I just managed to fill diesel in my petrol car. Need some pointers.

[fUSiON]

On my way home now I managed to do the unthinkable, I topped off the tank with diesel.

Had about 40 liters of petrol in it and topped it with 16 liters of diesel. Drove almost 10 miles from the station to my house.

It just hit me right before I parked, checked the receipt and what do you know, it says diesel.

 

After some reading it seems that petrol in a diesel car is really bad, but diesel in a petrol car is not as bad, and if I'm lucky I only have to change a few things after draining it.

 

The car is an Octavia II 1.6 MPi 2007 (55L tank).

 

My questions, how easy is it to do the repairs myself? And what do I need if I try to do it.

 

What do I need to do after I drain the tank? Replace the gas filter, clean the spark plugs and add some gas cleaner additive?

 

Is there a slight chance that the car is undamaged after the 10 miles of driving?

 

 

 

And yes, if you only want to make a funny remark about my situation I welcome it.

Can't believe how stupid I am...

 

 

[pipsyp]

If youre going to mis-fill its definitely the better way around. Petrol in a diesel is bad news as in most diesels the fuel also acts as lubricant for the fuel pump so that often gets damaged. On new diesels it could damage other things like the DPF etc.

On a 1.6 MPi its difficult to say though....if the car is running OK still with no obvious warning lights...also that the fill ratio is definitely in the petrols favour it "could" be OK. My only real concern would be damage to the emissions system, its probably not that good for the cat but its unlikely to kill it.

Really the safest bet would honestly be to call out roadside assistance (if you have it) and get the car towed to a garage that is geared up to clean and fix misfuelled cars.

I put petrol in a works diesel Vauxhall Astra once upon a time, primed the ignition but didnt turn it over (realised in time), got it towed and cleaned...massive inconvenience but no damage to the car. Cost the company I worked for a few hundred notes but they were v good about it.

[Metblackrat]

How did you manage that? The diesel pump is designed not to fit a petrol filler cap...

[niceyellow vrs]

I can't see it doing to much harm tbh, just might be a bit smokey. I'd just drain it out, fully refill with petrol and change the fuel filter. Keep topping it up with petrol so the tiny bit of residual diesel juice will be diluted even further and don't put diesel in again.

 

P.S I managed to put water in my fuel tank once and it ran fine so I reckon you'll be alright

[DanialA11]

Phone a mobile doctor fuel and just get it drained out refill iy with 99 octane fuel

[WookieeM]

Hats off to all, no one taking the p. Hats off to you for admitting it, and realising.

Paranoid about cross fuelling, each time I read the sign on the filler cap and on the fuel nozzle. If they match I'm happy.

[Auric Goldfinger]

It's usually those that take the pi$$ end up doing it themselves and never tell anyone, and no I haven't done it...............yet

[TeflonTom]

problem is the diesel fuel will sink to the bottom of the tank eventually. You are best off getting the tank and fuel lines purged by a fuel doctor or similar specialist, then fitting a new fuel filter. Don't attempt to run it all through it could ruin the fuel injectors.

[mixskoda]

your car will be fine, I had a friends car with the same problem, I just drained off the diesel, put fresh fuel in, ran it for a couple of minutes to get petrol through the fuel pipes then changed the fuel filter. the car ran fine after that.

[erindad]

your car will be fine, I had a friends car with the same problem, I just drained off the diesel, put fresh fuel in, ran it for a couple of minutes to get petrol through the fuel pipes then changed the fuel filter. the car ran fine after that.

 

As mixskoda says !

[Paulbrown]

yeah i was alway told it was WORST to put petrol in a diesel the other way the petrol engine would just burn it off

but as said above the tank should be drained as its a heavyer liquid

[blackspaven]

I've heard from many sources that truckers and others once in a blue moon deliberately put petrol in their diesel big rigs almost as an aid during cold weather? Anyone else heard this? Seems to fly in the face of what others are saying on here.

[StevesTruck]

If you do a fair bit of driving, I'd just keep it brimmed with petrol and it'll dilute and get used over time.

 

If you don't, then there's a chance of it settling, so an arguement for draining it out. Don't worry about flushing the fuel lines and all that as there'll only be a trace in there.

 

The scrapyard method is disconnect the fuel line after the pump and bypass the relay so it pumps itself out. 

 

Bear in mind you'll have 50 litres of flammable liquid to contain and dispose of. 

[StevesTruck]

I've heard from many sources that truckers and others once in a blue moon deliberately put petrol in their diesel big rigs almost as an aid during cold weather? Anyone else heard this? Seems to fly in the face of what others are saying on here.

