Drivers warned simple mistake could land you £5,000 bill | Personal Finance | Finance

Drivers have been urged to take care to avoid a simple mistake that could cost thousands of pounds to fix.

When filling up at the petrol station, motorists should make sure not to put the wrong fuel in their vehicle, known as ‘mis-fuelling’.

Some 150,000 drivers use the wrong pump each year in the UK, according to the RAC, and this can cost a lot of money to fix.

Filling up the tank in error can damage the engine with the AA warning some manufacturers will recommend new parts as a result, which could cost above £5,000.

It can also cost several hundreds of pounds just to have the fuel tank drained.

Tom Banks, from Go Compare, told The Sun: “It could be an easier mistake to make than you think.

“If you’ve recently changed cars, are borrowing someone else’s vehicle, or simply have a lot on your mind when you’re at the petrol station, you could quickly find yourself staring down the barrel of a costly repair bill.”

He encouraged people to check their insurance cover, as they may be covered for mis-fuelling as part of breakdown cover if it isn’t specified.

What will happen if I put the wrong fuel in my car?

If you put petrol in a diesel vehicle, there may be excessive smoke from the exhaust and slow acceleration.

The engine warning light may come up or the engine may stop altogether.

Signs you may have put diesel in a petrol car include the engine misfiring or cutting out.

There may also be a lot of smoke coming out of the exhaust.

It is more difficult to put diesel in a petrol car, as the diesel fuel nozzle is normally too big for a petrol car.

If you realise you have mis-fuelled and you are still in the petrol station, you can put the car into neutral and ask for help to push your car to a safe place and then call for assistance.

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