Driver guides · October 18, 2026

Wrong Fuel in Your Car? What to Do Before Starting It

If you realize you added the wrong fuel before starting the engine, leave it off. Tell the station attendant what happened, then call from a safe place away from fueling activity. Starting the car just to move it away from the pump is not the next step to take on your own.

Need to arrange a tow in Lake View East or Chicago’s North Side? Call Rick’s 24/7 with the vehicle details and explain the fuel mistake first. We’ll check whether our wheel-lift equipment and the pickup location are suitable.

An empty tank and the wrong fuel are different problems

Fuel delivery brings the required fuel to a vehicle that has run out. It does not remove incorrect fuel already in the tank. Do not book a normal delivery expecting it to drain or repair the fuel system.

Rick’s is not advertising fuel draining, tank flushing or misfueling repair. A qualified repair facility must assess the vehicle and decide what work is needed. Our role, when the vehicle and access are compatible, is towing it to the agreed destination.

If the tank simply ran empty and nothing incorrect was added, use the out-of-fuel guide instead.

What the manufacturer says—and what not to guess

Ford’s refueling instructions warn against starting an engine after filling with incorrect fuel and call for prompt vehicle assessment. Use the owner’s manual for your exact vehicle and tell the repair facility what was added.

Keep the receipt if you have it. Report the fuel product shown, the approximate amount and the fuel your car requires. If you do not know, say so rather than guessing. “Wrong fuel” can describe different situations; the label and vehicle specification matter.

Do not try a home draining method or add another product to “balance it out.” Get vehicle-specific advice before attempting a restart. If there is a spill, strong fumes, smoke or fire, move away, alert station staff and call 911 for immediate danger. Keep ignition sources away.

If you already started or drove the car

Tell Rick’s and the receiving shop. Explain whether the engine is still running, stalled, lost power or showed a warning. If you are driving, reach a safe stopping place and shut the engine off; do not switch it off while moving. Avoid repeated restart attempts while arranging professional advice.

A phone conversation cannot establish the extent of damage. Do not assume the engine is ruined—or that it is safe because it ran normally for a short time. The shop needs to inspect it.

Make the gas-station pickup easy to locate

Give the station’s street address, nearest cross street and pump number. Say which entrance reaches the car, whether another vehicle blocks access and whether station staff have given instructions. “Near Belmont” or “on Broadway” alone is not enough to identify a pickup.

Do not push the car into a street, release the parking brake or change gears just to make room without an agreed safe plan. Tell Rick’s if it is stuck in park or cannot steer. Staff access rules and the vehicle’s position may affect loading.

Confirm the tow and repair destination before dispatch

Vehicle: year, make, model and drivetrain if known.
Fuel mistake: product, approximate amount and whether the engine was started.
Pickup: exact address, pump or parking position and access restrictions.
Destination: a facility that agrees to accept and assess the vehicle, including Sunday drop-off instructions.
Service details: equipment suitability, availability, arrival estimate and total quote.

Rick’s provides compatible wheel-lift towing, not flatbed service. Vehicle requirements and access decide whether this setup can be used. If the manufacturer requires equipment we do not provide, that limitation must be addressed before booking.

Ready to arrange pickup? Call Rick’s and start with: “I may have put the wrong fuel in my car.” That detail helps us plan the right service from the beginning.

Wrong Fuel in Your Car? What to Do Before Starting It

An empty tank and the wrong fuel are different problems

What the manufacturer says—and what not to guess

If you already started or drove the car

Make the gas-station pickup easy to locate

Confirm the tow and repair destination before dispatch

What to expect when you call Rick’s

About Rick’s Emergency Roadside Assistance — 24/7 Lakeview & North Side Roadside Assistance

Contact

Towing Services