When you rent a car, you might not be told what kind of fuel it consumes. But, you have to get it right when filling the tank because putting petrol into a diesel car or vice versa can cause major engine damage. You surely don’t want that because it will cause you paying a huge amount of compensation money since it is not covered by the rental agreement. Is there any easy way to identify between petrol cars and diesel cars? Yes! Actually, there are several ways to tell and some of them require just looking into the right places.
5 Ways to Identify between Petrol Cars and Diesel Cars
You can easily identify between petrol cars and diesel cars by following these methods mentioned below. Try at least a couple of them to be certain.
The Unpleasant Sound
The engine in diesel cars produces a distinct tractor-like sound compared to the smoother noise of their petrol alternatives. The sound appears like a rattling noise at idle that becomes raspier with driving. However, the computerized diesel vehicles these days don’t make such noises. You can apply this technique to identify old cars.
Check the Fuel Cap Label
The inside part of the fuel door is supposed to have a label reading ‘Diesel Fuel Only’, ‘Gasoline Only’, or something that indicates the type of the fuel the car uses. If there is nothing, you can check the fuel filler neck, the car key, and the instrument bundle near the fuel gauge. The renting company normally put stickers on one or all of these places indicating the fuel type used in the vehicle.
Find the Clue in the Model Name
It’s a very easy way to identify between petrol cars and diesel cars. The automobiles with a diesel engine are likely to have the letter ‘D’ in the model name. For example, BMW 745d or Lexus IS 220d. Here the ‘D’ indicates that these cars have a diesel engine.
The back of your vehicle is likely to have a badge with the model name on it. If it has the letter ‘D’, be sure that it is run by diesel.
Look at the Engine
The engine design also gives clues about the type of fuel the car uses. The diesel-powered engines don’t have spark plugs. Some older models don’t have the mass air flow sensors or the throttle body.
Fitting Fuel Pump
If looking around the car and into the engine does not give you any clue, the fuel pump could be your savior. Modern petrol cars have a narrow opening compared to the thicker, wider diameter of the diesel pump nozzles. Don’t fill the tank if you have to force the nozzle into the fuel neck.
However, it’s still easy to put petrol in a diesel car because the slim petrol pump nozzle will slide into the diesel car’s fuel filler neck. To avoid such accident, you should be careful whether the nozzle nicely fits into the filler neck. Don’t fill up if the nozzle feels too tight or too loose.
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