A Christmas laugh for you

340man · Dec 27th, 2015, 20:54

My friend recently bought a 2 year old, low mileage, largish diesel estate Mercedes. Sure it's in nice condition, he asked me to go for a ride in it. Bashed my head on the door frame and my knees on the dash as I got it, found that I was sitting quite low. Not a good start. Found the engine noisy, the car too wide and the ride bumpy. Of course I could not tell him any of this.

Got into my Volvo 340 GL and drove off, thinking this is more like it, quieter, more comfortable, not so bumpy. Went to fill with petrol as nearly empty, filled the tank. Drove out of the petrol station, down the main road and faithful old Volvo, misfired a little. Thought crap petrol, but then it got much worse. Then the penny dropped, filled up with diesel! Oh dear, can I make it the couple of miles home? just about did, engine misfiring and pinking a lot.

Silly billy, never done this before in well over 40 years of driving.

Have just bought this:http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/272063486251

with the thought of pumping out the diesel.

Any suggestions of the easiest way to do this?

dingov70 · Dec 28th, 2015, 09:33

Morning there , If you car has a mechanical pump on the engine , simply remove the pipe from the fuel tank & plug your electric pump into that pipe and empty your tank . If you have fuel injection , you will find the pump near the fuel tank . My trick for this is to remove the power feed from the wiring loom , fit a long pipe from outlet of the pump & into a suitably sized container to receive the fuel you pump out . Take a direct 12 volt feed from the battery & apply to the + terminal of the pump and away it will go emptying the tank for you . Due to the volume of diesel there is an almost zero fire risk due to sparks

Once the tank is empty , reconnect everything you undid and add petrol . The exhaust will smoke for a while until all traces of diesel have been burnt away

340man · Dec 28th, 2015, 09:48

Good moanning, thank you for the reply. Yes, mechanical pump under the bonnet. It has a flow and return connection to the tank.They look similar so need to discover which is which.

I may run the new electric pump from an old battery charger, might be easier as it already has long DC output leads on it. This morning I will look in the garage for some empty cans, about 10 gallons worth!

340man · Dec 28th, 2015, 13:56

Well, I have rummaged the garage, unfortunately, the old 5 gallon Jerrycan that I knew was in there, is full of petrol. I did find a roll of fuel tubing and some 2 gallon petrol cans of my late father's that might be pre WW2. They seem in quite good condition and one of the has "Pratts" on it. How appropriate.

340man · Dec 31st, 2015, 13:51

Update, disconnected fuel feed to the car's mechanical pump and connected to my new electric pump. Pumped the contents of the tank into plastic petol cans about 8 cans in all.

Reconnected car's mech pump as before. Put a gallon of petrol in the tank, car was reluctant to start, sprayed a little Easy Start into the air filter and tried again. Started OK and a fair amount of smoke from the exhaust. After a few min, this reduced. Letting this run out then I will put another gallon of petrol in.

Dec 27th, 2015, 20:54	#1
340man Member Last Online: Sep 26th, 2019 09:23 Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Middlesex	A Christmas laugh for you My friend recently bought a 2 year old, low mileage, largish diesel estate Mercedes. Sure it's in nice condition, he asked me to go for a ride in it. Bashed my head on the door frame and my knees on the dash as I got it, found that I was sitting quite low. Not a good start. Found the engine noisy, the car too wide and the ride bumpy. Of course I could not tell him any of this. Got into my Volvo 340 GL and drove off, thinking this is more like it, quieter, more comfortable, not so bumpy. Went to fill with petrol as nearly empty, filled the tank. Drove out of the petrol station, down the main road and faithful old Volvo, misfired a little. Thought crap petrol, but then it got much worse. Then the penny dropped, filled up with diesel! Oh dear, can I make it the couple of miles home? just about did, engine misfiring and pinking a lot. Silly billy, never done this before in well over 40 years of driving. Have just bought this:http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/272063486251 with the thought of pumping out the diesel. Any suggestions of the easiest way to do this? Last edited by 340man; Dec 27th, 2015 at 21:25.

Dec 28th, 2015, 09:33	#2
dingov70 Master Member Last Online: Apr 16th, 2024 06:48 Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Blackpool	Morning there , If you car has a mechanical pump on the engine , simply remove the pipe from the fuel tank & plug your electric pump into that pipe and empty your tank . If you have fuel injection , you will find the pump near the fuel tank . My trick for this is to remove the power feed from the wiring loom , fit a long pipe from outlet of the pump & into a suitably sized container to receive the fuel you pump out . Take a direct 12 volt feed from the battery & apply to the + terminal of the pump and away it will go emptying the tank for you . Due to the volume of diesel there is an almost zero fire risk due to sparks Once the tank is empty , reconnect everything you undid and add petrol . The exhaust will smoke for a while until all traces of diesel have been burnt away __________________ To stupidity & beyond

Dec 28th, 2015, 09:48	#3
340man Member Last Online: Sep 26th, 2019 09:23 Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Middlesex	Good moanning, thank you for the reply. Yes, mechanical pump under the bonnet. It has a flow and return connection to the tank.They look similar so need to discover which is which. I may run the new electric pump from an old battery charger, might be easier as it already has long DC output leads on it. This morning I will look in the garage for some empty cans, about 10 gallons worth!

Dec 28th, 2015, 13:56	#4
340man Member Last Online: Sep 26th, 2019 09:23 Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Middlesex	Well, I have rummaged the garage, unfortunately, the old 5 gallon Jerrycan that I knew was in there, is full of petrol. I did find a roll of fuel tubing and some 2 gallon petrol cans of my late father's that might be pre WW2. They seem in quite good condition and one of the has "Pratts" on it. How appropriate.

Dec 31st, 2015, 13:51	#5
340man Member Last Online: Sep 26th, 2019 09:23 Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Middlesex	Update, disconnected fuel feed to the car's mechanical pump and connected to my new electric pump. Pumped the contents of the tank into plastic petol cans about 8 cans in all. Reconnected car's mech pump as before. Put a gallon of petrol in the tank, car was reluctant to start, sprayed a little Easy Start into the air filter and tried again. Started OK and a fair amount of smoke from the exhaust. After a few min, this reduced. Letting this run out then I will put another gallon of petrol in.

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