Can the Wrong Fuel Damage a Car?

Have you ever wondered what would happen if you put a different type of fuel into your vehicle than you normally do? Could you put diesel fuel in a Honda? Or unleaded fuel in a Lamborghini? There are certainly some good reasons why car manufacturers instruct a particular type of fuel for their vehicles; but how scientific are they? What if you accidentally use the wrong fuel nozzle at the gas pump? Will your car be damaged beyond repair? If so, how can you recover without insurance coverage? As a vehicle owner, these are all very pertinent questions that warrant answers.

Continue reading to learn what might happen if you put the wrong type of fuel in your car, and what to do if it ever happens by accident.

Sell Us Your Totaled Car! 317-608-2188
Sell Us Your Totaled Car! 317-608-2188

Here is the thing about using the wrong type of fuel in a car: it can either have severe effects, like major engine damage or corroded fuel lines, or it can have no real effect at all. It depends on the type of fuel used, and the make and model vehicle it was put into.

Putting Diesel in a Gasoline Engine

If you were to put diesel fuel into a gasoline engine, the effects would not be as devastating as the former scenario, however, it would still be a bad situation for both you and your car. Not only will it make the car smoke excessively, the car will not perform well. Furthermore, it may clog the fuel filter, lines, and injectors. If you were to continue giving a gasoline engine diesel, the engine would eventually stop working altogether. If this situation does occur, do not start your car. Instead, disconnect the battery and then have your vehicle towed to a mechanic.

Putting Gasoline in a Diesel Engine

If you put regular gasoline into a vehicle that runs on a diesel engine, you are in a bad position. First, do not start the car, otherwise, the damage will be catastrophic to the engine and fuel system. Second, to remedy the problem, you will have to have the entire fuel system cleaned. This includes everything from the tank and lines, to the injectors, filter, and more. In addition to automotive damage, gasoline and diesel fuel have different boiling points, so from a mechanical standpoint, using gasoline in a diesel engine would destroy the engine and related systems.

No Car Insurance?

In the case that you do not have automotive insurance, your position is worse since you might be left with a totaled car and no settlement check. If this happens, you still have some viable options for selling your car. The best option is to sell your totaled car to a local junk car buyer in Indianapolis. They will pay you cash on the spot for the market value of your car, so long as you can prove ownership of the vehicle.

Here’s How to Get Started!

Call GC’s Junk Cars at 317-608-2188 to get paid cash for your totaled car in Indianapolis. Our Indiana junk car buyers offer free towing with our in-house tow truck, so all you have to do is call and accept our offer! We will schedule a time to pick up your vehicle and pay you cash. No title? No problem! Give us a call anyway! Call 317-608-2188 to request a free estimate, today.

GC’s Junk Cars
GC’s Junk Cars 317-608-2188