What to Say to Roadside Assistance When You Put the Wrong Fuel in Your Car
If you call roadside assistance for wrong fuel, tell them what fuel went into what tank and if the engine has started. Standard breakdowns are logged for vague descriptions and general patrols are sent out by category so you usually get a tow instead of the fuel drain you need.
What to Say to Roadside Assistance About Wrong Fuel
Roadside call centres work on a few fixed categories and most of them default to towing because that is what general breakdown cover is built around. Say something vague like “my car won’t start” and there is a good chance you get logged as a standard breakdown, with a patrol sent who is not carrying fuel drain equipment. Start with the actual error: “I’ve put petrol in my diesel car” or “I’ve put diesel in a petrol car, and the engine has not been started. That one sentence is enough to get the call coded right the first time.
Wrong Fuel Symptoms the Operator Needs to Hear
There are two details, other than the fuel mix up, that change the way the call is handled. The first is whether the engine has run at all, for that is generally the dividing line between a simple drain and a more complicated recovery. The second is your location, at the pump, pulled over on a main road or home already as this affects whether the patrol deems it urgent. Mention both upfront, don’t wait to be asked, because not all operators will ask the right questions.
If you have already driven on the wrong fuel, let us know too. It won’t change the speed of help being dispatched, but it does change the type of help that is actually needed once someone gets there.
Roadside Assistance Patrols and Fuel Drain Equipment
Most general roadside patrols are equipped to do jump starts, flat tyres and basic mechanical checks, not fuel extraction. Before you hang up, ask two things directly. Does the patrol being sent have fuel drain equipment? What if they can’t drain it on site? A mobile fuel drain, which starts the instant a specialist arrives, typically gets a vehicle back on the road within an hour. A tow to a workshop and then a queue for a bay and a separate booking regularly makes that three or four hours for the same underlying job. If towing is the only option you have, then you are not caught off guard because you already know the path you are on before the patrol even arrives.
Wrong Fuel Recovery After the Patrol Arrives
If the attending patrol confirms that it is a wrong fuel incident but does not have the gear to drain it, you are not obliged to accept a tow there and then. Often a specialist mobile fuel recovery service can come to the same site and do the drain and flush without the vehicle going anywhere. If you’d like to weigh it up properly before making a decision, we have put together the full cost, time and risk comparison between towing and a on site drain.
If the engine has already been started and run for a minute or two, tell that to the technician directly. It alters the scope of the job and we cover what to expect in that situation in our guide to what to do once the engine has already run on the wrong fuel.
Roadside Membership vs Specialist Wrong Fuel Recovery
A lot of drivers feel obligated to use their roadside membership because they’re paying for it, even if a specialist would fix the problem more quickly. If you opt for a mobile fuel drain for this particular incident it does not affect or cancel your membership in any way and you will still be able to use your roadside cover for any other breakdown in the future. The two services are for different jobs, general roadside cover for mechanical issues, specialist recovery for fuel mix ups and using one doesn’t lock you out of the other .
Wrong Fuel Help provides 24/7 mobile fuel recovery across Newcastle, Lake Macquarie, Maitland, the Central Coast and the wider Hunter region. If you’re unsure whether roadside assistance or a specialist fuel drain is the right option, we’re happy to talk you through your situation before you commit to a tow.
FAQ
Will calling a specialist instead of using my roadside membership affect my membership status?
No. Your roadside membership stays exactly the same. Choosing a specialist fuel recovery service for a wrong fuel incident doesn’t cancel or affect your cover in any way. You can still use your membership later for flat batteries, punctures, breakdowns or any other roadside assistance you may need.
Can I cancel a tow that has already been booked through roadside assistance?
Yes, in most cases. If the tow truck hasn’t arrived or loaded your vehicle yet, simply call your roadside provider and let them know you’ve arranged a specialist fuel drain instead. Cancelling early can save you time and avoid an unnecessary trip to a workshop.
Does it matter which roadside assistance provider I am with?
Not really. Whether you’re with NRMA, RACQ, RACV, AANT or another provider, the advice is the same. Tell the operator exactly what fuel was added, what type of vehicle you have, and whether you’ve started the engine. That helps them understand what sort of assistance is actually required.
What if the call centre operator does not seem to understand what wrong fuel or misfuelling means?
Keep it simple. Instead of saying “misfuelling”, say something like, “I’ve accidentally put petrol in my diesel car,” or “I’ve put diesel in my petrol car.” Also mention whether the engine has been started. If the provider can only arrange a tow, you can always contact a specialist fuel recovery service directly.
