Did I get away with putting petrol into my Diesel S-Max

Jane98

Myself and family were travelling up the country at the weekend and fuel light came on so my husband who was driving pulled into the next garage and stuck €20 worth of fuel into it. We then spent say the next 50 minutes driving and my husband remarked that the car seemed quite sluggish. We stopped for a couple of hours and then went to drive again and funnily the car wouldn't start so called out a mechanic. We explained what happened, he got the car going, revved it hard for a good few minutes and noticed the thick black smoke coming out of it, so he diagnosed that we must have put dirty diesel into it. He advised to fill with diesel which would dilute it and afterwards it did seem to be driving better.
So, when we got home the next day I asked my husband for a copy of the receipt for the diesel as I wanted to ring them and let them know what happened but imagine my shock when I saw the receipt for unleaded.
Of course he swears he wouldn't have put petrol into my car and especially as he drives a diesel himself but I'm inclined to think he did make a mistake.
Anyway, my concern now is, is it inevitable that damage has been done to my engine, even though it seems to be driving fine 4 days later?.
And, I have to take it into a Ford garage on Friday for some other planned work to be done to it, should I mention it to them and suggest anything????

colm_mcm

I would be draining the system ASAP. €20 petrol in a diesel tank is a lot. You will need a new fuel filter anyway. Hopefully there isn't further damage but if there is it's done at this stage.

I woipdnt be going near a ford garage or telling them about the misfuelling if the car is under or just out of warranty.

Jane98

Jane98 wrote: »

I'm inclined to think he did make a mistake.

Sorry but us men dont make mistakes,
the pump handle must of been the wrong colour...........

Nekarsulm

BrownFinger wrote: »

Sorry but us men dont make mistakes,
the pump handle must of been the wrong colour...........

Or the girl at the till made a mistake, and your hubby paid for someone else's pump ......

Oxter

I thought Ford cars had a filler cap attachment that made misfuelling impossible?

Cee-Jay-Cee

Oxter wrote: »

I thought Ford cars had a filler cap attachment that made misfuelling impossible?

I think its only for petrol cars, ie you cant fit the diesel nozzle (which is thicker) into the filler neck on petrol cars but it doesn't work the other way around as petrol nozzles are thinner and will easily fit the diesel filler neck.

Jane98

colm_mcm wrote: »

I would be draining the system ASAP. €20 petrol in a diesel tank is a lot. You will need a new fuel filter anyway. Hopefully there isn't further damage but if there is it's done at this stage.

I woipdnt be going near a ford garage or telling them about the misfuelling if the car is under or just out of warranty.

My car at 5 years old is well out of warranty.

Thanks, I'll ask them to replace the fuel filter.

ted1

Jane98 wrote: »

My car at 5 years old is well out of warranty.

Thanks, I'll ask them to replace the fuel filter.

Keep from liking the tank to dilute it

Dohnjoe

Jane98 wrote: »

Myself and family were travelling up the country at the weekend and fuel light came on so my husband who was driving pulled into the next garage and stuck €20 worth of fuel into it. We then spent say the next 50 minutes driving and my husband remarked that the car seemed quite sluggish. We stopped for a couple of hours and then went to drive again and funnily the car wouldn't start so called out a mechanic. We explained what happened, he got the car going, revved it hard for a good few minutes and noticed the thick black smoke coming out of it, so he diagnosed that we must have put dirty diesel into it. He advised to fill with diesel which would dilute it and afterwards it did seem to be driving better.
So, when we got home the next day I asked my husband for a copy of the receipt for the diesel as I wanted to ring them and let them know what happened but imagine my shock when I saw the receipt for unleaded.
Of course he swears he wouldn't have put petrol into my car and especially as he drives a diesel himself but I'm inclined to think he did make a mistake.
Anyway, my concern now is, is it inevitable that damage has been done to my engine, even though it seems to be driving fine 4 days later?.
And, I have to take it into a Ford garage on Friday for some other planned work to be done to it, should I mention it to them and suggest anything????

I did this with less fuel, drove less than 5km and was told I was very lucky

The advice was to keep brimming the tank for a few weeks to keep the petrol floating at the top

Apparently an amount of petrol can destroy seals etc and in some cases do serious (and expensive) damage to a diesel engine

Call up a mechanic or insurance assistance company anywhere and tell them how much fuel you had, what car it is (the type of diesel engine can make a diff), how much you put in and how long you drove for.. they should give you an idea of whether it's serious or not

Cee-Jay-Cee

If your really unsure, stop driving the car now and drain the tank and then fill to the neck with diesel and then keep brimming the tank when its half full to dilute any residual petrol that might be remaining. I certainly wouldn't just keep driving the car and hoping for the best.

Oxter

Cee-Jay-Cee wrote: »

I think its only for petrol cars, ie you cant fit the diesel nozzle (which is thicker) into the filler neck on petrol cars but it doesn't work the other way around as petrol nozzles are thinner and will easily fit the diesel filler neck.

Afaik it prevents misfuelling of both tupes. Ford call it EasyFuel.
It was originally used on Fiestas, Mondeo and Focus.
My 2009 Mondeo had it.

Perhaps a current Ford owner could confirm?

If it is on the OP's car then the garage could have had the wrong fuel in yheir tanks.

Jane98

I have just noticed that the fuel gauge is not working - does this suggest damaged sensors?

Jane98

I have just noticed that the fuel gauge is not working - does this suggest damaged sensors?

Jimmy Garlic

Jane98 wrote: »

the car wouldn't start so called out a mechanic. We explained what happened, he got the car going, revved it hard for a good few minutes and noticed the thick black smoke coming out of it, so he diagnosed that we must have put dirty diesel into it.

