Wrong fuel

[dodger21]

In my overworked sleep deprived way, I accidentally filled up my 2016 Pajero Sport with a full tank of unleaded and not diesel.

I drove about 1km home, and it chugged along the last 100 metres, which is when I realised what I did.

I’m getting it towed to Mitsubishi Motors on Monday.

However, I rang up Alliance Insurance and it is not covered in my policy.

I googled the cost, which gave me costs of $7,000 (if not driven from petrol station), up to $17,000.

Has anyone else accidentally done this to their Pajero? If so, how much did it cost to fix if not covered under insurance?

[spot01]

Hopefully you stopped using it early enough & no damage done, other than draining it, changing filters, etc.

If not, don't accept the insurance company's verbal advice without reading your policy's PDS. It is accidental damage to the car and unless it is specifically excluded in the PDS it should be covered. (My RAA policy does cover it).

Best of luck.


PS - don't turn the key past "accessories", as the fuel pump will run even if you don't try to start it. Definately don't start it.

[nj swb]

However, I rang up Alliance Insurance and it is not covered in my policy.

Alliance Insurance, or Allianz?

Alliance are an insurance broker that deals with multiple insurance companies - if you're insured through Alliance, which insurer issued your policy? Ask Alliance which clause in the policy denies a claim for accidental damage through accidental misfuelling.

I had a look through Allianz' online PDS, and found nothing in there that suggests you wouldn't be covered for misfuelling.

[dodger21]

Alliance Insurance, or Allianz?

Alliance are an insurance broker that deals with multiple insurance companies - if you're insured through Alliance, which insurer issued your policy? Ask Alliance which clause in the policy denies a claim for accidental damage through accidental misfuelling.

I had a look through Allianz' online PDS, and found nothing in there that suggests you wouldn't be covered for misfuelling.

Allianz, sorry.

I rang them up but I think it went thru to an Indian call centre. He went away to check and came back and said their policies don’t cover for misfuelling.

[Dicko1]

Allianz, sorry.

I rang them up but I think it went thru to an Indian call centre. He went away to check and came back and said their policies don’t cover for misfuelling.

Ignore the call centres..most of them are shite. You are covered for "accidental damage " to your car. Keep pushing this claim and fill out an accident report. Dont take no for an answer. There is also the Ombudsman if they wont agree.

[Keithyv]

In my opinion (with no experience) 1 km would be about 100ml of fuel so I think drain the system, drain the filter and prime with diesel. The filter would hold around 100ml at least so I reckon very little chance of any real damage to the HP fuel pump.
It would have JUST started to pull in the petrol (as you experienced)

Good luck!

EDIT: Just re-read and realise you are taking it to a dealer.
DO NOT let them just 'rebuild everything and that will be $10,000'.
If they say that, get the car back - insist they don't lay a spanner on it and take it to a diesel specialist...

I'd be saying DO NOT TOUCH IT unless you tell me the plan first.

[Owl]

Don’t get ripped off! Drain all fuel, flush the lines, fit new filters fill new diesel and prime the system. All will be fine.

[erad]

My feeling is that you haven't done any damage as yet. Certainly it is worth a try because the stealer will charge you (certainly not covered by warranty) and you haven't done much distance with the petrol. In any event, if the system is properly drained, (and that won't be easy because there is probably no drain bung in the tank) and refilled with clean diesel, and the engine doesn't go properly, then you go to the stealer and tell him it is running rough and noisy. Certainly don't mention filling with petrol (unless you already have done so). You would have to flush the lines out with fresh diesel as well. Maybe it is better to go to a local servo to do this work?

[Keithyv]

Just thinking out loud. Drain tank (however you do that)
Get a jerry can and put 20l or so of diesel in.
Disconnect output of fuel filter
Pump black button on top until diesel comes out (may take a while)
Put new fuel filter in
Prime it all again( i.e. reconnect filter output and pump again)
Crank car until it starts
Off you go.

[Peterng]

Yep, agree with sediments here, your not the first and definitely will not be the last.....keep it away from the dealer..and you make have dodged a bullet..

In respect to the insurance hassle..keep working on that in parallel to your issue at hand..keep receipt of the fuel you got and all receipts of work that need to be completed to get your paj operating against.

It is an expensive mistake..$600-$800 and injector..x 4, then a Fuel pump..$5000- $7000, depending on reconditioned or new...+ labour for fitting.
Go with plan A...Keiths sequence of events...but add a good diesel fuel additive.
Fingers crossed..all is good..she fires up and your away...but keep an eye on it.
This happened to our little Pug 307..survived a clean out of the fuel system..but smoked a bit and was a hard starter about 20k later..

If Plan A fails...

Plan B...wreckers for a fuel pump from a bent Paj similar to yours....then buy the injectors from say Baileys etc and pay for a competent diesel engine mechanic to fit..ones who specifically specialise in diesel engines..

Good luck