Petrol in a Diesel Skoda After You've Driven It
Pulling over the moment it is safe comes first if you've driven with petrol in a diesel Skoda, and after that your engine is switched off and is left off. We can still put it right wherever you have pulled up, and if it's spotted early, permanent damage is very rare.
Where your car has ended up, Petrol in Diesel travels out to it. We empty the tank and clean the petrol out of the fuel system, and leave it running on clean diesel again.
Petrol in a diesel Skoda: the signs to look for
Often, a diesel vehicle with petrol in its fuel tank drives normally for a few miles to begin with, and the symptoms appear after that. Motorists usually notice these when there is petrol or AdBlue in your fuel tank:
- the motor feels short of power, especially as it's asked to accelerate
- it idles unevenly or runs rough
- smoke from the tailpipe that is heavier than normal
- warning lights appear on the dash
- it might not restart after it stalls
If these symptoms began after a fill-up, the fuel that went in is shown on your receipt.
Wrong fuel in your Skoda: what driving on it does
Wrong fuel in your Skoda remains in the fuel tank until the motor pulls it out, and driving is what takes it through your fuel filter, the high-pressure fuel pump and your fuel injectors. The farther your car goes, the more of your fuel system that blend gets to, as petrol dilutes the diesel that keeps the pump and your injectors lubricated.
Because of this, stopping as soon as you can is better than finishing the trip. A vehicle that is stopped soon usually needs only a drain and a clean, because what can do harm is travelling a long way on mixed fuel.
This applies to the Roomster as much as it does to any other diesel Skoda.
Help where you pulled over
Nobody needs to get the vehicle anywhere. No tow has to be organised, and there's no need to start it, as we come to it at the roadside or at your home.
Switch on your hazards if the road next to you is busy, then choose a safe place to wait, staying clear of the traffic.
When you call 0333 366 0103, the details we ask for are your whereabouts, the model and about how many miles you covered. At first, the model name will do, like the Superb.
Fuel drain on your Skoda after it has been driven
A fuel drain on your Skoda after it has been driven goes one step further than one on the forecourt. We drain the tank first, then open up your fuel lines and flush them through with your fuel filter, so that no petrol is left between the tank and the motor. The fuel system is primed once fresh diesel goes in, and the engine is fired up to make sure all is well.
We empty the tank first, which on the Rapid holds up to 55 litres.
AdBlue in a diesel Skoda after it has run
Watch for smoke, rough running and warning lamps if you have driven on AdBlue in a diesel Skoda, as your car might also cut out. AdBlue does not burn or lubricate, and it drops to the base of the tank where your pump picks up fuel, so it reaches your fuel line fast. As its water dries out, the urea crystallises in your fuel lines and the filter.
AdBlue removal from a diesel Skoda: what it involves
Emptying the tank comes first in AdBlue removal from a diesel Skoda that has been run, after which the crystals are flushed out of your fuel lines and your filter, with the fuel filter replaced if it needs it.
If the car has a separate AdBlue tank, that's left as it is. This is about liquid in your diesel tank, not taking out or disabling the AdBlue system.
Tank sizes in the diesel Skoda range
Starting at 42 litres, diesel Skoda fuel tanks run up to 63 litres over the models.
For instance, the Fabia takes up to 45 litres.
Every version and its tank appears on its model's page below, one page for each of the 7 diesel Skoda models we cover.
The cost of a fuel drain on a diesel Skoda after driving
The place your car has stopped and the distance it travelled mostly decide the cost of a fuel drain after driving. Petrol or AdBlue matters as well. We can tell you what this job will need when you phone with those details.
Common questions after driving with petrol in a diesel Skoda
Has the petrol ruined my Skoda?
It is very unlikely. Lasting harm is rare when your car is stopped soon and the fuel system is drained and flushed, and that's what we do where you have pulled up.
Could I drive the car home first?
We would ask you to keep it where it is. We can deal with the vehicle right where it stands, so it does not need shifting, and each mile on mixed fuel would carry it further through the system.
It has stalled and will not restart. What do I do?
Please leave the car instead of trying again, as each attempt draws more of that mixture through. We prime the fuel system and start it for you once it's been drained and flushed and clean diesel is in.
Wrong fuel in my Skoda: will insurance cover it?
We come out either way. It is still worth looking at yours once the car is sorted, as some insurance policies include misfuelling cover.