Wrong fuel, explained plainly.
Practical notes from the workshop floor. Written by Nobby and the team.
Prevention
Things to know before you join the queue at LMCT+ Edwardstown
LMCT+ opens at Edwardstown on Friday 2 October and South Road is going to be busy. Cheap fuel is good news for Adelaide. Here is how to make your first fill up a calm one.
Wrong fuel basics
Old fuel in a car that has been sitting, and when to drain it
Petrol does not keep. If a project car has been off the road for a year or ten, the fuel in the tank is the first job on the list, and the worst way to find that out is by cranking it.
Stories from the road
AdBlue in a diesel tank, a Ford Transit at Parafield Gardens
Two litres of AdBlue went into the diesel tank of a work van at Parafield Gardens. The driver never started the engine, but they did turn the key, and that one detail decided how we treated the whole job.
Prevention
Adelaide fuel news, what changed at the bowser in mid 2026
The fuel excise discount ended on 3 August and the bowser felt it. A working mechanic's take on what actually mattered for Adelaide drivers through the middle of the year, and what did not.
Wrong fuel basics
Petrol in Diesel in Adelaide, What Actually Happens and What It Costs
The most common wrong fuel job we get. What you notice, what we do on the kerb to fix it, what it actually costs, and why the smartest move once you realise is hands off the key and a phone call.
Wrong fuel basics
How Far Can You Drive on Petrol in a Diesel Before It's a Problem?
There is no fixed distance. One vehicle runs for kilometres, another strains straight away. What actually decides the outcome, and why whether you turned the key matters far more than how far you went.
Wrong fuel basics
Should You Tow It or Call a Mobile Wrong Fuel Service in Adelaide?
You are standing at the pump. Do you call a tow truck or a mobile drain? The plain comparison of what each path actually costs, how long each takes, and the one time we tell people to get towed instead.
Cost & pricing
What wrong fuel damage actually costs in Adelaide
A quick drain if you catch it at the pump. A costly repair if you drive on it and the high pressure pump lets go. Why nobody can quote the repair upfront, and what actually decides which one you get.
Wrong fuel basics
Wrong fuel in a rental car in Adelaide, what happens next
You've hired a car from the airport, filled up on the way back and realised at the pump. Here's how the drain works when it's not your car, and how to handle the hire company.
Wrong fuel basics
Is wrong fuel covered by roadside assistance in SA?
Short answer, usually not. Your roadside membership will get you towed, but the drain itself is on you. Here's what roadside cover actually does for a misfuel, and the tow home play most members don't know about.
For fleets
Wrong fuel in a fleet vehicle, what fleet managers in Adelaide need to know
One of your drivers has misfuelled at 6am on the way to a job. Here's how to keep the downtime under an hour and the paperwork clean for the accountant.
Wrong fuel basics
The first 60 seconds after a wrong fuel mix up matter more than anything else
Whatever you do in the next minute changes how long the flush takes and what the invoice looks like at the end. Here's exactly what to do, and just as importantly, what not to.
Wrong fuel basics
Petrol in a diesel vs diesel in a petrol, which is worse and why
Both are wrong fuel mix ups, both need fixing. But one is a 'don't even turn the key' situation and the other is more of a clean up. Here's what's actually going on inside the engine.
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