Misfuelling – a guide
Misfuelling is an increasing cause of breakdown in the UK. Often it is not covered under your vehicle warranty and most people who are victim to this unfortunate mistake are ill-prepared and embarrassed by their faux pas. This guide covers the most basic questions with regard to what to do and what to expect if […]
Diesel in petrol – misfuel guide
It is harder to put diesel in petrol than vice versa. The diesel nozzle in most fuel stations is generally larger than the petrol one and won’t fit. That being said, there are always the exceptions to the rule, and 25% of calls received by leading fuel drain specialists Auto Fuel Fix are because of […]
Salvage Vehicles and Parts
Salvage vehicles and parts are a resourceful way of saving money and promoting environmental conservation if you have the experience or qualifications to fix or maintain your vehicle yourself. Auto salvage means the restoration of damaged repairable cars and the removal and recycling of scrap and salvageable parts of those vehicles which are beyond repair. […]
Petrol in diesel – misfuel guide
Misfuelling with petrol in diesel is a more common mishap than you may have realised with 3/4 of 150000 reported cases a year being reported by the AA. With diesel car sales on the increase over recent years, this figure seems likely to rise. If you have been unfortunate enough to put petrol in diesel […]
Petrol and Diesel Car Sales Ban by 2040 in UK – The Facts
In addition to the new tax being brought in for new diesel cars, the government has announced that by 2040 you will no longer be able to buy a new petrol or diesel car. This is in response to the clean air initiative; it is another step in making our air cleaner and our most […]
Diesel cars, pollution and new taxes in 2018 – what you need to know
Following Chancellor Phillip Hammond’s revelation of the 2018 financial budget, there has been a clear focus on ‘Clean Air’ and reducing our CO2 emissions. As a result, some diesel cars will see a tax increase starting in the new financial year if they do not meet the CO2 emissions standards. It is important to note […]
Car Locksmith – Emergency Entry
Being locked out of your vehicle can be a terrifying event. It is also not an easy thing to deal with on your own and you could be in any number of places when you discover you cannot get into your vehicle. If you do not have a spare key or your spare key is […]
New UK Speeding fines – All you need to know
The new UK speeding laws come into effect from 24th April 2017, motorists caught speeding from this date onwards will find themselves facing tougher new laws and regulations. In this blog, we tell you all you need to know about these tough new speeding fines. Speeding Fine Bands There will be 3 speeding bands which […]
Frozen door locks – Top tips to defrost them
So You’ve gone to get into your car in the morning or when you’re leaving work to drive home and your car door locks are frozen! Don’t panic, here are some handy tips to get you into your vehicle and on your way! Unfreezing your car door lock There are quite a few items which […]
UK Fuel Prices Brexit & Bremain Predictions
The European Referendum In the run-up to the European Referendum on 23rd June, we will all be asking ourselves what factors will be making us vote either IN or OUT. Fuel prices may well not be something that you have considered. This article covers what has been predicted by both the Brexit and Bremain campaigners […]
Contaminated Fuel – How much is too much?
Contaminated Fuel Contaminated fuel from misfuelling can be a distressing mistake. It is far more common than you would think and is equally common for both sexes. Not only can mis-fuelling be embarassing but it causes you both time and money. The quantity of time and money, the extent of damage caused to your vehicle […]
Premium Fuels – Worth the extra money?
Most of us have probably looked at the premium fuels nozzle at the fuel pump while filling up and wondered whether we would see any benefit from paying the extra for super fuel…….sometimes up to 30p per litre more. So what exactly is Premium Fuel? Premium fuel has a higher octane rating (RON) than their […]
Fuel Tax Frozen For 6th Year – Update
Tax on Fuel Frozen Again After all of the pre-budget speculation and predictions that the chancellor’s Budget statement 2016 would include an increase in fuel duty, it seems that Mr Osbourne has chosen to give the British motorist another year of frozen fuel duty. This is the 6th consecutive year that fuel duty has been […]
Fuel Duty hike expected UK Budget 2016
Fuel Duty … 2016 budget With the 2016 Budget coming up next week, motorists are speculating as to whether Chancellor George Osborne will be increasing fuel duty in line with inflation…and it is looking likely. The Facts In Britain, we already pay more fuel duty than any other EU country. Fuel duty amounts to just […]
Car Tyres – a comprehensive guide
Good car tyres are crucial for safe and economical driving. Maintaining and changing your tyres properly and regularly will increase their life span. This guide covers the following topics: When to replace tyres Legal requirements Tread depth Which tyres to replace Balancing/tracking Appropriate car tyres Summer tyres/All season tyres Winter tyres Energy labels Run flat […]
Fuel Economy, Causes of poor MPG
If you have noticed that your vehicle is running less economically than it used to, there could be an underlying mechanical problem. This guide covers the likely issues which could be attributing to you using more fuel. Driving Style and Circumstances One of the most common causes of poor fuel economy is the way you […]
Winter Motoring – a guide
Keeping your car in tip top condition should be something that you do all year round, however in winter, it’s really important to make sure that you are prepared. Nobody wants to get stranded in sub zero conditions. This guide covers the following topics: Winter motoring checklist Setting off Driving in snow and ice Driving […]
flood damaged car – a guide
The UK has been experiencing increasing numbers and deeper floods each year, some figures estimate the AA has rescued more than 3,000 cars from floods since last December. This guide covers the following topics:: What should I do if my car has been damaged by a flood? What damage can occur in flood-damaged vehicles? Advice […]
VW Emissions scandal – the facts and what it means.
