Do the car manufacturer's have their misfuelling prevention devices backwards?

I think the motor industry has got it the wrong way round in its effort to prevent misfuelling. It is impossible to put diesel into a petrol tank but this does little harm except that the car won't start and the tank has to be drained. However, you can still put petrol into a diesel tank which ruins the whole fuel system and those parts of the engine that need the lubricant qualities of diesel thus costing thousands of pounds to put right. They should have made the diesel intake too small to accommodate petrol pumps.

Asked on 15 December 2012 by DM, West Wickham

Answered by Honest John
Ford, Citroen and now BMW all fit special sprung collars to their fuel fillers that prevent a narrower petrol nozzle being inserted into the filler of a diesel engines car.
Similar questions
With reference to DS Wellesbourne wondering why it took five days for misfuelling a diesel to manifest itself, it would be because of the petrol being much lighter (typical density 07300) than the diesel...
I filled my diesel Jaguar XF with unleaded fuel. I drove it 400 metres to my house with no problem. In the morning I had difficulty starting it. When it eventually fired it ran rough for approximately...
I know it is my fault, but I filled my diesel Mercedes-Benz car with petrol, and landed myself with a bill for £730. Amazingly, the car travelled 75 miles before the engine cut out. The service manager...
 

Value my car

Save £75 on Warranty using code HJ75

with MotorEasy

Get a warranty quote

Save 12% on GAP Insurance

Use HJ21 to save on an ALA policy

See offer