Diesel in petrol van

michael2121

Hello I bought a van yesterday privately its a 2.5ltr 1993 Renault trafic. Was originally a mini bus. the guy said it was diesel. then he showed me the heating plugs light and that convinced me it was. then I drive off all is good.

About 1/4 tank. then top up 40 euro diesel. she starts getting very hot after 20 miles and smoking bad out the back. i stop add oil as oil light was on. then also add coolant as it seemed a little low ( NOT MAJORLY LOW.)

I then continue on for about half an hour then the van loses loads of power and starts to smoke out the engine and i pull over. the engine is boiling hot and the spring in the cap for the coolant has burst through the cap.

She would not start so i left it there. Any ideas as to the hope of getting it going again ? there is no turn over when you twist the key.
The engine was so hot that water sizzled on the top of it.

Only people with mechanical experience need reply. dont want "its screwed" or "wow thats F**ked" . would much rather a technical explanation and an educated guess as to what to try to get it going.

Thanks a million for reading it and any advice.

TequilaMockingBird

Just get your money back, surely it's not worth the hassle trying to sort it out?

I thought the diesel pump nozzle wouldn't fit in a petrol tank?

brendansmith

I wouldnt have thought that its due to diesel in a petrol van.

michael2121

Ya i am going to try that first. but would love to know roughly whats wrong as well. The nozzle issue only occurs if you go to the diesel pump with a truck nozzle I think. as i had a diesel car before and that happened when i went to the truck one. If not it being a van it prob had a bigger one.

it was about 75% diesel by the end . im no mechanic but i dont know what else it could be.

Skuxx

TequilaMockingBird wrote: »

Just get your money back, surely it's not worth the hassle trying to sort it out?

I thought the diesel pump nozzle wouldn't fit in a petrol tank?

Yeah it shouldn't have fitted unless it was really forced in.....it is possible though cause my mum has done it b4!!

Anyway what kind of van is it? I'm almost sure 90% of vans in production would be diesel so unless it was a car converted into a van was it?

Top Dog

Er - type of van would definitely help here OP

michael2121

its a 2.5ltr 1993 Renault trafic. Was originally a mini bus.

Change of owner form says petrol.

smokin ace

did you see the tax book did it say petrol or diesel
get back on to the chap who sold it to you

michael2121

smokin ace wrote: »

did you see the tax book did it say petrol or diesel
get back on to the chap who sold it to you

Is the tax book the Pink slip you get or is it another book ? The form with ie



inside has engine info . year registered. FUEL type, owner name address ect is that the one ?

smokin ace

michael2121 wrote: »

Is the tax book the Pink slip you get or is it another book ? The form with ie



inside has engine info . year registered. FUEL type, owner name address ect is that the one ?

the one in the picture is the one what fuel type do it say about the vehicle or have you got it

michael2121

Unfortunately Petrol so it seems there can be petrol vans with a coil like diesel. He still informed me it was diesel and the ad he posted online said diesel and before we left he said there is a small bit of diesel in it to carry you to the next stop.

so any ideas on what the damage it could have done ?

Inbox

Did you buy it from a dealer or a private sale?

Inbox

Highly likely the head gasket is gone.

michael2121

Inbox wrote: »

Highly likely the head gasket is gone.

ok so not worth replacing im guessing ?

Top Dog

The log book may say petrol - but I'm still sceptical. A quick search on donedeal only lists 1 petrol traffic - http://www.donedeal.ie/for-sale/campers/1708361

All the rest on there are diesel

I'd also be surprised at a mini-bus running a petrol engine. They'd be intended for big mileage so a diesel would make much more economic sense.

Skuxx

Top Dog wrote: »

The log book may say petrol - but I'm still sceptical.

Yeah it would make sense to be diesel but if the log book says petrol and when he put diesel into it she didn't react to well I think we can safely says she's a petrol!

michael2121

I agree so the log book could be wrong ?

The head height in this was more than that it was over 1.8m inside. it was a tall van . I will have to wait and see . guy is calling today so we can sort something out. Also the coils Light inside like in a diesel hints at it being a diesel in my opinion. has anyone come across a petrol vehicle with heating plugs like a diesel ?

Inbox

Did the engine sound like a tractor? Surely you can tell from the noise it made?

michael2121

the further we traveled it did get louder but while i test drove it she was fine. so i do believe its petrol somewhat. its quiet frustrating cause the man is quiet a nice man. he is driving an hour today to come look at it to see can he get it going. but i think it wont be of much use.

So besides the head gasket what else could go in this situation ?

Skuxx

michael2121 wrote: »

the further we traveled it did get louder but while i test drove it she was fine. so i do believe its petrol somewhat. its quiet frustrating cause the man is quiet a nice man. he is driving an hour today to come look at it to see can he get it going. but i think it wont be of much use.

So besides the head gasket what else could go in this situation ?

OP to be honest by the sounds of it you'd want to know a thing or 2 about engines to get it going again and if he didn't even know what fuel it took......
How long was he driving the van for himself?

If he does get it going, take it to a garage and get it properly checked out or it could leave you stranded someday!

gbee

If it was a Petrol engine and you put diesel in it, it would smoke and flutter and perhaps not restart if turned off.

It *could have been possible to run the diesel down and refill with petrol and go for a good spin ~ the guards would probably pull you over for smoke though ~ that's a theory anyway.

I've done this myself but my concentration of miss-fuel was not as high as yours.

If it were a Diesel and you put petrol in and insisted on driving it you'd blow up the engine like you describe.

**diesel engine and you put in petrol must never be driven.
*petrol engine will run diesel badly.

I've driven on mixtures in both cases but my miss-fuel concentrations were small [about a gallon to a full tank of the correct fuel].

jeepers101

gbee wrote: »

I

**diesel engine and you put in petrol must never be driven.
*petrol engine will run diesel badly.

l [about a gallon to a full tank of the correct fuel].

Pretty sure its the other way around

michael2121

i know he wont get it going as it seemed pretty shagged and if he does i will still request my money back .

im fairly certain its diesel in petrol not as bad

petrol in diesel it dies a quick death

Henry Ford III

Has the engine got spark plugs?

gbee

jeepers101 wrote: »

Pretty sure its the other way around

No, it's burnt into my memory ~ I filled two diesel vans with petrol in my time ~ luckily spotted the mistake and the company were delighted it was *only* a tow, drain, refill with diesel.

michael2121

ok well in that case i assume its screwed i will just request money back and say its not worth my trouble to try and get it going.

thanks for all the advice guys

anyone who wants to list stuff that doing this does to the van (technical details) please feel free to do so as I am quiet interested.

Thank you,