It used to be the case that putting the wrong fuel in a car meant the car was off the road and into the garage for a very expensive repair.
Now the AA's new technology can completely drain, clean and refuel the fuel system so that the repair can be carried out at the side of the road.
At a recent demonstration at a Dublin filling station forecourt, the AA's Fuel Assist technicians were on hand to explain the operation.
A car was contaminated with the wrong fuel and the repair was then carried out on the spot.
The repair was finished in less than an hour and the contaminated car was driven away, completely undamaged.
Wrong fuelling, particularly when a petrol engine is contaminated with diesel, causes major damage.
The old process for repair meant stripping down the entire fuel system and washing it with petrol, in many cases replacing parts like fuel pumps.
This is a very labour intensive and expensive job and could only be carried out in a garage.
If you have not started the engine, or there is no damage to the fuel pump and other parts, that garage repair job is likely to cost €400 to €500.
If replacement parts are needed you could well be talking thousands.
In extreme cases the car might require a whole new engine.
The AA now offers the service at a cost of €260 or €236 for anyone who is already an AA member.
AA Fuel Assist technicians have received 4-5 weeks extensive training and are qualified in disposal of waste.
They are trained to AA standards, which have now been adopted to become the Health & Safety standards guidelines in the UK.