 

Fine on older diesels, wouldn't do it on the new stuff. They supply a different formula of diesel in the winter anyway so it doesn't gel up.

 

The old transit engines were rated to run on up to 25% petrol in the diesel, and I've certainly done it. I used to routinely run on drained out misfill, and I've quite often drained a gallon of petrol out of a scrap car and thrown it in a nearly full tank of diesel.

 

However, newer stuff is more fussy about what it's fed, and a lot more expensive to mend if you get it wrong.

[Auric Goldfinger]

I've heard from many sources that truckers and others once in a blue moon deliberately put petrol in their diesel big rigs almost as an aid during cold weather? Anyone else heard this? Seems to fly in the face of what others are saying on here.

 

Yep i've heard of it.. In the winter/cold weather it helps to stop build up of wax ( which solidifies in cold weather ) in the diesel which in turn blocks the fuel lines and filter

[fUSiON]

Thanks for all the feedback and reassuring words.

Talked to one of my neighbors, he works at a garage close by.

If I got the car down to his shop on Monday he would help me drain it.

Crossing fingers everything will work out well.

 

How did you manage that? The diesel pump is designed not to fit a petrol filler cap...

I have no idea to be honest. It fit right in there.

 

Paranoid about cross fuelling, each time I read the sign on the filler cap and on the fuel nozzle. If they match I'm happy.

This incident will definitely leave me paranoid. My mind were a different place when I was filling. Didn't check the nozzle, didn't think about what pump I parked at.

Just a cluster of mistakes.. This will never happen again, knock on wood..

[Cleo]

About 15yrs ago numb nuts here did it the other way...aye, diesel in petrol, a wee astra 1.3 my first, had it dam near 4 years, going to work one morning (5am start bus driver at the time). Stopped at local esso put 20 quid in, didn't realise till half way to work (about 2 mls) it started knocking and quite bad, I nursed it to the garage and one of the mechanics heard me drive in "wtf's wrong"...I put diesel in!!

Apart from a bloody good slagging lol...they got it on ramps and drained it for me as I had to go out on a shift right away

Poor we thing was never the same, it ran yes but I did damage, I still feel sorry for it..

[Rustynuts]

From your terminology of gas for petrol, I'm guessing you're not in the UK? Over here, the fuel nozzles are different sizes and it's virtually impossible to put diesel in a petrol. Yet still people seem to manage it.

 

Anyway, as said, you could possibly get away with running it through and keeping the tank topped with petrol (and possibly a petrol fuel treatment), but if it concerns you too much then have it drained and refilled. Personally I regularly put diesel in my car, then again it's a diesel engine.. :p

[Cleo]

I know that's not aimed at me rusty...but then they must been the same size or an f reg astra filler were all the same size, I don't think you can do it now, or in the last 10 yrs

[nickguzzi]

Lots of differences between then and now.

For one, it was pre ULSD.  There was much more reserve lubricity in the Diesel.

Although made to micron close tolerances, mechanical pumps and injectors were based on what worked in commercial/agricultural vehicles.  Mis-fueling and running on low grade fuel was far more common.

Modern Diesels generally don't merely squirt a few drops of fuel into the combustion chamber.  The delivery is modulated to control cylinder pressure and temperature rise for noise and emissions abatement.

They also work at much higher delivery pressures, often an order of magnitude higher.  The orifices are corresponding smaller, along with the clearances.

Non comforming fuel products could/may damage catalysts and DPF's. 

Bio/ethanol fuels are notorious for attacking elastomer's used in seals, O rings and flexible hoses.  I don't know if that would be a problem with modern Diesel installations.  Anyone have any info on that?

[brad1.8T]

I filled one of my old cars with 30L of diesel on top of the 30L of petrol it already had.

 

I siphoned the lot out and filled with fresh petrol but because I'm a bit tight then added it back in 5L doses every 2nd fill (so that it would increase too much in concentration).  It didn't seem to hurt it but it was an old dunger without a cat-con.

 

What else can you do with 60L of 50:50 petrol/diesel?

[DanialA11]

I filled one of my old cars with 30L of diesel on top of the 30L of petrol it already had.

I siphoned the lot out and filled with fresh petrol but because I'm a bit tight then added it back in 5L doses every 2nd fill (so that it would increase too much in concentration). It didn't seem to hurt it but it was an old dunger without a cat-con.

What else can you do with 60L of 50:50 petrol/diesel?

I done the same thing