If you have put diesel in a petrol Lotus then you will want to know what to do about it, how to get it out, if it’s safe to drive, and probably a host of other questions.
We are here to answer those questions and get you back on the road again.
In most cases, yes. Petrol in a diesel fuel system can cause issues with a loss of lubrication resulting in damaged fuel pumps and injectors. It can also lead to the deterioration of fuel lines, seals and filters.
Running a diesel vehicle on petrol can also cause a number of problems – including burnt out spark-plugs, thinned out oil (leading to a lack of engine lubrication), and even complete engine failure.
The easiest way to get the wrong fuel out of you Lotus is to call us. We offer a specialist Lotus misfuel service where we come out to attend the vehicle wherever it is. We will drain the fuel tank (or tanks if there are more than one), flush out the fuel lines, filters and pumps, re-prime the system with clean fuel, and get the engine running again.
The safe answer is always no. Putting any amount of the wrong fuel in a car can cause damage to the fuel system.
You will often find that after filling up with the wrong fuel the driver is unaware of the fact and attempts to drive off down the road. In most cases the car will get a couple of miles before it starts to exhibit the tell-tale signs of misfuelling (loss of power, excess smoke, cutting out, or failing to restart after being turned off). These few miles will be because the engine is running on the remaining clean fuel left in the fuel lines and filter. Once the contaminated fuel reaches the engine it’s a completely different story altogether.
How quickly it starts to misbehave depends on the fuel system, the amount of correct fuel in the vehicle, and the volume of incorrect fuel pumped into the tank.
These last two factors will determine the contamination ratio in the fuel tank. We generally say that if you have more than 5% contamination in your fuel tank you should get it drained out as soon as possible*.
If you want to know your contamination ratio we have provided a list at the bottom of the page of the most common Lotus models and variants. This list gives their estimated fuel tank capacity and an indicator of how many litres of fuel equates to five percent.
If you have put more than this amount into the tank then give us a call right away to get it drained and cleaned out.
* NOTE: This 5% contamination ratio advice is based on our customer feedback and years of experience in dealing with misfuelled Lotuss. Bear in mind that any amount of contaminated fuel can damage the engine. To avoid any uncertainty please consult Lotus’s guidelines on what level of contamination is acceptable.Accidentally put diesel in a petrol Lotus? Or even put contaminated fuel in your Lotus?
Give us a call and obtain reliable guidance and sensible help for your particular circumstances
We can reach you to undertake the complete fuel removal & purge right there on scene
When we are done you are able to get back moving and get on with your day
We are the primary wrong fuel drain professionals in the UK, offering countrywide coverage, for Lotus owners in particular. We primarily attend to:
We are Lotus specialists and have successfully drained thousands of misfuelled Lotus models. Even if it is at the roadside, on a filling station forecourt, or even at home, we can get you on the road again.
The technique of extracting diesel from a petrol Lotus is fundamentally similar for the vast majority of vehicle makes. As you can imagine it can differ to some degree as each manufacturer has their own fuel system. Even so it still generally follows the below principles:
Just some of the few people we work with to bring you the best petrol in diesel service possible
When someone has put diesel in a petrol Lotus they have a few very common questions. So we have compiled a list of the most Frequently Asked Questions for you
Turn off the car as soon as possible and call us. Continuing to run a vehicle on the wrong fuel can potentially damage it. We will be able to give you advice and assistance based on your circumstances
It can. However, if the problem is caught and remedied quickly the risks will be minimal. Of the 1,500 vehicles we attend every month, less than 0.5% have suffered and substantial damage requiring parts replacement.
The safe answer is none. However you might be able to get away with a very low contamination ratio. That being said, we always highly recommend draining anything over a 5% contamination ratio asap.
Putting Super Unleaded, or Shell V-Power, BP Ultimate Unleaded, etc, will have the exact same effect as putting regular unleaded petrol in your diesel car and will need to be drained out and flushed.
No! The EU Block Exemption Regulations clearly state that "the work can be carried out by as long as that garage uses manufacturer approved parts and correctly follows the manufacturer's service schedule."
This might work on some vehicles in some cases, but in the majority on instances it won't and you risk damaging the Lambda sensors as well as fuel pump and injectors, just as a regular misfuel.
| Make | Model | Engine CC | Fuel Type | Fuel Capacity | 5% of Tank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lotus | Elise | 1795 | Petrol | 49 litres | 2.45 litres |
| Lotus | Esprit | 1973 | Petrol | 73 litres | 3.65 litres |
| Lotus | Europa | 1998 | Petrol | 44 litres | 2.2 litres |
| Lotus | Evora | 3456 | Petrol | 60 litres | 3 litres |
| Lotus | Exige | 1796 | Petrol | 40 litres | 2 litres |
If you have any enquiries or want help please Contact Us!
We can get you on the road once again.
Fuel Fixer Ltd, Linx House, 147 London Road, East Grinstead, RH19 1ET
enquiries@fuelfixeruk.co.uk
Fully Insured
VAT Registered
APEX Certified
Fully Mobile
Professionally Trained
Roadside/Forecourt/Home
We empty the fuel tank via the filler neck, the sender unit, or even the fuel lines themselves
We can flush the fuel system, purging contaminants from the lines, filter and pumps
We can put clean fuel back in the car and get it up and running again, ready to drive away.