Wrong fuel guide
Diesel in a petrol car? Do not turn the key.
Diesel in a petrol car is rarer, because the diesel nozzle is usually larger than the filler neck, but it happens with older vehicles, hire cars and when a driver is rushing or distracted.
Wrong-fuel removal: $449 standard — $399 total with $50 instant removal offer. Launch offer — redeem instantly when booking. Prices are totals, within 30 km of Doncaster.
The $50 instant removal offer applies only to eligible standard wrong-fuel removal within 30 km of Doncaster. No discount on fuel delivery, extra fuel, non-standard vehicles, specialist parts, towing, repairs or jobs outside coverage.
Fuel delivery unchanged: $99 up to 5L. Extra fuel is separately approved.
Check your saved request for current online payment availability. Secure checkout is offered for accepted eligible quotes when enabled. If no payment option is shown, call 040 FUEL NOW (0403 835 669). New requests begin unpaid; saving alone does not confirm help. Your private receipt shows verified payment and separate technician dispatch status even if new checkout is unavailable. GPS and arrival estimates depend on technician dispatch and sharing. In danger, call 000.
Why the engine stays off
Petrol engines cannot burn diesel properly. It fouls spark plugs, clogs the fuel system and can produce thick smoke before the engine stalls. The less it runs, the less contaminated hardware there is.
Recognise it
Signs this is you
- A diesel nozzle went into a petrol filler on an older or hire vehicle.
- You filled a petrol vehicle from a pump labelled diesel.
- The car coughs, stalls or smokes shortly after leaving the forecourt. Pull over safely and switch off.
Please do not
- Do not start the engine to roll off the forecourt.
- Do not keep driving hoping it clears. It will not.
- Do not siphon or drain fuel at the roadside.
- Do not add petrol to dilute the tank.
What happens next, honestly
- 1
Park safely, hazard lights on if you must stop on a road.
- 2
Call 040 FUEL NOW, or use chat or the form with the fuel added, approximate litres and where the car is.
- 3
Save your request, then review and accept an eligible quote. Pay securely when checkout is available. Only verified payment confirms the paid booking; technician dispatch is a separate step. Call 040 FUEL NOW if you need help.
Questions
Can I drive a short way with diesel in the tank?
We do not recommend driving. The mixture reaches the injectors quickly, and a stall in traffic is a second problem. Leave the vehicle where it is if it is safe.
Why did the diesel nozzle fit?
Some older petrol vehicles and certain hire or imported cars accept larger nozzles. Whatever the cause, the response is the same: engine off.
Does it matter how much diesel went in?
Yes, tell us your best estimate, but do not use it to decide whether to start the car. Even a few litres in a nearly empty tank is a high concentration.