Motorists in Oxfordshire are being warned about accidentally using the wrong fuel in their car, as the fuel crisis causes stress and chaos across the county.

As the panic buying of fuel shows no sign of ending, filling stations in many parts of the county have run dry with long queues at stations that still have supplies.

READ MORE: Oxfordshire petrol: live updates as fuel shortages continue

Stress levels continue to rise with many motorists in Oxfordshire unable to get their hands on fuel. 

These motorists are being warned to take care not to put the wrong fuel in their cars during the crisis.

John Wilmot, CEO of LeaseLoco, said: “Even under normal circumstances, 400 motorists accidentally put the wrong fuel in their vehicles every day. But these aren’t normal circumstances, and with stress levels rising and tempers flaring at petrol pumps across the country, there's a very high chance that we could see a record level of misfuelling incidents.

“If you do put the wrong fuel in your car, what you do next can determine whether you’re going to face a huge repair bill, or not.

“Unfortunately, putting petrol in a diesel car is the common error, because petrol nozzles can fit into most diesel filter necks, and it’s the mistake that can cause the most damage to the engine.

Petrol damages diesel engines because it increases friction between parts in the engine. Diesel on the other hand, acts as a lubricant helping the fuel pump do its job. The more petrol that’s pumped through the engine the more damage it will do. And the damage to fuel pumps, injectors, fuel-tank could be severe. The worst-case scenario, you may even need a new engine.

“If you put diesel into a petrol car, the diesel will clog up the spark plugs and fuel system and will probably result in the car not starting. However, there shouldn’t be any lasting damage once the fuel has been drained out.”

Mr Wimot added: “Even under these extremely stressful conditions, try and take your time while refuelling, and make sure you check the fuel grade indicator on the pump and the label on the pump trigger. Never rely on the colour of the hose or nozzle.”

What should you do if you put the wrong fuel in your car?

Don’t turn the engine on

Leave your engine switched off and don’t put the key in the ignition. The most serious damage from misfuelling occurs after starting the engine because this allows fuel to circulate around it. 

Drain the fuel tank

The fuel tank needs to be drained to remove the contaminated fuel before you drive the car. But before you can do this….

Put the vehicle in neutral

Put the car in neutral, let the staff at the petrol station know what’s happened, and push the vehicle to a safe place on the forecourt.

Already driven off?

If you’ve already left the petrol station, find a safe place to pull over as soon as possible, put the car in neutral and turn off the ignition.

Fuel drain services

Most breakdown cover policies won’t cover the costs of draining and flushing your vehicle after misfueling, but the big breakdown providers do offer the service separately whether you’re a member or not. There are also plenty of specialist companies offering misfuelling services.

Insurance

Check your insurance policy to see if misfuelling is covered. You may be able to claim back the cost of repairing your car under an accidental damage clause in your policy. This generally only applies to comprehensive policies though.

Avoid misfueling

To avoid misfuelling, check the fuel grade indicator on the pump and the label on the pump trigger. Never rely on the colour of the hose or nozzle. 

You could also label your fuel cap with a prominent sign indicating the fuel type. It’s also possible to buy a diesel filler cap that prevents petrol nozzles from fitting into diesel tank necks.