What happens if I put the wrong kind of gas in my car?

Answer 1

gas or diesel...... if you put diesel in a gas or vice verse than stop and drain the fuel tank and flush the lines..... if you just used a diffeerent octane fuel then nothing

Answer 2

It depends on what kind of gas your car needs, and what you're referring to as "the wrong kind".

If you have a diesel and you put gasoline in it... big issues.

If you put diesel in a gasoline engine car, it'll smoke like crazy, you'll most likely kill your catalytic converter and perhaps foul your O2 sensor and spark plugs.

More likely you're asking what'll happen if you put 87 octane fuel in a car that is tuned for 93 octane. The engine controls will advance the timing so you'll get reduced power and a little lower milage. If you put 93 octane in a car that is tuned for regular 87, nothing will happen. You'll not increase your milage, either.

If you put E85 in your car, and the car isn't compatible, you'll likely slightly solvate some seals and hoses in your fuel system. One tankful should not cause any serious damage, just don't do it again!

Answer 3

If you put gas in a diesel engine or deisel in a gas engine the car will fail.
If your car recommends premium and you use regular not much will happen these days - the engine computer will adjust the timing so it will run ok. You just might not get quite as much acceleration or fuel economy.
In older engines if you used a lower grade fuel than was recommended, you basically get the fuel igniting at the wrong time in the cyclinder's cycle. It causes the engine to "knock" and can cause damage over time.

Answer 4

What kind of car do you have? If you have a car that requires a higher octane rating then you could get spark knock which is not the greatest thing for your engine.

Answer 5

theoretically you could get reduced performance. engines are usually designed to run at a certain octane. you can go higher with no problems but lower can sometimes affect your engine's performance. usually only high horsepower high performance engines require higher octanes. most normal engines do fine with the cheap stuff.
i say theoretically because every few years studies come out showing that octane ratings are complete farce. it's just another way for oil companies to charge more money but there's no discernable difference between different octane ratings.

Answer 6

It depends. If it's higher octane in a lower octane car, nothing really.

If it's lower octane in a higher octane car, it's not so good but once in a while (like an emergency), it's not going to be terrible.

If it's diesel in a regular car, start saving for a new one!!

Answer 7

i don't understand by what you mean by the wrong kind,,if you mean you put just regular gas in it,,it wont hurt anything,,as long as you didn't put diesel in it your OK,,i hope this help,s.

Answer 8

I hope you don't mean diesel - my friend accidentally did that and it is NOT a good thing. She had to spend a lot of money getting her engine repaired.

Answer 9

If you put diesel in, first of all each piston would fire before it gets to the top and wont run well(preignite, dieselize).

Answer 10

Whatever it is, draining your petrol tank will lengthen your engine's lifespan rather than running it on a mixed tank of petrol.