Wrong fuel: questions and answers

Wrong fuel on the motorway or at night? Read Wrong fuel on the motorway and Wrong fuel at night or at the weekend.

Topics: Immediate help · Costs and insurance · How it works and availability · Technical: what happens in the engine? · About us and our area

Immediate help

I have put the wrong fuel in – what should I do now?

Leave the engine off, do not switch on the ignition and call us: +49 177 3555403. On many cars the fuel pump starts as soon as the ignition is on, on some even when the driver's door is opened. Push the car away from the pump and tell us the location, the vehicle, what and how much you filled up with and whether the engine was running. We tell you the fixed price and our arrival time straight away.

Can I start the engine briefly or drive to the nearest garage?

No. As soon as you start the engine, the wrong fuel gets into the lines, the pump and the injection system. In our 287 call-outs from June to October 2026, every second car had already been driven – and in 47 of them the engine cut out or ran only in limp mode. The sooner you call, the simpler and cheaper it is.

I have already driven off. What now?

Stop as soon as it is safe and switch off the engine. Do not keep driving until the engine cuts out. We then empty the tank and clean the fuel lines up to the high-pressure pump, and on petrol cars the spark plugs too if needed. 283 of 287 vehicles could drive on straight after our call-out.

Can I drain the tank myself?

No. Petrol forms explosive vapours, and the drained fuel is hazardous waste that has to be disposed of properly. Leave the draining to a specialist with the right equipment.

Is it dangerous for the high-pressure pump to start the engine briefly after misfuelling?

Yes. Even a brief start draws the petrol-diesel mix into the high-pressure pump. Lubrication is then missing, wear sets in, and metal particles can get into the injectors. Draining then turns into flushing the whole system, and in the worst case a repair.

How can I tell straight after filling up that I used the wrong fuel?

Most reliably from the receipt and the pump display: they show the fuel type. Nozzle colours are not standardised, so go by the labels: a circle with E5 or E10 means petrol, a square with B7 or XTL means diesel. If the engine has already run, typical signs are juddering, loss of power, knocking, smoke, a warning light or the engine cutting out. Stop straight away and switch the engine off.

Costs and insurance

How much does draining the tank cost after misfuelling?

Draining on the spot costs from €95 incl. VAT, usually around €300 with call-out and disposal, never more than €600. The price depends on where the vehicle is, what kind of vehicle it is and how much fuel has to be drained and disposed of. We give you the binding fixed price on the phone before we set off. More under Costs.

Does it cost more at night or at the weekend?

The night and weekend surcharge is at most €20 and is already included in the €600 maximum price.

How much does it cost if the car has to go to a garage first?

Considerably more. If you keep driving on the wrong fuel, you risk damage to the high-pressure pump, injectors, catalytic converter or engine – that quickly adds up to several thousand euros plus towing. Example prices for parts are listed under Costs.

Will my insurance pay if I put in the wrong fuel?

Usually not. In Germany misfuelling counts as operating damage; third-party, partial and comprehensive cover generally do not pay for it. Some breakdown cover or premium policies do pay for draining up to a limit, with some insurers up to €500. So check your policy – you can submit our invoice there.

Draining on the spot or towing to a garage – which is cheaper after misfuelling?

Usually draining on the spot. At Pinar Abpumpservice it costs from €95 incl. VAT, usually around €300 with call-out and disposal, never more than €600, with the fixed price agreed on the phone in advance. Towing adds the towing costs and the garage's work, and the car is usually off the road for longer. Towing is only needed if parts are already damaged after a long drive.

Does the ADAC help with misfuelling and what does it cost for non-members?

For motoring clubs, misfuelling is not a breakdown claim. The breakdown service usually only helps members free of charge if the engine has already been started and there is operating damage; you generally pay for the draining yourself. Non-members pay for the breakdown call-out by time and effort. Member or not: you can call a mobile fuel draining service directly.

How much does it cost to have AdBlue removed from the diesel tank?

The same price range applies: from €95 incl. VAT, usually around €300 with call-out and disposal, never more than €600. AdBlue in the diesel tank is serious because it attacks the pump and lines: do not start the engine, and emptying and flushing is usually enough. If the engine has run on AdBlue, the pump, filter or injection system may need work at a garage. More under AdBlue instead of diesel.

Who pays if I put the wrong fuel in a rental car?

Usually the driver. Misfuelling counts as operating damage, which neither third-party nor comprehensive insurance covers – including on a rental car. Many rental companies also charge a handling fee. So inform the rental company first and ask whether you may call a draining service yourself; you can submit our invoice to the rental company or a breakdown cover provider. Pinar Abpumpservice regularly works for car rental companies and car dealers.

How it works and availability

How quickly can you get here?

In Düsseldorf usually within 15 to 35 minutes, elsewhere usually within 30 to 45 minutes. We start from Willich, Krefeld and Düsseldorf; whoever is closest comes. We tell you the exact arrival time on the phone.

Are you really available around the clock?

Yes, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, including public holidays. 20% of our call-outs fell on a weekend, and around one in three calls came in the evening or at night. During the day you can also reach us on WhatsApp; at night it is best to call: +49 177 3555403.

Does my car have to be towed?

Usually not. We drain the tank on the spot – at the petrol station, at the roadside, in the car park or on the company premises – and clean whatever is needed there. You can normally drive on afterwards.

Do you also help with vans, lorries and motorhomes?

Yes. As well as cars, in 2026 our call-outs included vans, lorries, motorhomes, a bus, an ambulance and a motorbike. Tell us on the phone what vehicle it is and how much you filled up with.

