What Should You Do If You Accidently Use the Wrong Fuel?

What Should You Do If You Accidently Use the Wrong Fuel?: If you’ve ever accidentally used the wrong fuel in your car, you know it can be a costly mistake. This mistake, along with so many others, can cost you thousands in repairs. Knowing which professional to ask about which mistakes can save you even more.

Did you know that there are some things you can do to minimize the damage? We’ll discuss a few things you can do in advance to prevent these mistakes from occurring and prepare you for the damage mitigation you’ll need to navigate to save your car.

What questions should you ask when comparing car insurance and talking to a mechanic about the mechanical whoops you never thought you’d need to ask?

Know Your Professionals

• Insurance Agency

You should compare car insurance rates and coverage so that you and your family are prepared in case of an accident. Most mechanical issues will not be covered by your insurance, as that service is designed for repairs after an accident or collision.

• Mechanics Shop

For all the mechanical issues you may see, ask your mechanic about the typical car owner’s errors that can lead to mechanical mistakes. Being informed and prepared can avoid costly repairs and save time and money. Additionally, research the warranty on your mechanic’s work before committing to a shop.

Complications in Driving

• Wrong fuel

Most cars these days require unleaded gasoline or petrol, a specific fuel type. If you put the wrong fuel in your vehicle, it seriously damages the engine.

Using the wrong fuel is one of the most common causes of engine failure. There are a few ways to avoid putting the wrong fuel in your car.

• Make sure that you know what kind of fuel your car requires. Check the owner’s manual or look for a sticker inside the fuel door.
• Pay attention when you’re at the pump. Be sure to select the correct fuel type before you start filling up.
• Don’t start the engine if you accidentally put the wrong fuel in your car, don’t start the engine!

Call a tow truck or roadside assistance service and have your car towed to a nearby service station. They’ll be able to drain the tank and refill it with the correct fuel.

This is a mechanical problem, and your insurance won’t cover the damages caused by this.

• Faulty Brakes

One of the scariest things that can happen while driving is having your brakes suddenly fail. If this happens, it’s essential to remain calm and take specific steps to protect yourself and your vehicle.

• Gently apply pressure to the brake pedal – if you push too hard, you could cause the wheels to lock and lose control of the car.
• If you’re going downhill, put the car in neutral so you can use your foot to brake.
• Once it’s safe to do so, pull over to the side of the road and call for help.

It is not safe to drive with bad brakes, so if your car starts to squeal when you apply the brakes, or your brakes feel soft, don’t drive. Call a tow truck to take your vehicle to the closest brake and tire shop you trust. Faulty brakes can lead to damage, injury, or death.

This issue is mechanical and not covered by insurance. If the faulty brakes cause a car wreck, your insurance may cover some of the costs of the insurance claim. However, the insurance company will likely find you at fault, and the impact will be against your record.

• Flat Tires

If you’re driving and your tire goes flat, the best thing to do is to pull over to the side of the road as soon as possible.

• Turn on your hazard lights so that other drivers know you’re stopped on the side of the road.
• Once you’re out of the car, inspect the damage to see if you can change the tire yourself or if you need to call for help.
• If you know how to change a tire, put everything back in place once you’re done.
• Drive slowly and carefully to your destination.

By following these simple steps, you can ensure that you and your car are safe in the event of a flat tire.

Similar to the situation with the brakes, your insurance will not cover the replacement or repairs of your tires. However, your insurance will cover you if the tires cause the wreck.

Radiator Overheating

Car trouble can be a real pain, especially in the middle of nowhere. If your car overheats, it is essential to take action immediately.

• Pull over to a safe spot as soon as possible.
• Turn off the engine and pop the hood.
• It’s essential to wait for the car to cool down before checking the radiator. Otherwise, you could risk being burned by boiling coolant steam.
• Once the car has cooled down, add water or antifreeze to the radiator if necessary.
• Start the engine and let it run for a few minutes.
• Check under the hood for any leaks or damage.

If everything looks OK, you should be good to go. But if you’re still having trouble, it’s best to call a tow truck and have your car towed to a nearby service station.

Insurance won’t cover damages caused by an overheating car. Typically, this won’t cause a wreck, but it can be an expensive repair. If you don’t get the issue fixed, it can cause further damage to the car’s engine.

Bad Weather

Before you hit the road, it’s always a good idea to check the weather forecast. You can plan your route accordingly and avoid driving in dangerous conditions.

• If you drive in the rain, ice, or snow, keep a safe distance from other cars. Sudden braking or turning can cause accidents, so stay calm and take your foot off the gas pedal if you start to skid.
• Additionally, ensure your windshield wipers are working correctly and that your tires have good traction. If visibility is low, pull over to the side of the road until it improves.
• Always drive with your headlights on; even in good weather, it makes your car easier to see at a distance.

By following these safety tips, you can help reduce your risk of being involved in an accident.

Your insurance will typically cover a collision caused by bad weather if your coverage includes a comprehensive collision policy. Similarly, if a deer runs into your car and you swerve into another driver, insurance will cover at least part of the cost. 

What to Do if You’re in a Car Wreck

If you’re in a car wreck, you should stop your car and turn on your hazard lights. Then, check for injuries. If anyone is injured, call 911 immediately.

If no one is injured, exchange insurance information with the other driver and take photos of the damage to both vehicles. It may also be helpful to take pictures of the scene around the accident and jot down any details you can remember at the time. Details such as the time of night, the weather, and any distractions happening can help the insurance better assess what happened.

Once you have all the necessary information, file a claim with your insurance company. You should also contact a lawyer if the accident is severe or if you think you may need to file a lawsuit.

Create a Plan – Learn Everything You Can

In some states, pumping your own gas is illegal. It reduces the likelihood of pumping the wrong fuel into your tank and puts the responsibility on you to pump the right fuel. It also provides jobs for fuel station attendants to support their families.

In case of an emergency with your car, it’s best to plan who to call and how to handle the situation. In most states, you pump your gas, and it’s usually expected that you can change a tire and check your fluids. Learning all you can before an issue becomes a problem is an excellent start to avoiding the issue altogether.

Your road trips are far less stressful when you’ve got a handle on the basics of car maintenance and the number for your trusted insurance agency—adventure on, my friend.