Drivers faced with expensive repair bills following misfuel incidents can now take preventative measures with the launch of Rightfuel, an innovative, simple, low-cost device from Caparo, that physically stops the wrong type of fuel being added to diesel cars and light commercial vehicles. According to the AA, the number of the motorists who put the wrong type of fuel in their car in the UK has doubled over the last ten years, and now affects an estimated 150,000 drivers.Motorists can expect bills of between ￡150 - ￡300 just to drain the incorrect fuel from a vehicle, and repair bills of several thousand pounds if the vehicle engine runs with the wrong fuel as this causes serious damage to the engine.“Rightfuel is a simple, yet effective device that can save motorists large sums of money,” explains Nick Mennell, technical director, Caparo. “Rightfuel replaces a vehicle’s existing fuel filler cap and will not open unless the correct size nozzle from a diesel fuel pump engages it. This innovative and patented design means that accidental misfuel incidents will be greatly reduced.”Misfuelling of diesel cars is possible because of the different diameter nozzles used by filling stations. Petrol pumps use a smaller diameter nozzle than those used on diesel fuel pumps, meaning they can be inserted in both petrol and diesel cars, whereas the wider diesel nozzle can only be inserted in diesel cars. Rightfuel uses this difference to protect diesel vehicles. It replaces the vehicle’s existing fuel filler cap and is secured in position using a locking tool that is included with the device. To fuel the vehicle, motorists simply unscrew the unit’s ergonomically optimised cap and present the nozzle from the fuel pump. If the correct diesel nozzle has been selected Rightfuel’s patented design disengages its prevention flap, allowing fuel to be pumped into the tank. If the incorrect petrol nozzle has been selected, the prevention flap mechanism remains locked and the fuel cannot be pumped into the tank. Only Rightfuel provides a physical barrier that prevents the wrong fuel entering the tank.Caparo Rightfuel is the only retro-fit device that completely blocks the delivery of the wrong fuel type. Moulded in tough engineering plastics, it is light-weight and totally corrosion proof. Because it fits on top of the filler neck, it does not rattle in the fuel pipe and is suitable for straight and curved filler necks.The British Insurance Brokers’ Association backs-up the scale of the misfuel problem for drivers. The association’s research shows that only seven out of 32 insurers specifically make reference to misfuelling in their policies – all to state they will not cover damage arising from it – while the rest make no mention of it, leaving drivers unaware if their claim would be met. Even if policies do cover misfuelling, drivers can expect higher premiums as a result of claiming for this type of incident.“Trends within the market mean the scale of the misfuel problem is likely to increase further,” continues Mennell. “The combination of the record diesel vehicle penetration within the UK and the improved performance and refinement of modern diesels mean that more people are likely to forget they are driving a diesel, and fill up using petrol. The problem has become so large that some vehicle manufacturers have started to introduce factory-fit systems to combat the problem. Rightfuel however, is the first product of its type designed for the aftermarket, meaning it can be fitted to millions of vehicles already at risk.”Modern diesel engines use common rail or electric unit injector systems operating at very high fuel pressures, with many of the high precision components lubricated only by the fuel. While diesel fuel lubricates, petrol washes away the lubrication, so the damaging effects can be fast and catastrophic. Even a litre of petrol added to the tank of a modern diesel car can cause irreversible damage to the injection pump, which can cost several hundred pounds. More serious damage can cause cheaper cars to be written off, often without insurance as misfuelling is not covered by some policies.As a simple fuel filler cap replacement, Caparo’s Rightfuel can be fitted to most existing cars and vans. The system is available in two variations to fit both screw and bayonet type fittings. Rightfuel is available from selected car accessory retailers, garage forecourts, directly from caparorightfuel.com“Whilst specialist services from some of the major breakdown and recovery services now exist to get cars back on the road following a misfuel incident, we believe the real solution to the problem lies in prevention rather than a cure,” adds Mennell. “Retailing at under ￡50, the cost of Rightfuel is only a fraction of the call out cost for these types of service and more importantly, provides ongoing prevention of misfuel at every refill, avoiding damage to engines which can cost several thousands of pounds to repair.”