Ford Focus - Misfuel - Diesel in Petrol Car (

Honest John Back Room » Technical matters
What is life like with your car? Let us know and win £500 in John Lewis vouchers | No thanks
View Threaded
Mon 9 May 2016 12:11
Ford Focus - Misfuel - Diesel in Petrol Car ( - Rak363

Hi ,

I kindly request your suggestion and guidenence.

I had rented a car from one of the rental company . I asked for the diesel car and then went to pick up the car and Branch Manager also told it was diesel car and explained about the car ligthing and keys .

I picked and drew it for the vacation and in the middle I filled it up with the disesl . Then eventually after few miles, car breakdown and the mechnic came from the same company and checked and said it was fuel misfire. Then after 20 minuts he relaized it was Petrol car. I was taken by big surprise as the branch Manager who gave told it was Diesel car. I had not clue on nozzle or Unleaded on petrol. I clealry followed what the Branch Manager suggested and I had also asked for Diesel car. I am disputing this the company as the Branch Manager agree it is his fault , but say it is still my mistake. Also in the contract I signed as nothing mentioned on the on type of fuel car it was given to me.

But now , I am not sure what damage it has happened. AS far I have seen all forums says, car should be fuel drained as Disesl will act a lubricant and car will need to throughly cleaned and flushed out of Disesl and will be ready to run.

PLease let me know, also if you have some views on legal thoughts. I followed what the rental company said and though he acknwoledges , he resists by saying I have to pay it.

Thanks

Rak363

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Mon 9 May 2016 12:28
Ford Focus - Misfuel - Diesel in Petrol Car ( - galileo

Aren't petrol fillers too small to accept a diesel nozzle? It usually says "unleaded" on the filler cap too.

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Mon 9 May 2016 12:33
Ford Focus - Misfuel - Diesel in Petrol Car ( - RobJP

Aren't petrol fillers too small to accept a diesel nozzle? It usually says "unleaded" on the filler cap too.

Every single hire car that I use has a very clear symbol on the filler cap - and I use a hire car for work a few times a year (5-10 times).

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Mon 9 May 2016 13:42
Ford Focus - Misfuel - Diesel in Petrol Car ( - Cyd

Aren't petrol fillers too small to accept a diesel nozzle?

exactly so

there are too many inconsistancies here - this has to be a wind up!

One cannot fit a diesel nozzle into the filler of a petrol vehicle. So if the OP was driving a petrol car he CANNOT have filled it with diesel AND CANNOT be unaware of the difference if he did indeed fill the car as he would have been made painfully aware of this when he tried to insert a diesel nozzle (unsuccessfully).

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Mon 9 May 2016 14:19
Ford Focus - Misfuel - Diesel in Petrol Car ( - Rak363

Thanks for the reply.

Correct- Technically I am not aware of the Nozzle . I thougth other way round as the Concern company told me use Disesl. I checked the car for the detials and I found funnel that was given. I thought there can some instance where Gas station might have got some difference and hence used the funnel given in the car for the same.

Technically I was not , I am occasional driver. I just believed what the rental company said. If I was regular driver or a mechanic , I would have recognized this challenge. But the branch Manager had no clue what car he was giving to me and said Disesl car. In this occassion , what would some body like me do ?

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Mon 9 May 2016 15:05
Ford Focus - Misfuel - Diesel in Petrol Car ( - RobJP

As has been said, there is nearly always a sticker by the fuel cap, stating 'unleaded' or 'diesel'.

Was there, and if so, what did it say ?

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Mon 9 May 2016 15:12
Ford Focus - Misfuel - Diesel in Petrol Car ( - RT

The nozzle variation is to prevent diesels being refueled with petrol, which is damaging - and won't prevent petrols being refueled with diesel.

It'll run like a bag of spanners until the fuel tank is drained and refilled with petrol, it should clear any remaining diesel in the system quickly.

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Mon 9 May 2016 17:26
Ford Focus - Misfuel - Diesel in Petrol Car ( - slkfanboy

A Mark 3 or 3.5 ford focus can't be miss fueled. They have easy fueling system that prevents this happening.

So I am rather confused with what is going on. Further hire companys clearly mark the type of fuel need all over the place

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Mon 9 May 2016 20:01
Ford Focus - Misfuel - Diesel in Petrol Car ( - quizman

He used a funnel!!!!!

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Mon 9 May 2016 20:36
Ford Focus - Misfuel - Diesel in Petrol Car ( - gordonbennet

He used a funnel!!!!!

And is responsible for the misfuelling.

Jerry can?

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Mon 9 May 2016 22:26
Ford Focus - Misfuel - Diesel in Petrol Car ( - Bolt

He used a funnel!!!!!

And is responsible for the misfuelling.

Jerry can?

The adapter(funnel as you call it) is supplied for use in emergency for use with a Jerry can, in case you run out of fuel.

the jerry can outlet pipe wont open the flap on its own so the adapter works in its place,normally supplied with the jack in the boot

Edited by bolt on 09/05/2016 at 22:27

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Mon 9 May 2016 23:21
Ford Focus - Misfuel - Diesel in Petrol Car ( - galileo

The nozzle variation is to prevent diesels being refueled with petrol, which is damaging - and won't prevent petrols being refueled with diesel.

It'll run like a bag of spanners until the fuel tank is drained and refilled with petrol, it should clear any remaining diesel in the system quickly.

I think it is the other way round, petrol nozzles are smaller so will easily go in a diesel filler neck.

That's why the OP has defeated this 'failsafing' feature by using a funnel to get diesel into a petrol car.

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Mon 9 May 2016 23:55
Ford Focus - Misfuel - Diesel in Petrol Car ( - Bolt

The nozzle variation is to prevent diesels being refueled with petrol, which is damaging - and won't prevent petrols being refueled with diesel.

It'll run like a bag of spanners until the fuel tank is drained and refilled with petrol, it should clear any remaining diesel in the system quickly.

I think it is the other way round, petrol nozzles are smaller so will easily go in a diesel filler neck.

That's why the OP has defeated this 'failsafing' feature by using a funnel to get diesel into a petrol car.

Possibly did not look, or took no notice of the sign on the fuel flap, maybe even wondered why the nozzle would not go in, my car has a delay on it.

you have to rest the nozzle on the flap for 10 seconds before the flap will allow the nozzle in...

some people think there is a problem when it happens,I watched someone try ramming the nozzle in because it would not go in straight away

Reply | Report as offensive | Link