AdBlue in the petrol tank in Pimlico: what to do
If you have put AdBlue in the petrol tank anywhere in Pimlico, leave the key alone and call 01295 380724. Even unstarted the solution is already in contact with the tank, the sender and the in-tank pump. Talking it through with one of our engine scientists, fuel-system engineers and misfuel specialists costs nothing, and the drain itself takes 45 to 90 minutes once someone is on site.
Starting the engine is the single decision that changes both the outcome and the cost.
The mechanism, plainly
AdBlue is 32.5% urea in demineralised water. In a petrol tank it neither burns nor mixes: it sinks and sits under the fuel, directly on the pickup.
Water reaching the fuel rail stops combustion within seconds. Urea attacks aluminium and copper in the pump and injectors and crystallises as it dries.
Around Pimlico, as everywhere, the direction of the mistake is decided by geometry: an unleaded nozzle drops freely into a diesel filler neck, and a diesel nozzle is too wide for most petrol ones. Adjacent filler necks under one flap explain most of the rest.
AdBlue in the petrol tank in pimlico: the worst case
Corroded pump internals and crystal deposits at the injector tips, which means replacement rather than cleaning.
Pimlico at a glance
Pimlico covers SW1P, SW1V, and a unit attends any of them. If you are closer to Balham, Battersea, Belgravia or Buckingham Gate, the same applies: the vehicle is not moved, the technician travels. What the operator needs is where you are stopped, what went in, and whether the key has turned. Nothing else.
| Contamination | AdBlue into the petrol tank |
|---|---|
| Area | Pimlico |
| County | Greater London |
| Postcodes | SW1P, SW1V |
| Risk if the engine has run | Severe |
| Consultation | Free of charge, no obligation |
| Time on site | 1-3 hours |
| Attendance | 24 hours, usually same day |
| Helpline | 01295 380724 |
What you will notice
Immediate stumbling and a cut-out as water reaches the rail, with an emissions or fuelling fault stored.
What the fix involves
Full drain and flush of tank and lines, a new filter, and an inspection of the pump and injectors for corrosion and crystal deposits.
Published UK figures for the work run from about £120 for a straightforward drain to five figures where a vehicle was driven to a standstill. Establishing which end of that range applies to you is free.
What has happened so far?
Pick the one that fits. It is the only question that changes the answer.
- TankThe wrong fuel is sitting still. Nothing downstream has touched it.
- Lift pumpTurning the key runs the in-tank pump, and the contamination starts moving.
- FilterThe filter takes the first hit and is replaced either way.
- High-pressure pumpLubrication fails here first. This is the component that turns a drain into a rebuild.
- Injectors and railDebris from the pump arrives here. At this point the fuel system is replaced, not cleaned.
Fuel Fixer, the company behind UK Wrong Fuel Repository, holds a rating of 4.8 out of 5 from 2,190 reviews on Trustpilot, on a profile claimed since 2017.
Across recent reviews, the themes customers raise most often are staff who stay polite, professional and reassuring during what is a stressful situation, and how quickly a technician arrives and gets the vehicle back on the road in Pimlico.
The most common criticism is price. Some customers have felt the cost of an emergency drain was steep for a job that takes under two hours, and that is fair comment on an emergency call-out. It is why the misfuel call-out fee is free and why published repair figures span two orders of magnitude before a technician sets off — so nothing about the cost is a surprise at the roadside.
Nearby
More from the blog
A misfuel is a good moment to get the filters and the rest of the car looked at — Motor Servicing comes to your home or workplace.
Background reading: Common rail injection (Wikipedia). Service operated by Fuel Fixer, alongside Misfuel Doctor, Fuel Fixer Scotland and Motor Servicing.