"Why Diesel After Putting Gasoline?" Mixed Fuel Accident in Changwon... How to Respond and Compensation

Diesel Pipe Connected to Gasoline Pipe in Extension Work Causes Damage to 17 Vehicles
Do Not Start Engine and Immediately Clean Fuel Tank
Compensation Possible Through Business Liability Insurance if Gas Station at Fault

A misfueling accident occurred at a gas station in Changwon, Gyeongnam, where diesel was dispensed into gasoline vehicles, causing damage to 17 vehicles.

On the 11th, the Jinhae District Office of Changwon City announced that from around 7 p.m. on the 9th, diesel came out of one gasoline pump among the 17 pumps at a gas station in Jinhae-gu for about two hours. As a result of this accident, diesel was mistakenly injected into 17 gasoline vehicles that used the affected pump.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

The gas station recognized around 9 p.m. that the real-time fuel measurement was incorrect, and contacted the owners of the vehicles involved in the misfueling accident through CCTV footage analysis and police assistance. Subsequently, the 17 vehicles were brought to repair shops, and some have already been repaired.

It was determined that the accident occurred after the gas station resumed operations following recent expansion construction. The district office believes that during the expansion construction, the diesel pipeline was connected to the gasoline pipeline, causing the accident. The gas station is reportedly taking responsibility for the accident and plans to compensate the vehicles affected by the misfueling. A district office official stated, "We are reviewing administrative measures."

When a misfueling accident occurs, the engine will not start. Gasoline requires an ignition system to explode for use as vehicle fuel. If gasoline is put into a diesel vehicle, the engine may not start, or even if it does, power will quickly decrease and vibration and noise are likely to occur. When diesel is dispensed into a gasoline vehicle, it mixes with the remaining gasoline, causing engine power to drop and acceleration to become sluggish.

If you realize a misfueling accident occurred during refueling, do not start the engine and immediately clean the fuel tank. Since the engine was not started, fuel injection did not actually occur, so cleaning the fuel tank alone can easily resolve the issue.

However, if you find out after completing refueling that gasoline was put into a diesel vehicle or diesel into a gasoline vehicle, you must immediately turn off the engine. Driving even briefly to move the vehicle can cause damage to the engine and fuel lines, and in more serious cases, may lead to fire.

If the misfueling accident was caused by the gas station rather than a self-service station, compensation is possible through business liability insurance. If the gas station is not insured, you must file a direct damage claim and prove the misfueling accident to receive compensation. It is essential to keep the receipt.