{"id":6825,"date":"2022-10-28T13:37:53","date_gmt":"2022-10-28T03:37:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nimble.com.au\/blog\/?p=6825"},"modified":"2026-03-19T15:03:28","modified_gmt":"2026-03-19T05:03:28","slug":"putting-the-wrong-fuel-in-a-car","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nimble.com.au\/blog\/putting-the-wrong-fuel-in-a-car\/","title":{"rendered":"Weekend Lesson: Putting The Wrong Fuel In A Car \u26fd | Nimble"},"content":{"rendered":"

It’s a common mistake that happens to the best of us: putting the wrong fuel in our car.<\/span><\/p>\n

Maybe you slept in, missed your morning coffee and were in a hurry to get to work when you grabbed the wrong pump at the station. Or perhaps you borrowed your partner’s car and accidentally put petrol in a diesel.<\/span><\/p>\n

Whatever your reason for filling up with the wrong fuel, it is important that you know what to do when it happens or the next steps to take.<\/span><\/p>\n

Just remember, you’re not alone.<\/span><\/p>\n

Whilst there is no exact figure as to how many people make the mistake each year, it’s common enough in Australia to have a business specifically created to deal with the problem.<\/span><\/p>\n

Yan Van De Velde, the company director of Wrong Fuel Rescue claims his company rescues ‘thousands’ of stranded motorists each year<\/span>.<\/span>1<\/sup><\/a><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

But at what cost to your bank account?<\/span><\/p>\n

Especially when it can be avoided.<\/span><\/p>\n

The following tips may just help you prevent getting yourself in that tricky situation and awkward small-talk with a tow truck driver all the way home.<\/span><\/p>\n

Find out what type of fuel your car takes<\/b><\/h2>\n

First things first.<\/span><\/p>\n

Make sure you check what type of fuel is right for your car.<\/span><\/p>\n

Most cars will have the information you need in the handbook (if you still have that old thing). But don’t stress if you don’t because most cars have it on or around the fuel cap depending on the make and model of your vehicle<\/span>.<\/span>2<\/sup><\/a><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

A majority of cars on the road take diesel or unleaded petrol which are two very different fuel types, for two very different engines. Like wine and beer, they should never be mixed so don’t try it at home folks.<\/span><\/p>\n

LPG exists and is used, but these days only accounts for 2% of total automotive fuels sold in Australia<\/span>3<\/sup><\/a><\/span><\/span>, so chances are, if you need this type, you will most likely know.<\/span><\/p>\n

So now that you know you know what fuel you need, what’s the deal with all the different options?<\/span><\/p>\n

Unleaded Petrol<\/b><\/h3>\n

There are different Research Octane Number (RON) ratings<\/span>4<\/sup><\/a><\/span><\/span> for fuel.<\/span><\/p>\n