I put the wrong fuel in a rental car. What now?

Inform the rental company and call us – we regularly work for car rental companies and car dealers.

How does professional on-site fuel draining at the roadside work?

We secure the area, pump the wrong fuel into approved containers with a suitable pump and, if needed, flush the lines and fuel system with the correct fuel. Then we put in a few litres of the right fuel, start the engine and check that it runs smoothly. We dispose of the drained fuel properly. Towing is usually not necessary.

What is the difference between simply emptying the tank and flushing the fuel system?

Emptying the tank is enough if the engine has not been started: the wrong fuel is then only in the tank. If the engine has run or the car has been driven, the fuel is already in the lines, filter and pumps. We then flush the system up to the high-pressure pump with the correct fuel, and on petrol cars the spark plugs too if needed. Both are within the same price range: from €95, usually around €300, never more than €600.

How long does draining take after misfuelling?

The draining itself often takes only around 30 minutes, a little longer if the system needs flushing. On top of that comes the journey: in Düsseldorf usually 15 to 35 minutes, elsewhere usually 30 to 45 minutes. We tell you the arrival time on the phone before we set off.

Technical: what happens in the engine?

What happens if I put petrol in a diesel car?

Petrol takes away the lubrication the diesel system needs. The high-pressure pump and injectors of modern common-rail diesels (from around 1999) are particularly at risk. It is the most common mix-up in our call-outs (55%). With petrol in a diesel, leave the fuel cap open and do not start the engine. More under Petrol instead of diesel.

What happens if I put diesel in a petrol car?

This is less common (24% of our cases), because the diesel nozzle usually does not fit the filler neck. Diesel burns poorly in a petrol engine: the spark plugs soot up, the engine judders and cuts out, and in the worst case the catalytic converter suffers. More under Diesel instead of petrol.

AdBlue in the diesel tank – how bad is it?

Serious. AdBlue does not belong in the fuel tank: it can crystallise, form a slimy mass and attack components. Do not start the engine under any circumstances. This was the case in 22 of our call-outs. More under AdBlue instead of diesel.

Diesel or water in the AdBlue tank – what should I do?

Do not start the engine and call us. The AdBlue tank and the exhaust after-treatment system (SCR) have to be emptied and cleaned, otherwise expensive damage can follow.

E10 instead of Super, or Super instead of Super Plus – does it need draining?

Usually not; this is less critical than mixing up petrol and diesel. What to do is explained in our guides E10 instead of E5 and Regular instead of Super. If in doubt, call us.

How much petrol in a diesel is still harmless?

With modern common-rail diesels (from around 1999) there is no safe amount. Even a few litres of petrol take away the lubrication of the high-pressure pump and injectors. The often-quoted rule of thumb of 5 to 10% petrol dates from older diesel engines, when petrol was even added in winter – it does not apply to today's engines. Many manufacturers require the tank to be emptied even for small amounts. Our advice: do not start the engine, note the amount and how full the tank is, and call us.

Diesel instead of petrol and already driven off – what happens to the engine?

Diesel burns poorly in a petrol engine: the engine judders, loses power, smokes and often cuts out. The spark plugs soot up, and unburnt diesel can damage the catalytic converter. Stop as soon as it is safe and switch off the engine. We empty the tank, flush the lines and clean the spark plugs if needed. Diesel in a petrol car was one in four of our cases (24% of 287 call-outs); 283 of the 287 vehicles could drive on straight afterwards.

E10 instead of Super – is that bad?

Usually not. If your car is approved for E10 (shown inside the filler flap, in the owner's manual or in the DAT list), there is nothing to do. Without approval, a small amount can be diluted by topping up with Super or Super Plus. If the tank is full of E10, it should be drained. More under E10 instead of E5.

Wrong fuel in a motorbike – what should I do?

As with a car: leave the engine off and call us. With motorbikes it is usually diesel in a petrol engine or E10 without approval. We help with motorbikes too: in Cologne a rider had filled up with diesel and ridden 4 to 5 km; we cleaned the tank, carburettor and spark plugs, and he could then ride on without lasting damage.

How can I best avoid putting the wrong fuel in a diesel?

Before filling up, check the sticker inside the filler flap and read the fuel type on the nozzle (diesel: square with B7, petrol: circle with E5/E10). Take extra care with rental cars, company cars, other people's cars and abroad, where fuels have different names. Fleets can retrofit a misfuelling device that stops a petrol nozzle going into a diesel filler neck.

About us and our area

What happens to the drained fuel?

We dispose of it exclusively through the official collection point; disposal is included in the fixed price. Our certificates of competence and authorisation, including under sections 53 and 54 of the German Circular Economy Act, are on our German page Entsorgung: Nachweise(in German).

Who comes out to me?

Pinar Abpumpservice has been around since 2015; owner Mustafa Karapinar has worked in the motor trade since 1986. Our bases are in Willich, Krefeld and Düsseldorf. We do every call-out ourselves and do not pass jobs on to other companies. We have 5.0 stars on Google. More under Team.

Do you pass jobs on to other companies?

No. Pinar Abpumpservice is a local business with bases in Willich, Krefeld and Düsseldorf: we do every call-out ourselves and pass nothing on. Some providers online are brokerage portals based outside North Rhine-Westphalia – with us, you speak directly to the business that also comes out to you.

Which towns and cities do you cover?

All of North Rhine-Westphalia between the Lower Rhine, the Ruhr, Düsseldorf, the Bergisches Land, Cologne and Aachen. In 2026 most of our call-outs were in Essen, Cologne, Düsseldorf, Duisburg and Neuss. All locations: Locations and area.