Putting the wrong fuel in your car is on the increase.
The AA says the number of misfuels has doubled over the last 10 years to 150,000 annually.
Some of the blame for the misfuelling increase is being put down to the growth of diesel car sales. With lower CO2 emissions and tax saving attributes for business car drivers, as well as smooth and more sophisticated engines, diesel cars are increasingly popular. They account for four out of 10 new car sales.
To meet the increasing number of drivers misfuelling, the AA’s Fuel Assist has recruited an additional six technicians.
“The demand is being driven by the growth in diesel car sales – they’re so quiet and powerful that people sometimes forget they’re driving one,” commented Donald MacSporran, AA technical performance manager.
AA Fuel Assist is available to both members and non-members who accidentally misfuel. The specialist technicians drain, flush and replenish the vehicle’s fuel system at the roadside. The contaminated fuel is then recycled and used to power cement kilns and furnaces.
“If someone has misfuelled, they should ideally not start the engine,” advised MacSporran. “In most cases, a fuel drain will be required, but it doesn’t have to be a time-consuming and expensive mistake.
“We normally get to people within the hour and get 99% of vehicles back on the road after the 45-minute fuel drain. This saves the hassle of having to wait for a garage to book them in and, potentially, up to £5000 in repair bills, as well as minimising the impact on the environment.”
Further information
- Read our Advice Centre top tips on What to do if you put the wrong fuel in your car here
Putting the wrong fuel in your car affects 150,000