Expensive day - easy money

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Sat 12 Jul 2014 22:09
Expensive day - easy money - Trilogy

Driving to work this morning I noticed I'd forgotten to top with fuel. Within a couple of miles of joining the A14 the low fuel level warning light came on. Not really being certain of how much fuel was left, I reluctantly decided to stop on A14 and pay A14 price. The pumps closest to the entrance were free, just unleaded and super unleaded. I never have super, so went with £16.40 of the other. The checkout woman said '£16.40, unleaded?' I replied 'Yes'.

Ten miles later while sitting at traffic lights in Cambridge, just a mile from work, the engine stalled. I tried to start a couple of times. Naturally I realised something was up. A lad helped me to push the car to a layby and plod stopped to make sure i was alright. Fortunately, I have AA cover, first time needed in 8 years membership. When I relayed to the operator what the symptoms were he asked if I'd recently added fuel. My hand hit my head! Yes, unleaded in a diesel car. Three hours and £225 the poorer, after no more than 15 miutes work by their fuel recovery service I was on my way. First time I've ever misfuelled in 11 years of diesel ownership!

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Sat 12 Jul 2014 23:27
Expensive day - easy money - The-Mechanic

Can happen to the best of us mate. Bet you won't make that [expensive] mistake again in a hurry ?

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Sat 12 Jul 2014 23:43
Expensive day - easy money - Avant

Commiserations! Somehow I managed never to do that in 10 years of having a mixture of diesel and petrol cars in the household: but now that both cars are petrol-powered I hope that the risk is now minimal.

Having just driven across France and Switzerland to see a friend near Zurich, and got an excellent 41 mpg from my petrol Octavia vRS, I think I've had my last diesel car.

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Sun 13 Jul 2014 00:05
Expensive day - easy money - Smileyman

Check your car insurance policy, this sort of incident might be covered (although not sure of the impact on the NCD!)

Edited by Smileyman on 13/07/2014 at 00:06

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Sun 13 Jul 2014 00:29
Expensive day - easy money - Happy Blue!

Did it myself a few months ago (as reported on here). You feel better for telling someone and hopefully you won't do it again. Comiserations.

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Sun 13 Jul 2014 00:56
Expensive day - easy money - Wackyracer

I bet you wished you was with green flag.

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Sun 13 Jul 2014 07:43
Expensive day - easy money - gordonbennet

Bad luck, don't run Diesels meself any more, but i was paranoid about this at filing stations, even to the point of sniffing the fuel as i started filling.

I think the charge from your breakdown service is scandalous, and had they stung me similarly for about 3 gallons of derv i'd make sure they never saw another penny of my hard earned as i long as i lived...indeed your story alone has confirmed me as a ''no chance matey'', i'll continue with other services.

Edited by gordonbennet on 13/07/2014 at 07:45

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Sun 13 Jul 2014 08:59
Expensive day - easy money - veryoldbear

We have two household Saabs one of the diesel and one of the petrol persuasion. It's only a matter of time I fear ....

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Sun 13 Jul 2014 19:12
Expensive day - easy money - skidpan

Three hours and £225 the poorer, after no more than 15 miutes work by their fuel recovery service I was on my way

Only down it once myself and that was on time too many. The RAC man (via Aviva Rescue) took the car to the local Ford main dealer (he recomended not going to one of the specialists, said they were a rip off) who drained the tank, replaced the diesel filter (essential), purged the fuel pipes and checked at the injectors for any debris. Total cost £250 all in.

OK, that was 5 years ago but was for a lot more work, parts, took more than 15 minutes and was a propper job. The AA simply ripped you off.

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Sun 13 Jul 2014 20:31
Expensive day - easy money - Trilogy

I was quite clearly on autopilot, otherwise I'd have realised my mistake. The two cars I drive are both diesel. I sent a text to few friends when I was waiting for the AA and discovered two have done the same thin. Another's husband did the same thing, with a van in Germany, resulting in a 4,000 euros bill.

My car is due for a service so will get it checked out then. The AA advised I filled the tank, which I did with diesel, as soon as possible after the incident. And again when it reaches half full. Fortunately, it is a 51 plate, so I won't be too bothered if there is any long lasting damage.

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Sun 13 Jul 2014 20:41
Expensive day - easy money - veryoldbear

4000 Euros! Wow!

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Sun 13 Jul 2014 20:47
Expensive day - easy money - Trilogy

Just found this. Could me £ well spent. www.misfuellingprevention.co.uk/index.asp

Wackyracer - thanks for the GreenFlag tip. AA is up for renewal soon. GreenFlag is most likely to get my business in future.

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Sun 13 Jul 2014 21:56
Expensive day - easy money - Simon

I reckon its a bit of a gimmick by Green Flag as they have fallen right down the ratings over the last couple of years and are probably trying to claw back some customers...

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Sun 13 Jul 2014 22:38
Expensive day - easy money - Wackyracer

They seem to be offering a fair deal at the moment to steal custom from the AA and RAC.

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Mon 14 Jul 2014 12:15
Expensive day - easy money - NARU

I bet you wished you was with green flag.

I've just have my caravan club breakdown renewal through (it's provided by GF). Nice to see this now offered as a no-charge offer.

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Mon 14 Jul 2014 21:06
Expensive day - easy money - Trilogy

Spoke to a retired lady today who misfuelled twice in two weeks!

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Tue 15 Jul 2014 00:15
Expensive day - easy money - Happy Blue!

The RAC man who sorted me out, told me of a woman who did again immediately after he had got her going. She drove back to the same station she had misfuelled at and made the same mistake.

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Tue 15 Jul 2014 00:55
Expensive day - easy money - Avant

Years ago SWMBO had a diesel Peugeot 205 - E reg, so it must have been 1988. A lovely little car, and in those days the XUD engine was much better than any of the petrol engines they put in 205s.

I was filling it up one day and a very kind Indian gent rushed up and tried to stop me, saying 'No, no, no - terrible damage!'. I tried to explain that there would be terrible damage if I didn't fill it with diesel, but he wasn't convinced. But it was very helpful of him; I suppose there weren't nearly as many diesel cars around, especially small cars, as there are nowadays.

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