简而言之
- If you notice at the pump, don't start the car: starting it circulates the contaminated fuel.[1] If you've driven off, stop safely as soon as you can and switch off.[1]
- Call Rentzy on 0414 427 760 before anyone drains the tank or tows the car. Don't try to siphon it yourself.[1]
- Petrol in a diesel is the serious case; a diesel nozzle usually won't fit a petrol filler neck, so the reverse is less common.[1]
- Check the fuel type before every fill: the label inside the fuel flap, the owner's manual, and the pump label, which must show ethanol blends.[2]
- Our terms ask you to use the correct fuel, and wrong-fuel damage falls outside the excess limit, so tell us straight away.
I've just put the wrong fuel in: what do I do?
The single most useful thing is to leave the engine off. NRMA, the motoring club, puts it plainly: if you realise before you leave the service station, don't try to start the vehicle, because that circulates the contaminated fuel.[1]
- Stop filling and leave the key out of the ignition. On a push-button car, don't press start, even to check the gauge.
- Tell the service station staff. Ask whether the car can be pushed to a parking bay out of the way of the pumps; get help to push it rather than starting it to move it.
- Note what went in: the fuel type, roughly how many litres, and the pump number. A photo of the pump display and your receipt does both.
- Call us on 0414 427 760. Rentzy cars don't include roadside assistance yet (RACQ cover is planned). If the car breaks down, get somewhere safe and call Rentzy on 0414 427 760: don't arrange repairs or a tow yourself without our OK.
- If you can't get through, email info@rentzy.com.au with the photos, then keep trying the phone.
Don't try to siphon the fuel out. NRMA doesn't recommend it: you can't get all of it out, and it isn't safe for you or the environment.[1] The fix is to drain the tank, replace filters where needed and refill with the right fuel, and that's a job for a workshop we've arranged.
What if I only notice once I'm driving?
Stop safely as soon as you can and turn off the engine.[1] Signs to watch for are a car that runs roughly, smoky exhaust, loss of power, knocking, or a warning light soon after a fill. NRMA describes a petrol car with diesel in it as typically running roughly with a smoky exhaust, and says you still shouldn't drive it.[1]
Pull over somewhere off the traffic lane, put the hazard lights on, and call us with where you are and what happened. If you're on a motorway, the steps in our breakdown guide apply: get off the road or as far from traffic as you can, and only get out on the side away from it.
How bad is it? Petrol in a diesel versus diesel in a petrol car
| Mix-up | Why it matters | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol in a diesel car | Diesel fuel pumps run at high pressure with fine tolerances and rely on diesel to lubricate them; petrol reduces that lubrication and can damage the fuel system. Newer common-rail diesels generally don't tolerate it.[1] | Don't start it. Call us. |
| Diesel in a petrol car | Harder to do, because diesel nozzles are larger and usually won't fit a petrol filler neck. If it happens, the car usually runs roughly with smoky exhaust.[1] | Don't start it, or stop and switch off. Call us. |
| Lower octane than the car needs (for example 91 in a car that needs 95 or 98) | RACQ warns that using lower-octane fuel than specified can cause engine damage and drivability problems.[3] NRMA says engines that need 98 exclusively carry the greater risk.[1] | Drive gently, don't work the engine hard, and call us before the next fill. |
| E10 in a car not suited to it | Most new and some older cars can run on E10, but some new and many pre-1986 models can't.[2] | Call us before driving further. |
Using a higher grade than the car needs isn't harmful. NRMA calls it a waste of money with questionable benefit,[1] and RACQ notes that fuel economy gains are unlikely to cover the higher price per litre.[3]
How do I check which fuel a rental car takes?
Every car is different, and a rental may not be the car you drive at home. Check before the first fill, not at the pump with the nozzle in your hand.
- Ask at pickup which fuel the car takes, and whether it can use E10. It's a five-second question at the counter.
- Read the label inside the fuel flap. Many cars state the fuel type there, and RACQ notes the minimum octane may be on a label on the fuel filler flap; the owner's handbook states it too.[3]
- Read the pump label, not just the handle colour. Pumps selling ethanol-blended petrol, or diesel with more than 5% biodiesel, must be clearly labelled to show it.[2] Handle colours vary between brands.
- Take a photo of the fuel flap label on day one, so the answer is in your phone when you need it.
- Slow down at the pump. Give the fill your full attention: not on a phone call, and not in a rush at the end of a long day.
Running costs, including what a week's fuel might cost, are in fuel cost for a week in Brisbane.
Who pays if I put the wrong fuel in a rental car?
What the terms say, at the time of writing: clause 7.1 requires you to use the correct fuel. Clause 9.3 lists using the wrong fuel among the cases where the excess limit of A$2,500 doesn't apply, and you're liable for the full loss and any amount our insurer refuses or recovers from us. Clause 9.4 adds loss of rental income while the car is off the road because of damage you're liable for, up to 2 weeks' rent.
NRMA also notes that fuel mix-up damage isn't covered by manufacturer warranties, and that car insurance may not cover it either.[1] If you have your own motor, travel or excess cover, check its wording before you rely on it; see does your car insurance cover a rental car.
The least costly outcome by far is the one where the engine was never started. That's why the first call, before the key goes in, matters so much. Any charge is itemised with the evidence after the car comes back, and you can dispute it within the window on fees and charges.
Fuel and returning the car
Under clause 6.2 you return the car with the same fuel level as at pickup; fuel below that level is charged at the rate on fees and charges. Fill up near Hendra on the way back, with the right fuel, and keep the receipt.
If a light comes on after a fill and you're not sure why, see a warning light came on in your rental car. Lost the key at the servo? See lost rental car keys.
来源
- NRMA (National Roads and Motorists' Association), Open Road, 28 January 2025: I put the wrong fuel in my car! What should I do?（查阅于 2026年11月5日）
- Australian Competition and Consumer Commission: Ethanol and other biofuels（查阅于 2026年11月5日）
- RACQ (Royal Automobile Club of Queensland), 13 January 2023: Should I be using high-octane fuel?（查阅于 2026年11月5日）
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