Petrol / Diesel mix

[Panic Button]

I have never done it myself, but I know from reading this site that countless people put the wrong fuel in their cars.

When a mechanic drains the tank to sort the problem, what does he (or she) do with the petrol / diesel mix?

[sigma]

Technically the fuel is yours so the garage should reinburse you the cost. It is not theirs to throw away.

[almcd007]

Sigma - why should the garage reimburse you - it's contaminated fuel - not good for the purpose - it's your fault at the end of the day - do you expect the oil back after an oil change too ?

When Mrs Almcd007 put 90litres of unleaded in a diesel car- the dealer had to change the seals and filters too - they have to dispose of it properly with the used oil and other contaminates. It costs them money to do it properly.

Give you your money back indeed - I ask you !!!

[gouldc]

quite correct almcd007. However, if you want it back, carry on!

The fuel is of little use to anyone. As diesel is less flammable than petrol, it's dangerous to use in a diesel-powered generator, and euqally, you can;t really use it in a petrol generator for the same reason you wouldn't runa car on it.

It's possible to run a landrover Defender on a mix of fuel, but it knackers the valves after a while - pretty simple job to do, and I have run my old un on this for considerable periods of time (the amount of women who used to drive the car to the garage instead of sitting in the petrol station after realising their mistake is astounding).

Newer cars have all sorts of problems, and the longer you run the car, the worse the problem.

[Panic Button]

Yes but you can't just 'bin it'.

What actually happens to it?

[JonD]

Depends how scrupulous they are as to what they do with it.

ALL will charge you to dispose of the fuel if they get rid of it (though I'm sure that you could have it back if you really wanted it).

Less scrupulous ones will pour it down the drain, more scrupulous ones will dispose of it correctly

I believe (though open to correction) that petrol floats on diesel, so if left to settle over time the two portions can be separated and used to run a car!

[sigma]

Think again almacd007, it isn't theirs and has been proven in a court of law.

[Panic Button]

Thanks JonD, but when you say 'dispose of it correctly' I return to my original question. How?

Does it go back to a refinery to be processed again? Does it go to an oil fired power station and get burnt?

[Bird Legs]

Hi, Panic Button - I read your question and immediately understood it. Just how is it disposed of?. I am just as confused as you as to the various "answers" and comments which do not relate to your question at all. Is it me?

[Panic Button]

To be fair I did ask what the mechanic does with it.

I suppose I really should be asking what does the recycling company do with it when they receive it from the garage.

Lets widen it a bit as well to include what do they do with the used engine oil?. Perhaps the diesel / petrol mix gets thrown in with that anyway.

[almcd007]

Sigma stop talking rubbish - the fuel might not be theirs but you have asked them to sort the problem out. Its of little use to the average motorist. A reputable garage will dispose of it in the proper manner. As for giving you your money back - absolute twaddle I've never heard such tripe why should the garage give you the money for the fuel. Unless you specifically request the fuel for some obscure reason, after it's been drained you can't expect your money back.

As for recycling it - There's a market in it and the fuel can be seperated and filtered.

[sigma]

Almacd007 it's not twaddle, You ask the garage to sort the problem out, they drain the tank and carry out any remedial work,ie seals etc.The fuel is still the property of the vehicles owner, regardless of it being any use. IF the garage despose of the fuel without authorisation from the owner it constitutes theft and the owner can claim re-inbursment for the value of the fuel lost.
Garages have been taken to court over this issue and they have LOST.

[almcd007]

It's Almcd not almacd !

It would be greatly appreciated if you were able to back up your claim with links to information to prove your point. I'd love to see the legality of what you claim actually in print.

Any garage carrying out this kind of work - worth their salt, would get you to sign to carry out the work necessary to remedy the mistake that you made - which would include disposing of the "useless" fuel collected. Unless it's a massive tank and I mean more than the average motorist would lose - you'd be throwing money away to sue for the loss just to gain a couple of quid back - it's pointless and a fruitless excercise in stupidity where you should be grateful for the fact that the garage has been able to carry out the work successufully and limit the damage done.

So with your theory you should be able to claim back the oil from an oil change, the water/coolant mixture out of your radiator and the wash fluid out of your screen wash bottle too !

[Panic Button]

I believe though that when a garage works on your car they are legally required to offer you the replaced parts back.

[Youravonlady]

If the garage concerned also has a petrol forecourt I kind of think they could pour the contaminated mixture into an appropriate huge tank where the ratio would become insignificant.