Petrol vs Diesel

[chazza]

Just to settle a debate that friends were having, has it been made more difficult to fill a new (2009) diesel car with petrol from an ordinary pump?

Is it true that there's some kind of idiot device to stop people doing this?

[squarebear]

I don't know exactly what it is or how it works but yes, there is now something that will stop these numpties from wrecking their cars.

[ChuckFickens]

I thought it was just BMW's that had it so far?

the system works because petrol nozzles are 21mm and diesel nozzles are 24mm (this obviously stops you filling a petrol car with diesel as the larger nozzle won't physically fit in the hole).

BMW's now have a valve in the filler neck that requires 2 latches, one on each side of the filler, to be pushed in. The correct 24mm nozzle is wide enough to push in both latches at the same time, the 21mm nozzle can only ever reach one latch at a time so won't open the valve.

[Panic Button]

Simples

[gouldc]

They just keep making better idiots though, causes all manner of further issues

[TWR]

To a point I blame the garages on this continuing problem, they should never put the derv pumps in the same LINE as petrol pumps, it occurs all the time & people will make costly mistakes, but at the end on the day it takes you two Min's to check & recheck that the pump you have stopped at is Petrol --- Or derv whichever product you need, to your Question yes there is a difference in the nozzel between petrol & derv.

[chas2008]

new mondeos have a system in place..

[kira000]

New Fords generally now have it fitted..

[chas2008]

kira000
even with the devices now fiited on Fords i still know of some plank who managed to get it wrong, an agency delivery driver.
Went to fill a mondeo up and couldnt get the unleaded nozzle in ( it was a diesel vehicle) In the tool kit of the Mondeo there is a funnel for emergency use,ie filling from a can.
He managed to use this with the nozzle and fill up with petrol, caused approx �350. worth of labour to put it right.....nothing is foolproof !!

[chazza]

Thanks Kira, I saw that in a magazine myself at the weekend! Just wondered if it was all new cars or just certain ones!