I have put the wrong fuel in the tank!
ser-ba-TO-io — four syllables, stress on third
In the emergency situation where you have accidentally filled a diesel car with petrol or vice versa.
Misfuelling is a serious mistake. If you realise immediately and do NOT start the engine, the tank can be drained. Starting the engine causes severe damage.
Non avviate il motore — ho messo benzina nel diesel!
Do not start the engine — I put petrol in a diesel car!
Emergency warning
Chi posso chiamare per svuotare il serbatoio?
Who can I call to drain the tank?
Asking for help
Ho messo il diesel nel serbatoio della benzina.
I put diesel in a petrol tank.
Opposite misfuelling
In Italy, diesel nozzles are usually black and petrol nozzles green. Diesel cars often have smaller filler necks to prevent misfuelling, but mistakes still happen with rental cars.