Non Boaty !!! Petrol into Diesel tank

[tarik]

Help !! I've done it again. In a moment of sheer stupidity my mind wandered whilst I was filling up. I forgot which car I was using and put petrol into the diesel tank.

I have been told that you can get adapters for the tank to prevent the petrol nozzle going into the tank. Any idea what they are called I have tried ebay and elsewhere without any success.

As always many thanks for all replies.



David

 

[alahol2]

Here's one... http://www.misfuellingprevention.co.uk/

Google 'diesel petrol stopper'.

 

[sailorman]

Lots of free advise in the lounge for non boaty stuff :encouragement:
we have all done the same as you over the years

 

[Rhyddid]

Join green flag....or buy an electric car......:encouragement:

 

[NickRobinson]

How much petrol? Check your engine but diesels can stand quite a lot of petrol without harm. (used in cold countries to stop waxing)

 

[jacktarjohn]

I did this last year, first and only time, I was quoted all sorts of crazy prizes to fix it. So I got a mate too give me a tow it home. I disconected the fuel line from the fuel pump, conected a tube to it and syphoned the petrol/diesel mix out. Then brimed the tank with diesel. No problems.

 

[Iliade]

Then brimed the tank

The salty grime around the boot top?

 

[RichardTaylor]

How much petrol? Check your engine but diesels can stand quite a lot of petrol without harm. (used in cold countries to stop waxing)

In the old day this advice was certainly true (as a teenager working fuel pumps in the 70's we added petrol to diesel during the winter to prevent waxing).

However modern "high pressure injection" diesels do not tolerate petrol at all well and running the engine with a petrol diesel mix will cause substantial damage to the pump and injectors with a four figure cost to remedy the damage done.

 

[charles_reed]

Help !! I've done it again. In a moment of sheer stupidity my mind wandered whilst I was filling up. I forgot which car I was using and put petrol into the diesel tank.

I have been told that you can get adapters for the tank to prevent the petrol nozzle going into the tank. Any idea what they are called I have tried ebay and elsewhere without any success.

As always many thanks for all replies.


David

Having done the same in the past - don't run the engine - tow the car away, drain the fuel tank - replace with new diesel.

The cost of replacing the contaminated filter in a modern diesel is the painful part. They start at about £130.
If you do get mixed fuel into the injection equipment the cost goes up to about £2K for replacing pumps and electronic injectors and finally if you do have detonation in the engine it means a replacement motor.

 

[Concerto]

Some years ago I unwittingly bought a diesel car that had been misfuelled and run. I was quoted £4000+ on an £1800 car. Progressively I had parts changed including 2 new injectors, the fuel tank removed and cleaned, forget how many fuel filters and 2 secondhand high pressure pumps - all in about £3500. The car was still not running right so I sold it on. The bodywork was in excellent condition which made it such a shame.

 

[Heckler]

Having done the same in the past - don't run the engine - tow the car away, drain the fuel tank - replace with new diesel.

The cost of replacing the contaminated filter in a modern diesel is the painful part. They start at about £130.
If you do get mixed fuel into the injection equipment the cost goes up to about £2K for replacing pumps and electronic injectors and finally if you do have detonation in the engine it means a replacement motor.

Sorry all who say doom and gloom.
Drain tank, flush the lines, change the fuel filter (where the figure of £130 comes from?) and away you go. Previous threads have posted personal experiences that it isnt the end of the world. Plus a bit of petrol in diesel wont hurt, its only a hydrocarbon! The issue is knocking because it bangs rather than burns when injected. All modern motors have knock sensors and shut the thing down if they detect knock! So puuurlease! a little less of the urban myths and a few hard facts PLEASE!
S

 

[fergie_mac66]

Sorry all who say doom and gloom.
Drain tank, flush the lines, change the fuel filter (where the figure of £130 comes from?) and away you go. Previous threads have posted personal experiences that it isnt the end of the world. Plus a bit of petrol in diesel wont hurt, its only a hydrocarbon! The issue is knocking because it bangs rather than burns when injected. All modern motors have knock sensors and shut the thing down if they detect knock! So puuurlease! a little less of the urban myths and a few hard facts PLEASE!
S

+1 green flag memberrs get it sorted for free though you do lose the tank of fuel as they take that as payment (no doubt filtering an using )

 

[charles_reed]

Sorry you're out of date - the price £136 on 12/12/2014 for my wife's 2008, peugeot 207, charged by the local Peugeot distributor when it was inadvertently filled with petrol instead of diesel.

On modern eco-diesels the filter is, apparently an extremely complex device. I'd agree, on a 12-year old 406 the damage would have been infinitesimable.
So your information, like mine was, is considerably out of date.

The secret is to not run the engine - if you immediately drain the tank you don't even have to flush the fuel-line.

 

[vyv_cox]

Advice from the AA is that up to 10% petrol in diesel should cause no problems, keep driving. Above that the injection pump will suffer from the reduced lubricity of petrol compared with diesel and high wear rates will damage it in very short order. The filter being discussed is the diesel particulate filter, which can be a very pricy item. I had one replaced when rust from the exhaust manifold partly blocked it after standing unused for several months. I forget the price now but it was pretty eye-watering.

 

[Heckler]

Advice from the AA is that up to 10% petrol in diesel should cause no problems, keep driving. Above that the injection pump will suffer from the reduced lubricity of petrol compared with diesel and high wear rates will damage it in very short order. The filter being discussed is the diesel particulate filter, which can be a very pricy item. I had one replaced when rust from the exhaust manifold partly blocked it after standing unused for several months. I forget the price now but it was pretty eye-watering.

I suspected that was what he was on about, but I stand by my questioning as to the price of a fuel filter! I also suspect a main dealer will charge eyewatering prices that I wouldnt pay, I would do it myself! I took the particulate filter off my 406 and pressure washed it, straight forward enough and it worked. Lots of grey sludge came out!
S

 

[vyv_cox]

I suspected that was what he was on about, but I stand by my questioning as to the price of a fuel filter! I also suspect a main dealer will charge eyewatering prices that I wouldnt pay, I would do it myself! I took the particulate filter off my 406 and pressure washed it, straight forward enough and it worked. Lots of grey sludge came out!
S

I would not use a main dealer but I have reached an age where I don't do a lot of car work any more. I trust the outfit I do use, who have always been very straight with me.