Water in the screen wash tank in Portsmouth, drained on the spot
Before anything else, keep the key out of the ignition. A drainer covering Portsmouth can be with you the same day for water in the screen wash tank, drain it where the car stands and have you moving in about 45 to 90 minutes. The misfuel call-out is £89 and the total is quoted on 01295 380724 before they travel.
The mechanism is simple. Plain water in the washer bottle freezes in winter and can crack the bottle, the pump or the lines; it is drained and refilled with proper fluid.

The short version: water in the screen wash tank in Portsmouth
| Place | Portsmouth |
|---|---|
| Area | Hampshire |
| Postcodes | PO1, PO2, PO3, PO4, PO5, PO6 |
| Job | Water in the screen wash tank |
| Price | Call-out from £89, full price quoted first |
| Time on site | 45–90 minutes |
| Who attends | A local drainer with a pump and sealed tank |
| Phone | 01295 380724, 24 hours |
The drain itself, step by step in Portsmouth
First they confirm what went in and how much, and whether the engine ran — that decides how far they need to go. Then the tank is emptied into a sealed container, the fuel lines and filter are flushed where needed, clean fuel is added and the vehicle is started and checked before they sign it off.
Before you agree a price: what to ask
A drainer should be happy to answer all of these on the phone. If they will not give a price before travelling, ring someone else.
- Will you check the filter and pump if the engine ran?
- Do you take card payment at the roadside?
- Do you bring clean fuel, and is it included?
- How long until you reach me in Portsmouth?
- Will you dispose of the contaminated fuel, and can I have a note of it?
What to do right now
- Leave the ignition alone — on many cars even unlocking it powers the fuel pump.
- Push the car clear of the pump if needed, with someone steering and the engine off.
- Call 01295 380724 and give the fuel, the amount and your exact location.
- Ask for the whole price, not just the call-out, and agree it.
- The drainer drains the tank into a sealed container and flushes the lines.
- Fresh fuel goes in, the engine is started and the waste fuel leaves with the drainer.
Postcodes covered around Portsmouth
Drainers cover postcode districts PO1, PO2, PO3, PO4, PO5, PO6, and the roads either side of them, across Hampshire.
Where you can be drained in Portsmouth
Most drains in Portsmouth happen on the forecourt where the mistake was made. The rest are at the roadside after the car cut out, or on a drive the next morning. All three work; the vehicle does not need to be towed anywhere.
Around Portsmouth, the busiest spots for call-outs tend to be Hilsea, Fratton and North End.
Fuel drain prices in Portsmouth
| What happened | What the drainer does | Price | Time on site |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spotted at the pump, key never turned | Drain, flush, refuel, test start | From £89 call-out | Under 90 mins |
| Ignition on, or started briefly | Drain and filter flush | Quoted before travel | Around 1–2 hours |
| Drove off the forecourt | Drain, flush and a check of the pump | Quoted before travel | Up to 3 hours |
| Lost power or cut out | Drain, flush and diagnosis on site | Quoted before travel | Depends on findings |
| AdBlue went in the diesel | Tank and lines drained and flushed | Quoted per vehicle | Up to 3 hours |
| Price ranges | The call-out, then the drain | Call-out £89–£199 · drain £199–£1,999 | — |
Other drains in Portsmouth
Drainers nearby
From the drainer's notebook
Fuel Fixer, the company behind Wrong Fuel Drain, holds a rating of 4.8 out of 5 from 2,190 reviews on Trustpilot, on a profile claimed since 2017.
Across recent reviews, the themes customers raise most often are staff who stay polite, professional and reassuring during what is a stressful situation, and how quickly a technician arrives and gets the vehicle back on the road in Portsmouth.
The most common criticism is price. Some customers have felt the cost of an emergency drain was steep for a job that takes under two hours, and that is fair comment on an emergency call-out. It is why the misfuel call-out fee now starts at just £89 and why the full figure is quoted on the phone before a technician sets off — so nothing about the cost is a surprise at the roadside.
Common questions
Do you work at night in Portsmouth?
Yes. Drainers work 24 hours a day, including weekends and bank holidays.
Will you bring fuel?
Yes. The drainer adds enough of the correct fuel to start the engine and reach a filling station.
The engine is running rough — is that the wrong fuel?
If it started shortly after filling up, very likely. Pull over when it is safe, switch off and call 01295 380724.
I only put a little in — do I still need a drain?
In most modern diesels, yes. Even a small amount of petrol reduces the lubrication the pump depends on. A drain is cheap compared with a pump.
Will the car need a service afterwards?
Not after a straight drain. If the engine ran on the wrong fuel, the drainer will tell you whether the filter should be changed.
Do I need to stay with the car?
Ideally yes, so the drainer can confirm what happened and hand the keys back. If not, agree access on the phone.
Who you are dealing with
Wrong Fuel Drain is a brand of Fuel Fixer Ltd (company number 08520551), a company of Fuel Fixer International, the multinational group behind this website. Fuel Fixer International is owned by Stockbridge Capital Holdings, a private equity group. Work is carried out by Fuel Fixer Ltd technicians under ISO 9001 and ISO 14001, with Environment Agency waste-carrier registration.
A misfuel is a good moment to get the filters and the rest of the car looked at — Motor Servicing comes to your home or workplace.
Across the network
Fuel Fixer sites: Fuel Fixer · Misfuel Doctor · UK Wrong Fuel Repository · Fuel Fixer Scotland
Forecourt Assist sites: Forecourt Assist · AdBlue in Fuel · Wrong Fuel Cumbria · Wrong Fuel Teesside · Wrong Fuel Carlisle · Wrong Fuel Penrith · Wrong Fuel Keswick · Wrong Fuel Kendal · Wrong Fuel Workington · Wrong Fuel Maryport · Wrong Fuel Whitehaven · Wrong Fuel Newcastle · Wrong Fuel Gateshead · Wrong Fuel Sunderland · Wrong Fuel Durham · Wrong Fuel Darlington · Wrong Fuel Middlesbrough · Wrong Fuel Dumfries
Also in the group: Motor Servicing
Background reading: Misfuelling (Wikipedia). Service operated by Fuel Fixer, alongside Wrong Fuel, Fuel Fixer Scotland and Motor Servicing, part of Fuel Fixer International and owned by Stockbridge Capital Holdings.