For most vehicles, the only ill effect is to cause the vehicle's emissions control to be less effective. however, some gasolines may also damage fuel system components, which can lead to more serious problems. when this occurs it may result in reduced engine performance and/or increased emissions levels. for example, for cars manufactured between 1996-2002 that use obd1 emissions systems (the majority of cars sold in north america), gasoline that does not meet gasoline octane specification could cause misfires by damaging the ignition components inside the cylinder head connecting rod assembly. the result may be stalling or reduced power when accelerating. more than just reduced engine performance; improperly mixed fuels can also contribute to difficult cold starting or running issues causing high
what happens if you accidentally put the wrong gas in your car?
in most vehicles, putting the wrong gas in your car won't cause any harm to the vehicle. however, putting diesel in a gasoline powered vehicle or vice versa can potentially damage components of the engine.
first of all, if you put an incorrect type of gas in your car and it requires a lot more expensive synthetic version, they may charge you for the cost of that. second, if you do accidentally mix them up and it really messes with your engine mechanics somehow – i mean they tell me my mixing up antifreeze is not great but when i mix up both liquids from cars it's just [unintelligible] right there on top – who knows? they might have to replace some parts or
can putting the wrong gas mess up your car?
yes. if you put the wrong gas in your car, you can mess up its balance and affect performance, not to mention it could damage your engine.
you should also be careful when topping off a tank after your gas pump has been turned off or before you have refueled at all. it's really easy to spill from the nozzle if pressure builds up for any reason–especially when in a moving vehicle. that's why it's a good idea to keep an eye on the nozzle between pumps and wait until it settles down before filling again. also, make sure that the nozzle is at level ground when you start fueling so that no pressure builds up with improper operation of nozzle against ground surface especially in cases where the pressure perspective is
how do i get the wrong gas out of my car?
the two most common causes for a gas mixture that is visibly different from the typical us “nozzle unleaded” mix. the first is a blend of high octane and regular unleaded fuel, often achieved by using a different pump at a gas station. this can be resolved by pumping pure high octane into your car to get it back to the right ratio. the second, and more common issue is when someone fills up with diesel fuel because it's cheaper or they aren't paying attention to signage. in this case there are three good options for resolving the issue: call roadside assistance (if you have it) and have them bring you whatever type of gas your vehicle needs; purchase used engine degreaser then drive around
