Accidental petrol in diesel

[Moussey]

Would appreciate a view on this.

I am sat at home at 10pm having borrowed my friend cars since my 2009 V70 2.4D would not start after sitting for an hour in the pub car park. it just churns over and makes not a sign of firing.

The reason for posting on this thread is that I had just put £40 of "fuel" in when it had only 40 miles range left, so thats roughly 5 gallons on top of what was in there. I then drove 400 yards to the pub. I didn't ask for a receipt (note to self next time).

I am about to go back in the morning and ask the garage what I put in.

I would be amazed if it just stopped it dead, but any different views?

I would add that if it was diesel, what's a possible cause of the non starting. I did run my code reader while I was waiting and it shows no fault codes.

All ideas comments gratefully received.

[yostumpy]

Open the tank cap, and take a sniff, any petrol in there and you’ll smell it.

[SnineT]

Originally Posted by yostumpy

Open the tank cap, and take a sniff, any petrol in there and you’ll smell it.

Yup the old bitter vs lager test.

[Tannaton]

If you have put the wrong fuel in - don’t go to a dealer - there are plenty of mobile fuel doctor type specialists…..

[Pidgeonpost]

Originally Posted by Moussey

Would appreciate a view on this.

I am sat at home at 10pm having borrowed my friend cars since my 2009 V70 2.4D would not start after sitting for an hour in the pub car park. it just churns over and makes not a sign of firing.

The reason for posting on this thread is that I had just put £40 of "fuel" in when it had only 40 miles range left, so thats roughly 5 gallons on top of what was in there. I then drove 400 yards to the pub. I didn't ask for a receipt (note to self next time).

I am about to go back in the morning and ask the garage what I put in.

I would be amazed if it just stopped it dead, but any different views?

I would add that if it was diesel, what's a possible cause of the non starting. I did run my code reader while I was waiting and it shows no fault codes.

All ideas comments gratefully received.

I filled our diesel Skoda with petrol last year. Not a top-up, as it was less than a quarter full. I drove half a mile home uneventfully and parked up. A couple of hours later, plenty of cranking but wouldn't fire. When the possibility dawned on me, checked the receipt, sniffed the tank, and sure enough - petrol. A quick post to the village Facebook page got me a local garage who would deal with it.
The garage turned up, recovered the car, did a drain, replaced the filter (which had been renewed two days before at a service). They recommended putting some diesel additive or injector cleaner in and taking it steady for a tank full. No ill effects.
I remember reading the plight of a fellow 5-Series owner who had put petrol in his diesel car. The lack of lubrication for the high-pressure fuel pump and subsequent friction had generated tiny particles of swarf which had been pushed into the entire fuel system. I can't remember what the outcome was, but it wasn't looking good financially.

[Tannaton]

By the way once drained and refilled, fuel system bled, the car will 99% likely be fine with no I’ll effects.

[Moomoo]

Originally Posted by Tannaton

By the way once drained and refilled, fuel system bled, the car will 99% likely be fine with no I’ll effects.

Aye, that’s my experience too.

Petrol in diesel is not as bad as t’other way round!

[Moussey]

Thanks everyone. I"ve just returned my mates car and guess what..... the delicate aroma of unleaded in the tank. Durrrrrrr on me.
Really good to know its not dire.

On reflection I'm thinking that since it was 80% petrol in there after the fill up and in a hot engine/ fuel system you get a vapour lock when the petrol hits the hot bits and zippo coming out of the injectors. Whatever.

I think if I get as much petrol out as poss, fill with diesel and bleed through it will be ok.

Since the car is safe I will prob do myself. From memory there are various bleed screws on the pump on the engine.

Anyone know if you can you syphon these days or is it a crawl under job to get the petrol out? My 1960s TR is about to get some oily petrol but being a tractor engine I am sure it won't mind. ;>)

[Tatsfield]

My original post reported a much less critical situation. My petrol contamination was less than 3% and the recommended safety level is 7.5%. So I just brimmed and refilled again at half tank usage.

This wasn't my first petrol contamination mistake but the first time, in a hire car in France, I filled the tank completely with petrol, but never started the engine and so a tank drain solved the problem.

If you have 80% petrol, you need to dump the entire contents of the tank. If you ran the engine, once you've drained and refilled with 100% diesel, you'd better drive with your fingers crossed as wear damage can take some time to show itself.

[Tannaton]

Originally Posted by Moussey

Thanks everyone. I"ve just returned my mates car and guess what..... the delicate aroma of unleaded in the tank. Durrrrrrr on me.
Really good to know its not dire.

On reflection I'm thinking that since it was 80% petrol in there after the fill up and in a hot engine/ fuel system you get a vapour lock when the petrol hits the hot bits and zippo coming out of the injectors. Whatever.

I think if I get as much petrol out as poss, fill with diesel and bleed through it will be ok.

Since the car is safe I will prob do myself. From memory there are various bleed screws on the pump on the engine.

Anyone know if you can you syphon these days or is it a crawl under job to get the petrol out? My 1960s TR is about to get some oily petrol but being a tractor engine I am sure it won't mind. ;>)

Yes I would just syphon what and all you can out of the tank, put at least 5 gallons in, remove and replace the fuel filter that should get it running with some further fiddling and then brim the tank as soon as you can (with diesel this time!).

Your TR won’t be harmed by some upper cylinder lubrication…. :-)