Wrong Fuel Rescue Melbourne

Wrong Fuel Rescue in Melbourne: Drained Where You Are

Put the wrong fuel in your car? Do not start the engine. Mechanic Near You sends a mobile mechanic to the petrol station, the roadside, your home or your workplace across Melbourne's west. We drain the tank, flush the fuel system where required and refill with the correct fuel, so no tow truck is needed. Wrong fuel rescue starts from $300, and most jobs take 45 to 60 minutes on site.

Wrong fuel in your car? Do this now

1. Do not start the engine. If it is running, turn it off.
2. Do not turn the ignition on.
3. Do not add the correct fuel on top. That only dilutes the wrong fuel. It does not remove it.
4. Do not try to siphon it out yourself. It is unsafe, and you can't get all of it.
5. Put the car in neutral and push it clear of the pumps, if it is safe. Ask someone to help.
6. Call 0406 396 397 and stay with the car.

The less the engine has run, the simpler and cheaper the fix.

The moment you look at the nozzle in your hand

It happens at the end of a long day, or in a borrowed car, or the first week with a new diesel ute. You are thinking about dinner. Then you look down, see the colour of the handle, and your stomach drops.

You are not the first. In one British survey, one in five drivers admitted to having put the wrong fuel in a car.

If you have not started the engine, the damage has usually not begun. The fuel is sitting in the tank, and that is where we take it out.

Petrol in diesel, diesel in petrol: what each one does

Diesel in a petrol car is the rarer mistake, because the diesel nozzle is usually too wide for a petrol filler. It still happens, and the fix is the same: diesel in a petrol car needs fuel removal before the engine is run.

Wrong petrol in my car: does the grade matter?

Sometimes. If you filled with premium and your car only needs regular unleaded, nothing is harmed. You have only paid more.

If your car needs premium and you filled with regular, expect slightly less power, and top up with premium as soon as you can. If the maker says 98 only, check the handbook. Draining and refilling is the safest option, and we can do that.

What our fuel tank draining service includes

1. Contaminated fuel extracted from the tank.
2. Fuel system flush, where required.
3. Safe disposal of the contaminated fuel.
4. Refill with the correct fuel.
5. Fuel system inspection.
6. Vehicle testing and restart after a successful drain.

We work on petrol and diesel cars, utes, vans and light commercial vehicles.

Wrong fuel rescue cost

Our wrong fuel rescue price starts from $300. The final price depends on your vehicle, your location and the work required. Pricing is upfront, with no surprise add-ons.

For comparison, Drive reports that a wrong-fuel service in Australia typically costs $200 to $500. Three things move the price:

• Whether the engine was run. A tank drain is the simple job. Once the wrong fuel has been through the system, a full flush is needed.
• The vehicle. A ute or van with a large tank holds more to drain.
• How much went in.

Compare that with the cost of driving on. NRMA warns that running a diesel on petrol can mean several thousand dollars in fuel system repairs.

Misfuel recovery: what if you have already driven?

Stop as soon as it is safe and switch the engine off. Do not try to get home first.

These are the signs that wrong fuel has reached the engine:

• The engine will not start, or starts and then stalls
• Rough running or misfiring
• Smoke from the exhaust
• A loss of power
• A warning light on the dashboard

Caught early, wrong fuel recovery is a drain, a flush and a refill. Left running, it can mean a new pump and injectors, and sometimes engine work. After the drain we test and restart the car, and tell you plainly if anything has been damaged.

If the pump has suffered, our fuel pump replacement is from $149. If a petrol car was driven on diesel and the converter is damaged, catalytic converter replacement is from $149.

Does warranty or insurance cover wrong fuel?

A correct drain and flush does not affect your manufacturer's warranty.

Damage is a different matter. NRMA notes that damage caused by the wrong fuel is not covered by the manufacturer's warranty, and your car insurance may not cover it either. Check your policy.

That is the strongest reason not to start the engine. A drain costs hundreds. Damage can cost thousands, and it is usually yours to pay.

What happens to the contaminated fuel?

We take it away. The contaminated fuel is removed and disposed of in line with environmental guidelines.

It is also why a home siphon is a bad idea. You can't remove all of it, and it is unsafe for you and for the environment.

Wrong fuel rescue near you

We are based in Wyndham Vale and come to you across Melbourne's west, at the petrol station, on the roadside, at home or at work:

• Wyndham Vale and Manor Lakes
• Werribee
• Hoppers Crossing
• Tarneit and Truganina
• Point Cook and Williams Landing

We also cover Eynesbury. See all our service areas for the rest.

Why call a mobile mechanic for wrong fuel?

• No tow. The fuel draining service comes to the car, wherever it has stopped.
• Fast dispatch. We head out as soon as you call, and same-day service is available.
• Drained, flushed and refilled on site. You drive away afterwards.
• Upfront pricing. No surprise add-ons.

Other roadside help

• Jump start, from $70, if the battery is flat from trying to start the car.
• Tyre puncture repair, from $50.
• Engine cranking but not firing for another reason? Our guide to a car that won't start covers the common causes.

Wrong fuel questions

How long does a mobile fuel drain take?

Most jobs are finished on site in 45 to 60 minutes, depending on the vehicle and how much fuel is in the tank.

Can I just top up with the right fuel?

No. Topping up only dilutes the wrong fuel. It has to be drained and flushed.

How do I know I have put the wrong fuel in?

Before driving, by the pump handle or the receipt. After driving, by a car that will not start, stalls, runs roughly, smokes, loses power or shows a warning light.

Will you come to the petrol station?

Yes. We come to the petrol station, the roadside, your home or your workplace.

Is diesel in a petrol car as bad as petrol in a diesel?

No. Petrol in a diesel is the more damaging mistake. Either way, do not drive the car until the fuel has been removed.

I put AdBlue in the diesel tank. What now?

Do not start the engine, and call. AdBlue is not a fuel, and running it through the system can cause serious damage.

How can I avoid doing it again?

Take a moment to check the pump before you fill up. Misfuelling usually happens when the driver is distracted, or in an unfamiliar car.

Wrong fuel in the tank? Leave the key alone and call.

Call 0406 396 397 between 7 am and 9 pm, 7 days a week. Tell us the car, what went in and where you are, and we will give you a price and head your way.