Motorists are being told what to do if they’ve filled their vehicle with contaminated or wrong fuel after a faulty petrol station pump causes breakdowns and damage to cars.

Experts at LeaseLoco.com are urging motorists to be aware of the common signs of fuel contamination and stop driving their vehicles immediately if they suspect their car has been filled with faulty fuel.

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Petrol tanks can become contaminated by various factors including bacteria, rust, dirt and even condensation mixing with the fuel.

Fuel contamination poses serious risks to cars, potentially causing engine damage, issues with handling the vehicle and breakdowns.

The most common signs of contamination to look out for are involuntary speed fluctuations, sputtering, failure to start, excessive exhaust smoke, bad odour and unusual appearance of the fuel in the tank.

Drivers who notice these symptoms after filling up the car should stop driving the vehicle immediately to prevent further damage.

The next step is to call for breakdown assistance or specialised fuel services who can drain and clean fuel systems on-site.

If the contamination is not too severe, draining the tank and lines and flushing the system with fresh fuel will do. However, in more serious cases, parts of the fuel system may need to be replaced.

To ensure compensation from the petrol station or insurance for the damages, motorists are urged to keep evidence for claims, such as fuel receipts, reports from the mechanic or fuel draining service, and any communications or news stories about the incident.

Car owners may also accidentally use the wrong fuel type by filling a petrol car with diesel or vice versa, leading to contamination.

Putting diesel in a petrol car can clog injectors and filters, as diesel is thicker and burns differently.

Using petrol in a diesel engine is even more problematic as it can remove essential lubrication provided by diesel, which can result in significant damage to the fuel pump and injectors.

After using the wrong fuel, drivers are urged to avoid starting the engine and call misfuel recovery assistance. This will prevent the wrong fuel from circulating through the system.

John Wilmot, CEO of car leasing comparison site LeaseLoco.com said: “Fuel contamination can cause your vehicle to break down and lead to costly repairs depending on the severity of the damage.

“Some of the first signs that indicate you may have filled your car with contaminated fuel include loss of acceleration, engine sputtering, bad odour and blinking ‘check engine’ light.

“Inspecting the appearance of the fuel in the tank can also help identify contamination – fuel should look clear and bright, so if it appears dark, cloudy, and has a layer of sludge, it indicates possible contamination.

“If you notice any signs of contamination, it’s crucial to pull over immediately and avoid running the engine as this will circulate contaminated fuel through the system and may cause further damage.

“The quicker you respond to the initial symptoms, the easier and cheaper it will be to get the contaminated fuel out of the tank and fix any issues it may have caused.”