/4 of a tank

Davren said:

Unfortunately, because you have had the car taken to a dealer, they will record the mis-fueling and are likely to use it as a reason to refuse any warranty claims to the fuel system and maybe the engine.

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Fiat UK are not some big money saving uncaring monster,far from it

In this instance I think the OP was right to do what they did.

Davren said:

If you only drove the car for half a mile, it's unlikely to have caused any permanent damage. Your dealer should drain out the petrol/diesel mixture, replace the fuel filter and refill with diesel. You should then drive the car for 100 miles or so ASAP to flush out any remaining petrol from the pipes and seals.

Unfortunately, because you have had the car taken to a dealer, they will record the mis-fueling and are likely to use it as a reason to refuse any warranty claims to the fuel system and maybe the engine.

It would have been better to have taken the car to a non-franchise garage to have the fuel drained. It would also have been better not to have used the AA to recover the car. I think they are still contracted to Fiat and advise Fiat whenever they attend a contracted mis-fueling job even if they don't take the car to a Fiat dealer.

Sorry this advice is too late for you, but it may help someone.

Dave.

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As the car "spluttered to a halt" the indications are 'contaminated' fuel has seriously compromised the engine. we're looking in the realms of £1000 to put right at a main dealers if my worse fears are realised.

Davren said:

Unfortunately, because you have had the car taken to a dealer, they will record the mis-fueling and are likely to use it as a reason to refuse any warranty claims to the fuel system and maybe the engine.

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Not really. The dealer will be carrying out the repair work, and all dealers work is covered for 12 months, or the remainder or the warranty, which ever's longer, which in this case will be the warranty

Most Easterly Panda's said:

Not really. The dealer will be carrying out the repair work, and all dealers work is covered for 12 months, or the remainder or the warranty, which ever's longer, which in this case will be the warranty

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If just a change of filter and a drain out of fuel was undertaken the warranty probably would be limited as suggested. However a more extensive engine rebuild as I'm sure the dealer will recommend is more likely to maintain the full warranty conditions.

T14086 said:

Fiat UK are not some big money saving uncaring monster,far from it

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First time I've seen a statement like that on here about the Fiat stealers ....sorry dealers

ensonricky said:

As the car "spluttered to a halt" the indications are 'contaminated' fuel has seriously compromised the engine. we're looking in the realms of £1000 to put right at a main dealers if my worse fears are realised.

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Quite possilble that the car "spluttered to a halt" because the ratio of petrol to diesel was too high to maintain compression ignition.

I've taken numerous 'petrol in diesel' cars to non franchise garages that, after a drain out and new filter, have suffered no adverse effects. Those that go to dealers always seem to need new lift pump, new injector pump, new injectors and sometimes new engine.

Given the choice of £200 for a drain out and £1000, £2000, £3000 etc. for the latter option. I know which one I'd try first.

Dave.

Sorry to hear about this, dizzyheights. I saw this product on Dragons' Den a few weeks ago and would definitely fit it if I had a diesel car otherwise I'm sure I'd fill it with petrol sooner or later.