Petrol in a Diesel Audi A2? Leave It Switched Off
The motor is best left off when it hasn't been run since you put petrol in a diesel Audi A2, and that includes shifting it away from the petrol pump. The petrol can't leave your tank while the motor is off, so your A2 can generally be put right with a fuel drain.
There is no need to shift your Audi A2 off the forecourt, or from any other place where it came to a stop, because this drain is carried out by Petrol in Diesel where the car is. Call us before you attempt anything on your own and we'll take you through it.
The first steps with petrol in a diesel A2
- Motorists frequently drive away without realising anything is amiss, as a diesel A2 will generally fire up and run on petrol and can seem fine for the first couple of miles. So keep your motor off.
- Keep the ignition off as well. On a lot of diesels switching it on is enough to start the fuel pump priming, which pulls fuel from your tank on to the fuel injectors.
- Topping up with diesel to dilute it is a bad idea, even with super unleaded, which counts as petrol as well. The fuel tank on the A2 holds up to 34 litres, and every litre of diesel put in is more tainted fuel for us to drain.
- A car blocking a pump can be popped in neutral and rolled clear, and the forecourt staff are normally happy to lend a hand.
- If the badging shows the exact variant, for example the A2 1.2 TDI, mention it when you phone 0333 366 0103. Let us know too which A2 you have and where it is parked, about how much petrol was put in and whether your engine has run.
Started your car with wrong fuel in your Audi A2?
Wrong fuel in your Audi A2 only begins to affect the engine after it's drawn from your tank, which is what starting your motor does. In a diesel motor, the fuel oils your injectors and the injection pump on its way past. Driving any distance on that blend is what can cause damage, because petrol dilutes the diesel and takes that protection away.
Where you've already been driving your A2, pull over in a safe place and turn off. We can still deal with it, by draining your tank and flushing the pipes and the filter till all the tainted fuel is out. As long as it is flushed out properly after being caught early, it very rarely leaves lasting damage.
The fuel tank capacity of the Audi A2
Since the risk rests on how much of the fuel is petrol, the capacity of the tank counts, and a few litres in a tank that was almost empty are a bigger problem than the same in a fuller one.
According to the variant, the Audi A2 has a tank of 20 to 34 litres.
The smallest fuel tank in our figures is on the A2 1.2 TDI, and the biggest is on the A2 1.4 TDI.
| Version | Fuel tank |
|---|---|
| Audi A2 1.2 TDI | 20 litres |
| Audi A2 1.4 TDI | 34 litres |
What diesel version of the A2 is yours?
The version is generally on the badging on the boot lid, and it helps us to know it when you ring.
On a diesel A2 you will find TDI on the badging.
AdBlue in a diesel Audi A2 by mistake
Certain diesel vehicles hold a blend of water and urea, called AdBlue, in a tank of its own with a dedicated filler, and use it to clean up their exhaust. Even to move the car, don't turn the key when you've got AdBlue in a diesel Audi A2 after it went into the wrong filler.
Since it's largely water, AdBlue doesn't ignite and gives the fuel pump no lubrication whatsoever. It doesn't blend with diesel either, so it sinks to the base of your tank where your pump picks up its fuel, and a tank holding up to 34 litres won't dilute it as it would dilute petrol.
Even a small quantity is drawn into the fuel line. Once the water dries out, the urea crystallises inside the system, including your filter and injectors, and it eats into the metal it touches.
On a lot of vehicles the AdBlue filler is alongside the diesel filler under the same cover, and if the A2 has one, it may well be there too. You can generally tell the AdBlue cap by its blue shade and the far slimmer nozzle it fits.
What we do in a fuel drain on your Audi A2
We do a fuel drain on your Audi A2 where your vehicle stands, and it never has to be taken to a garage. We start by finding out what was put in and whether your engine has been run, then drain the tank, which on the A2 holds up to 34 litres. After that we flush the fuel pipes and the fuel filter and refill with clean diesel, and the system is primed before we fire it up.
By the end, your A2 is running on clean diesel once more and ready for you to take away.
Handling AdBlue removal from a diesel Audi A2
AdBlue removal from a diesel Audi A2 uses the same steps as a petrol drain. As AdBlue doesn't blend in but gathers at the base of the tank, running the A2 on it can form deposits inside the lines. Those get cleared through too, and the fuel filter is swapped if it needs it.
On this page, AdBlue removal means getting AdBlue back out of a diesel tank it was put into through the wrong filler. Switching off or taking out the AdBlue system on a vehicle is not what it means.
What does a fuel drain on the Audi A2 cost?
As each task is different, we have no set quote to publish, and these are the chief things that affect it:
- whether the A2 has been started or driven, which makes the greatest difference
- the amount put in, measured against the size of the tank
- whether it was AdBlue rather than petrol
- whether our van can easily and safely reach the A2 where it stands
Call with those answers and we will be able to explain what's likely to be involved.
Queries on petrol in a diesel Audi A2, answered
How many litres is the Audi A2 fuel tank capacity?
Somewhere from 20 to 34 litres, depending on which variant it is. Each one is listed above.
Is it all right to add diesel after just a little petrol in my A2?
Filling up only cuts the share of petrol. None of that is taken out, so it's all still there when you drive, which is why we would not advise it. A drain takes all of that out, and with a small amount that is generally all the A2 needs.
Does my A2 have to go to the Audi dealer?
There's no need to move it elsewhere. We empty and clean your A2 where it is, and we're independent, with no connection to Audi or its dealers.
Which A2 I drive: does it make a difference?
It is useful for us to know which one you have when you ring, as we have data for 2 diesel variants of the A2.
Does my policy cover wrong fuel in my Audi A2?
We will still come out and drain it for you, either way. Check your insurance anyway, as not every policy has misfuelling cover.
Diesel in the AdBlue tank of my A2: what happens?
Don't put your key in your ignition then either. Limp mode and a warning are what most vehicles give you if they're driven like that, and their AdBlue system will need draining. Do say which tank took the fuel when you phone.
What should I do if I've already driven my A2?
Until we reach you, your motor should stay off, so pull over where it is safe and turn it off. We empty and clean the fuel system wherever you are, and if it is caught early like this, permanent harm is very uncommon.