Why don't fuel companies try to prevent people using the wrong fuel?

There is not a month goes by without someone telling me how they have inadvertently filled their vehicle with the incorrect fuel, and the resultant eye-watering costs to fix.

Why couldn't the fuel companies install a simple voice chip to say "You have selected petrol/diesel, press to confirm", rather like the 'pay at kiosk' system? It would have global appeal and oil companies who provided this would have a significant edge.

Asked on 13 October 2012 by IC, via email

Answered by Honest John

Absolutely right. The oil companies caused the problem by branding their petrol and diesel fuels the same. They should be held accountable for any confusion arising from this and should install measures to remind drivers to cross check. Meanwhile Ford, Citroen and BMW are fitting filler neck devices that make it impossible to misfuel.

Tags: diesel engines fuel contamination petrol engines

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