What to do if you put petrol in the tank of a diesel engine?

What to do if you put petrol in the tank of a diesel engine?

Do Not Turn On The Ignition.

Diesel is heavier than petrol, and much more oily.  It needs pressure to be ignited and does not evaporate as petrol does.  What happens after putting diesel on a tank is, diesel sank and injectors feed the engine a load of diesel.  When you try to ignite the engine, spark plugs won’t be able to fire the diesel and the engine won’t start.

To fix the issue, draining the tank and filling it again with petrol, cleaning the injectors and finally cranking the engine to throw up the unwanted diesel would suffice.  If fuel has entered the fuel lines it would be advisable to replace the fuel filter also just to be on the safe side.

Please do not start the engine or turn on the ignition as this will push the alien fuel through the system.

If this happens contact Baldoyle Auto Centre or your local mechanic and tell them the exact quantities and circumstances involved.  If it’s only a small amount, they may reckon you will get away wit it but please be aware every case is different. The age and condition of the car, engine etc are crucial factors.

If it was a good few litres you will almost certainly have to get it drained – you have to balance the potential high cost of damage/repairs against the lesser price of draining the tank and flushing the system

The danger with petrol in diesel i that it reduces lubrication that can increase damage to the pump and injectors because you have more metal to metal contact.

Reminder no matter what do not turn on the ignition until you get advice from a mechanic that will give you time and expertise before any harm is done.

If you need advise we can be contacted at 018321045 and our workshop is based inside Baldoyle Industrial Estate in Dublin

Should drivers be fined for driving too close to cyclists?

Should drives be fined for driving too close to cyclists

Penalty Points for driving too close to cyclists

Fine Gael are proposing a bill that would mean drivers could be fined and receive penalty points for driving too close to cyclists.

The Irish Independent reports that the proposal could see drivers face a minimum fine of €80 and three penalty points if they’re caught moving into the cycle lane where cyclists are. Fines of up to €1,500, and five penalty points, would be imposed if an incident ends up in court and results in a conviction.

According to the article, the minimum passing distance would be 1.5 metres on roads with a speed limit of 50km/h or higher, and 1 metre for roads with a speed limit below that.

Minimum distance

The minimum passing distance would be set at 1.5 metres on roads with speed limits of more than 50kmh.

Mr Cannon said he did not want to “drive a wedge” between cyclists and motorists, but that he was seeking the law to raise awareness of the issue and change the behavior of drivers who did not consider cyclists while overtaking.

He gave the examples of the smoking ban and plastic bag tax as measures that previously changed public behavior.

The campaign for a minimum distance law ‘Stayin’ Alive at 1.5′ was set up by Wexford cyclist Phil Skelton, who felt compelled to take action when two local cyclists were killed following incidents with motorists.

Road Safety Campaign Warns – Don’t “Get This Season’s Killer Look”

Road-Safety-Authority

Road Safety Campaign Warns – Don’t “Get This Season’s Killer Look”

Survey Reveals Over 1 in 4 women Misuse Seatbelt

The Road Safety Authority (RSA) has today 20th February 2017 launched a new digital road safety campaign focusing on the misuse of seatbelts by women. The campaign entitled “Get This Season’s Killer Look”, is aimed at discouraging women from wearing their seatbelts under their arm, which can cause horrific injuries in the event of a collision.

study of 300 women aged 17 to 34, undertaken in 2016 by Behaviour & Attitudes, on behalf of the RSA found that:

  • 28% admitted to misusing a seatbelt by wearing it under the arm, rising to 35% among younger women.
  • 53% of those interviewed said that their friends wore the seatbelt under the arm
  • The main reasons cited for wearing the seatbelt under the arm were to relieve neck tension (49%) and for general comfort (47%).
  • 9% said it was to protect their tan, or 7% to protect clothing.
  • While seatbelt compliance is consistently very strong among young females, it is not universal: e.g. 23% do not always wear a seat belt as a rear passenger.

Commenting on the new campaign Ms. Moyagh Murdock, Chief Executive, RSA, said “How you wear your seat belt is as important as whether you wear your seat belt or not. Worryingly, whether for comfort or vanity, many women choose to wear their seatbelts under the arm, instead of over the shoulder, which exposes them to terrible injuries and even death in the event of a crash. Placing the shoulder strap of the seatbelt under their arm leaves your upper torso — including your neck, face and head — completely unrestrained during a collision.”