VW, recently named the biggest auto manufacturer in the world has admitted cheating on emissions testing Included in this overview are the answers to many of your questions about the VW emissions scandal: What are the accusations against VW? What is the device? What was the result of the device on emissions? Which models are […]
Fronting and how to legally lower insurance premiums
One in five admit to insurance ‘fronting’ This is a guide to insurance fronting, young people’s insurance and how to avoid soaring insurance premiums and keep them down. The guide covers the following points: What is fronting? Fronting – The Figures What defines a person as the ‘main driver’? Key points on fronting When it’s […]
Misfuelling Recovery Service – Tow Show
Auto Fuel Fix spreads the word on Misfuelling Recovery Service at Professional Tow and Recovery Show AFF joined loads of other recovery specialists and tow operators this September at the Telford International Centre for the Professional Tow and Recovery Show 2015. With around 1,500 visitors making their way from all parts of the UK and […]
Damaged Repairable Cars – A Guide
Damaged Repairable Cars for sale Accident damaged repairable cars or crashed cars for sale are the perfect opportunity to buy a car for a lot less money and providing you have the necessary mechanical skills and some free time, you can, with a little TLC, end up with the car of your dreams. Similarly, you […]
Using Road Signs to pinpoint your location
If you have put the wrong fuel in your vehicle, helping us to pinpoint your exact location will inevitably reduce the amount of time that you are stranded and reduce the amount of damage to your vehicle. If you have put petrol in diesel or vice versa, and not realised before leaving the fuel station, […]
Biofuels – Better than Petrol or Diesel?
Biofuels are liquid transport fuels blended with petrol or diesel. They are made from plants that absorb energy from the sun and store it chemically as sugars or similar materials. Biodiesel can be used as a fuel for vehicles in its pure form, but it is usually added to diesel. Biodiesel is produced from oils […]
Fuel Protect’ Misfuelling Insurance, £19.99
[youtube_sc url=”http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iftvz5vW81I” title=”misfuelling”] • There are 150,000 mis-fuelling incidents a year on UK roads • Every four minutes, someone puts the wrong fuel in their car • Costly recovery and repairs are a thing of the past The UK’s largest independent roadside specialist recovery services, Auto Fuel Fix has just launched Fuel Protect, a […]
UK Diesel & Petrol Prices
The petrol prices and diesel prices in the UK has seen record highs in recent years, but what percentage of the money goes to where? How much of the fuel price is duty, how much is for the actual product, delivery and VAT? This article explains why we have the highs and lows, who gets […]
A customer who has misfuelled & driven 10 miles
One of our engineers was called out to a customer who had misfuelled their vehicle by putting petrol in their diesel tank. Below is the great customer feedback we received from another satisfied customer. Our engineer was able to save the customer hundreds, if not thousands on the advice given by his local garage. Customer […]
Misfuelling a Ford Focus – A satisfied customer
On the 5th of September, Auto Fuel Fix were called out to a misfuelling incident where Marion R had put petrol in a diesel Ford Focus in Oxford. We’re always proud of our excellent customer service and were glad to receive this thankyou email from Marion: “I couldn’t have asked for a more efficient, expert […]
Car Tax Bands & Dirty Diesel Tax
Car tax bands (also referred to as road tax and formerly known as Vehcle Excise duty) are currently based on your vehicles carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. Cars and light goods vehicles registered before March 2001 have their vehicle tax rates based on the size of the engine. Vehicle Tax bands pre March 2001 New vehicle […]
Lemans trip finds water in a bikes petrol tank
Yes this really happened, water accidentally put into a petrol tank, AFF attended a very concerned 30 year old man Monday night who’d arrived at Dover by ferry and couldn’t get his Suzuki SV650 to start. As the story unravelled it became clear that he’d passed his full bike test only one month ago and […]
Car fuel efficiency tips
With the ever-rising cost of petrol and diesel, making sure you get the most miles for your money and the maximum fuel efficiency has never been so important. So alongside finding the best-priced fuel in your area, the following tips will help you go further. 1. Optimum pressure in your tyres – Up to 3% […]
Car manufacturers MPG claims, why can’t we achieve them?
So no matter what vehicle make or model you buy, or if its petrol or diesel, you will no doubt know that it is nearly impossible to reach the figures quoted by the manufacturer for its Miles Per Gallon (MPG). So how do manufacturers come to their figures and why are they allowed to advertise this, […]
Diesel additives, Are they worth it?
There are many different fuel additives on the market, ones designed specifically for both petrol and diesel engines, but are they worth it, will you really see the benefits on both performance and your pocket? Do they improve mileage? Additives have been reported to improve mileage when using a standard base fuel over the more […]
Supermarket fuel Vs the branded fuel, What’s the difference?
