Does this engine run on petrol or diesel?
'Diesel' is borrowed from German and pronounced 'DYE-zel' in Italian.
Ask a passenger or check the car manual when you are unsure what fuel a rental car uses. Misfuelling is expensive and dangerous.
'Va a' literally means 'runs on/goes on'. This construction is used for vehicles and their fuel type: 'va a benzina' (runs on petrol), 'va a diesel' (runs on diesel), 'va a GPL' (runs on LPG).
È un'auto a benzina?
Is it a petrol car?
Simple yes/no question about fuel type.
Questo è un ibrido?
Is this a hybrid?
Checks for a petrol-electric hybrid.
Si mette il gasolio o la benzina?
Does it take diesel or petrol?
'Gasolio' is another Italian word for diesel.
Misfuelling (putting petrol in a diesel car) is more common than one might think in Italy with rental cars. The fuel type is usually also written inside the fuel cap or on the dashboard. Always verify before pumping.