“My message to anyone who wears their seatbelt under their arm is simple – wear your seatbelt correctly. The belt should be worn diagonally across the wearer’s chest on their shoulder and never under the arm. If it feels uncomfortable, adjust the height of the belt on the anchor point on the door frame or adjust the seat position and height. Most importantly of all avoid getting “This Season’s Killer Look” because you didn’t wear your seatbelt properly.”

The campaign will feature primarily on online in a bid to reach young women where they spend the majority of their free time. It will be fronted by a 30 second ad that will be deployed on ‘Video On Demand’ (VOD) platforms. The “This Season’s Killer Look” Public Service Advert is centred on a young model, posing for a fashion shoot in a glamorous car. As the shoot progresses, the model puts on her seatbelt and places the belt under her arm. Suddenly, the model is thrown violently forward and the scene switches to an eerie x-ray world where we see clearly the devastating injuries sustained in a collision. When we switch back to reality, we see the model is wearing a neck and body brace and has scaring on her face. Lifelong injuries now replace her glamorous look. The campaign slogan invites viewers not to get – ‘This Season’s Killer Look’ – by never wearing a seatbelt under the arm.

The RSA sought the input of Gerry Lane, Consultant in Emergency Medicine at Letterkenny General Hospital, Donegal in developing the campaign.

The campaign will also be promoted on the RSA social media channels including Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat or Instagram with the campaign’s official hashtag #KillerLook.

 

Five Questions to Ask When Buying Car Insurance

Car-Insurance

Five Questions to Ask When Buying Car Insurance

 

Shopping for car insurance is not as exciting as shopping for a brand new set of wheels. Without motor insurance, you can’t drive your car on public roads. With coverage, you enjoy financial security and peace of mind. And yes, car insurance doesn’t have to be an expensive proposition, with many providers offering discounts and competitive deals.

 

Where do I start?

 

– It is vital to understand the kind of coverage offered by your car insurance policy. A comprehensive policy covers for loss of or damage to your vehicle caused by accident, theft or vandalism. It also covers the damages to others’ vehicle or property, or injuries sustained by them, resulting from your fault.

 

– Start by determining what coverage best fits your driving behaviour and requirements. See if the policy you like has add-ons, optional extras or bonus protection. They can drive up your insurance premium, so decide whether or not you really need them.

 

– Then, conduct an apples-to-apples comparison of coverage from different providers. To gauge the reputation of lesser-known providers, it is best to ask around or check online for customer reviews.

 

– Finally, don’t hesitate to get all your questions clarified by the insurance provider before signing on the dotted line.

 

How can I get discounts? 

– The good news is the providers will offer you a discount if your spouse/partner is insured as a named driver on your policy, and also has a car insured in his/her name. Of course, your partner/spouse should have a clean driving record.

 

Insurance providers also offer a discount on your insurance premium if you have no penalty points. The only requirement is that your driving license or permit must be issued in the Republic of Ireland. It is one of those instances where safe driving can save you money on insurance.

 

– You may be eligible for an additional discount if you another insurance product from the same provider.

 

Will an excess help lower my car insurance premium?

 

There are two types of excesses: compulsory comes at a set rate pre-defined by the provider, and voluntary, which is the amount you’re willing to pay upfront. If you increase your voluntary excess, then the provider may reduce your annual premium. However, it has been seen that increasing the voluntary excess doesn’t minimize premiums by very much for younger, inexperienced drivers. Even experienced motorists are advised to weigh the overall benefits of a larger excess before putting down their money.

 

What are my payment options?

 

You can have the premium debited from your bank account each month. Most drivers prefer this method as allows them to keep their down-payments low and spread out costs. The other option is to pay an annual lump-sum amount.

 

Insurance providers offer a cooling-off period during which you can cancel your policy if you wish. If you cancel after this period, you will be charged a fee to cover the cost of administration.

 

How long do I have to make my decision?

 

Insurance providers may give you anywhere from one to a thirty day quote guarantee period. Comparison shopping in advance can help you make an informed decision before the quote expires.