Petrol in a Diesel Fiat Brava: Already Driven It?
As soon as it's safe, pull over and switch the motor off, then leave it off. Driving on with petrol in a diesel Fiat Brava only carries the petrol further in. Spotted early, it very rarely causes permanent damage, and putting it right where you've stopped is still possible.
Where your Fiat Brava has stopped, Petrol in Diesel travels out to empty the tank there and clean the petrol from your fuel system. When we go, it's running on fresh diesel.
When petrol in a diesel Brava reveals itself
It is usually a couple of miles until the symptoms appear, as with petrol inside the fuel tank a diesel Brava will often drive normally to begin with. The following are the ones usually noticed if your fuel tank has AdBlue or petrol in it:
- a loss of power, particularly when the motor is asked to accelerate
- it ticks over erratically, or it runs rough
- there's more smoke than usual from the tailpipe
- dashboard warning lights appear
- once it stalls, it may not restart
Any of these starting after you fuelled up is a reason to check your receipt to see what went in.
How far wrong fuel in your Fiat Brava goes once you drive
Wrong fuel in your Fiat Brava remains in your fuel tank till the motor pulls it out, and driving is what takes it through the filter, your high-pressure fuel pump then the fuel injectors. Petrol thins the diesel fuel that lubricates the pump and your injectors while it flows through them, and driving the Brava further carries that blend into more of the system.
So finishing the journey is a worse choice than stopping the moment you can. Normally, a drain and a clean are all a car requires if it's stopped soon, because what can cause harm is driving far on fuel that's tainted.
Another version of the Brava is no different from the Brava TD 100 S in this, and so which one is yours makes no difference.
We come to where you've stopped
You don't have to take the Brava anywhere. No recovery truck needs to be arranged and there's no need to start it, as we come to it at the roadside or outside your home.
With the hazards on, stand clear of the traffic somewhere safe when the road next to you is busy.
Roughly how far you drove, which Brava it is and where you've stopped are what to mention when you call 0333 366 0103. It also helps if the badge shows the version, like the Brava 1.9 D SX.
A fuel drain on your Fiat Brava after a drive
There is one step more to a fuel drain on your Fiat Brava after it has been driven than to a drain on the forecourt. No petrol should be left between your tank and the engine afterwards, which is why the fuel tank is drained first and the fuel lines are then opened and rinsed through with the filter. The fuel system is primed after clean diesel is in, and the engine is started to check it runs smoothly.
AdBlue in a diesel Fiat Brava once driven
Uneven running, smoke and warning lamps are the usual signs once you've driven on AdBlue in a diesel Fiat Brava, and the vehicle may stall. The fuel pump picks up fuel at the bottom of the fuel tank, which is where AdBlue sinks, so it reaches your fuel line quickly. It also doesn't burn or lubricate. Its water drying out lets the urea form crystals in the lines and the filter.
How AdBlue removal from a diesel Fiat Brava works
We change the fuel filter if it needs it as part of AdBlue removal from a diesel Fiat Brava after it has run, when the fuel tank is drained and the crystals are cleared from your filter and the lines.
A separate AdBlue tank, if your Brava has one, is left as it is. The job is about liquid in the diesel tank, and does not involve taking out or switching off an AdBlue system.
Engines and Fiat Brava fuel tank capacity
Of the Fiat Brava versions, the Brava JTD 105 HSX has the largest diesel tank, at 60 litres, and the Brava TD 75 S the smallest, at 50 litres.
Diesel Brava versions wear TD and JTD badges.
The engines are 1.9 litres on every version listed.
| Version | Fuel tank |
|---|---|
| Fiat Brava 1.9 D SX | 50 litres |
| Fiat Brava JTD 105 HSX | 60 litres |
| Fiat Brava TD 100 S | 50 litres |
| Fiat Brava TD 75 S | 50 litres |
What a fuel drain on the Fiat Brava costs after a drive
How far it went and where it has stopped are what mainly decide the price of a fuel drain on the Fiat Brava after driving, and petrol or AdBlue makes a difference too. We can tell you what the work will need when you phone with those details.
Petrol in a diesel Fiat Brava: questions after a drive
Is my Brava ruined?
It's very unlikely to be. If the vehicle is stopped early, emptying and flushing the system is what we do where you've pulled up, and harm that lasts is uncommon after that.
Is it all right to drive it home first?
Our guidance would be not to. Contaminated fuel reaches further into the fuel system with each mile, which means you can leave the Brava where it stands whilst we empty it there, with no reason to shift it.
It has stalled and won't restart. What should I do?
Please do not try a second time. Leave it as it is, since every try draws more of the mixture through. Once we have emptied and flushed it and then put fresh diesel in, we prime your fuel system and start the vehicle for you.
Do you need to know which Brava I drive?
Knowing which of the 4 diesel versions of the Brava you have helps us when you call, and it's on the badge on the boot.
Will my insurance cover wrong fuel in my Fiat Brava?
Once the car is dealt with, it is worth checking your policy, as some include misfuelling cover. We come out whether it covers you or not.