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Every single car in Saudi Arabia is still powered by ICE (Internal Combustion Engine), as electric vehicles have not made their way yet into the local markets. And the most prominent types of fuel are petrol and diesel, which is why so many people are asking the same question on a daily basis; what happens if you put diesel in a petrol car? And vice versa.
Using the Wrong Fuel in Your Car
In this article, we will be answering the most frequently asked questions about this certain issue, as we will discuss the most important benefits of each type of fuel, diesel and petrol, and we will let you know the consequences of using the wrong fuel in your car.
Diesel Vs Petrol
ICE engines are very similar in regards to how they operate, but the differences remain very clear, for instance, the type of fuel. Diesel engines are built in a specific way just so they can run smoothly while the diesel fluid goes through their parts, and the same thing goes for petrol engines, and this is due to the fact that diesel and petrol differ in density, burning velocity, power, and how they run through the engine parts.
Diesel
- Requires high pressure and temperature in order to combust
- Produces more energy and power than petrol
- Mostly used in trucks and heavy vehicles
- Works more effectively in hot weather
- Diesel engine includes a part called the "glow plug" that helps in the combustion process, as the diesel fluid is difficult to ignite, and it needs very high temperatures
- Injected directly into the cylinders
- Less fuel consumption
Petrol
- Flammable
- Doesn’t require high pressure and temperature to combust, however, it requires a simple spark from the spark plugs
- Suitable for everyday cars
- Doesn’t generate as much power as diesel
- Injected into the cylinder by the fuel sprayer
- Higher fuel consumption
What happens if you put petrol instead of diesel?
As mentioned above, the diesel’s density is higher than petrol, which is what the fuel pump needs in a diesel engine in order to work efficiently.
So if the petrol with its lower density enters the engine, it will cause friction between its parts and wear them out after a short period of time.
This will cost the car owner a lot of money to fix all the damages, even if the amount of petrol used was very little, so it’s advised to never drive the car if you accidentally used petrol instead of diesel and ask for help.
What happens if you put diesel instead of petrol?
The outcome of using diesel instead of petrol is not as catastrophic, generally speaking, this issue is not as common as using petrol instead of diesel, this is because the diesel nozzle at the gas station is bigger and won’t fit in the petrol tank opening, so the car owner will immediately notice it.
But if the car owner somehow managed to fit the diesel nozzle and fill the petrol tank, the spark plugs will not be able to ignite because of the diesel’s high density, and the car won’t start.
Let’s suppose that the car actually started, then the driver won’t be able to drive for long, because the engine’s torque will decrease gradually, the car will stop moving, and black smoke will come out of the exhaust.
A Tip from Motory
When you go to the gas station, try to stay focused so you don’t reach out for the wrong fuel nozzle, and if you do make that mistake, ask for help from the maintenance center, and they will assist you in emptying the fuel from your car.
Lastly, make sure to stick to your car’s maintenance routine, you can also visit the Car Advice section on Motory website to learn more about your car’s parts and how to care for them.
