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How can fuel pumps be improved to prevent misfuelling?
I know it is my fault, but I filled my diesel Mercedes-Benz car with petrol, and landed myself with a bill for £730. Amazingly, the car travelled 75 miles before the engine cut out. The service manager informed me they average three or four per month.
What troubles me is the oil companies could do a lot to prevent this. For example, three different fuels at every pump could be all petrol or diesel at alternate pumps. Or the nozzles that we insert into the tank could be more clearly marked. Better still, when you unhook the nozzle from the pump a large display could indicate petrol or diesel, instead of a very small window that indicates the price per litre. This could be your next campaign for the considerable good work you do for the motorist.
What troubles me is the oil companies could do a lot to prevent this. For example, three different fuels at every pump could be all petrol or diesel at alternate pumps. Or the nozzles that we insert into the tank could be more clearly marked. Better still, when you unhook the nozzle from the pump a large display could indicate petrol or diesel, instead of a very small window that indicates the price per litre. This could be your next campaign for the considerable good work you do for the motorist.
Asked on 19 January 2013 by GW, via email
Answered by
Honest John
Shell, BP and Total are all guilty of branding their petrol and diesel the same, but car manufacturers have fought back with fuel filler orifices that prevent misfuelling. Ford was the first and now all new Fords are impossible to misfuel. Citroen has followed suit with the latest C4 and DS4, and BMW's new F30 3-Series are also impossible to misfuel.
Tags:
misfuelling
wrong fuel
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