This is a subject that has been discussed on a regular basis throughout motoring forums, whether you get inferior fuel from a supermarket garage compared to the likes of a Shell, BP or Esso petrol stations. All fuels that are sold in the UK, Petrol or Diesel, will conform to the relevant British Standards. What […]
Petrol vs diesel – which is best?
So you’re going to buy a new car, which should it be, petrol vs diesel which should you choose? With greater fuel economy and lower emissions resulting in lower car tax. diesels have been considered to be the best choice when it comes to running costs. However diesel versions of the same make and model […]
Diesel In A Petrol Car, What Are The Symptoms?
Fueling mistakes are surprisingly common and on average occurs every three minutes! That is definitely a lot of motorists putting the wrong fuel in their car across the UK. But how can you tell if you have accidentally put diesel in a petrol car and what should you do? If you think that you might […]
Petrol In A Diesel Car, What Are The Symptoms?
So you have just filled your car up with fuel and have gotten back on the road. The only problem is, you have started to experience some strange problems with your car, such as the engine making a lot of noise. You are worried that you may have put petrol into your diesel car and […]
Put petrol in a diesel car but not started, what does this mean
If you realised you have misfuelled before starting your car, that’s great news as this can be easily rectified without any long term damage to your diesel engine or fuel system. If you have put in 5 litres of petrol or less (10% or less of your tank’s capacity) you can generally fill up the […]
Putting diesel in a petrol Hyundai Sonata
When you’re borrowing a friends car, using a work vehicle or a loan vehicle, it can be a common mistake to make to put diesel in a petrol, as you’re so used to putting that fuel in your own vehicle. This seems to be the case with James who managed to do exactly that in […]
Petrol in a diesel Renault Master
Time is money and when you’re rushing around focusing on your work, putting the wrong fuel in your van can be an easy mistake to make. That’s what happened to Arthur at the ESSO petrol station (SP97LA) in Tidworth, as he was rushing around to get to his next job he made the common error […]
150 Litres of the Wrong Fuel
We attended a rather inconsolable customer last week. He’d pulled into his local Esso garage, Bournemouth, driving his 7.5 tonne Renault Midland lorry. Unfortunately, he managed to pump 150 litres of unleaded into its tank and didn’t realise the error until he was told the price of the fuel at the till.
Wrong Fuel Leads to an Unhappy Car
Went to the rescue of a chap on Sunday night, keen to get home after a long day in central London. He’d dropped into the BP station near the Wandsworth one way system in his 13 plate Golf and made it a short way down the road towards the A3 before realising his car wasn’t […]
Auto Fuel Fix at the Professional Tow and Recovery Show
AFF had a tremendous time last month in Telford at the Professional Tow and Recovery Show. We knew from the previous year there was a great B2B opportunity to be had, but the organisers had built on the last show’s strengths by noticeably increasing public footfall,
The indiscriminate nature of vehicles
A good example of the indiscriminate nature of vehicle mis fuelling cropped up on Sunday. A Dutch gentleman had been playing golf at Wentworth in Surrey, and after he’d finished his round he had to make his way to Dover to catch a late crossing back to mainland Europe.
Older vehicles that have been mis fuelled
We’re always apprehensive about older vehicles that have been mis fuelled, particularly with petrol engines. An old vehicle with high mileage will generally speaking have weaker ancillary components that are far less likely to survive the process of being driven with the wrong fuel.
Never drive your car once you’ve agreed its sale
They do say you should never drive your car once you’ve agreed its sale. Well, there is obviously something to the statement as proven by a gentleman who called us today – he was at first very distressed and ultimately very relieved!
Holiday Season and Camper Vans are not impervious to the Wrong Fuel!
Had a call out on Saturday just passed to attend a classic VW camper van stranded in Devon. The family were on board, as was surfing equipment, provisions and a rather noisy border terrier! Being in a remote part of North Devon it took us approximately 90 minutes to arrive at their location
I’ve put diesel in my superbike!
We received a call on Sunday evening from a customer who had filled his Honda VTR1000 with diesel – definitely not a good combination! Our chap was despatched to find the customer had ridden several miles before breaking down off the A3.
What happens when I’ve put petrol into a modern prestige diesel vehicle?
The weekend just passed we received a call from a rather desperate sounding customer. He had lent his 12 plate E200CDI Mercedes to a friend who had put 10 litres of petrol into the car, realised his mistake, then put 20 litres of diesel into the tank and attempted to restart.
Can I fix my car, without recovery to a dealer, if I’ve put diesel in a petrol?
Another busy weekend – this time with a very exotic motor car needing our assistance – Ferrari Testarossa. Those of you old enough, and those young enough to be into retro US cop shows, will know this car from the Miami Vice series where it became almost as big a star as its driver – […]
How Much Does A Fuel Drain Cost?
Putting the wrong fuel into your car can be an incredibly inconvenient and, potentially, expensive experience. Here at Auto Fuel Fix, we have been specialising in the removal of contaminated fuel from a variety of road vehicles since 2006. During this time, there have been certain questions that we are continually asked, so we thought […]