76544567

I put about €30 of petrol into a diesel last year.
I decide to drive it out.
Just filled the tank every 100 Km.
Never noticed any ill effects.
Id say you are ok.

Jimmy Garlic

Jane98 wrote: »

I have just noticed that the fuel gauge is not working - does this suggest damaged sensors?

If the car is starting and running the sender unit in the tank could have gone open circuit. Might need to be replaced. Better to have that looked at because if the ECU thinks there is no fuel in the tank the car could possibly cut out and leave you stranded somewhere. I wouldn't go back to the mechanic that revved your car for many minutes when it was full of petrol.

Jane98

Jimmy Garlic wrote: »

If the car is starting and running the sender unit in the tank could have gone open circuit. Might need to be replaced. Better to have that looked at because if the ECU thinks there is no fuel in the tank the car could possibly cut out and leave you stranded somewhere. I wouldn't go back to the mechanic that revved your car for many minutes when it was full of petrol.

In fairness to him we hadn't realised at the time what had probably been done.

Jimmy Garlic

Jane98 wrote: »

In fairness to him we hadn't realised at the time what had probably been done.

Would have been wise to pull a line and see/smell what was in it, but anyhow. Definitely get the sender checked or you could end up stranded.

Jane98

Jimmy Garlic wrote: »

If the car is starting and running the sender unit in the tank could have gone open circuit. Might need to be replaced. Better to have that looked at because if the ECU thinks there is no fuel in the tank the car could possibly cut out and leave you stranded somewhere. I wouldn't go back to the mechanic that revved your car for many minutes when it was full of petrol.

In fairness to him we hadn't realised at the time what had probably been done.

JohnBoy26

Jimmy Garlic wrote: »

If the car is starting and running the sender unit in the tank could have gone open circuit. Might need to be replaced. Better to have that looked at because if the ECU thinks there is no fuel in the tank the car could possibly cut out and leave you stranded somewhere. I wouldn't go back to the mechanic that revved your car for many minutes when it was full of petrol.

Except he didn't know that petrol was put into it and it wasn't full of petrol.

Jimmy Garlic

JohnBoy26 wrote: »

Except he didn't know that petrol was put into it and it wasn't full of petrol.

That's exactly why he shouldn't have revved the sh*te it for several minutes. Doesn't take long to pull a fuel line to figure out what's in it, a lot of people who put petrol in their cars don't know they have done it, and obviously won't mention it. When I said ''full of petrol'' i didn't mean that it was full to the brim with petrol. 20quid of petrol is more than enough to cause problems, especially if there wasn't much diesel in it before it was put in.

grogi

Jane98 wrote: »

And, I have to take it into a Ford garage on Friday for some other planned work to be done to it, should I mention it to them and suggest anything????

High pressure fuel pump is lubricated by the diesel it's pumping. Petrol does not have lubricating properties unfortunately.

I would drain the tank pronto, replace the filter and inspect it. If the pump did get a hit, the injectors might be on the way out already...

demanufactured

Oxter wrote: »

Afaik it prevents misfuelling of both tupes. Ford call it EasyFuel.
It was originally used on Fiestas, Mondeo and Focus.
My 2009 Mondeo had it.

Perhaps a current Ford owner could confirm?

If it is on the OP's car then the garage could have had the wrong fuel in yheir tanks.

I can confirm....my. 08 mondeo diesel has this ...you can't out a thinner unleaded nozzle into it.

exaisle

BrownFinger wrote: »

Sorry but us men dont make mistakes,
the pump handle must of been the wrong colour...........

....only with our grammar and spelling.....

i know u know

I put 60 petrol in to my diesel astra and seem to have gotten away with it, drove sluggish for a while but seems fine now

Atari Jaguar

pa990 wrote: »

Let me get this straight.

Car fails nct
Carv goes to mechanic
Mechanic given copy of nct failure report
Mechanic fixed problem.

..........


What did you expect him to do. ?

Now, he should have phoned and told you that it would cost X amount, but I'm presuming that he presumed that you wanted the car fixed to pass the nct.


Or am I completely wrong !

Very.

colm_mcm

i know u know wrote: »

I put 60 petrol in to my diesel astra and seem to have gotten away with it, drove sluggish for a while but seems fine now

You ran a diesel Astra on a full tank of petrol?

Oxter

i know u know wrote: »

I put 60 petrol in to my diesel astra and seem to have gotten away with it, drove sluggish for a while but seems fine now

Does a diesel Astra hold 60 litres?
Must have been totally empty.

pa990

colm_mcm wrote: »

You ran a diesel Astra on a full tank of petrol?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=

9935452

Jimmy Garlic wrote: »

That's exactly why he shouldn't have revved the sh*te it for several minutes. Doesn't take long to pull a fuel line to figure out what's in it, a lot of people who put petrol in their cars don't know they have done it, and obviously won't mention it. When I said ''full of petrol'' i didn't mean that it was full to the brim with petrol. 20quid of petrol is more than enough to cause problems, especially if there wasn't much diesel in it before it was put in.

To be fair to the mechanic he was probably called out to a car with a flat battery.
Most people that i see with a car/tractor that wont start keep trying to start it and flatten the battery probably pumping the accelerater pedal too.
Mechanic comes out and jumps the car and it starts and runs. it wouldnt be unusual for a car with a flat battery to start in a cloud of smoke due to unburnt fuel.
IMO anyone who thinks they have gotton away with throwing petrol into a diesel car is wrong , there is some damage done.
I have been told about people who have been told to throw in a litre or 2 of petrol into the tank to clear the smoke from a car for the nct only to be getting the injection pump reconditioned a short while later

Op if there was any doubt about putting petrol in a diesel car i would drain the tank asap. As said above the injection pump is lubricated by the diesel , petrol wont lubricate it. You could do a lot of damage and have a large repair bill long term.
Also change the fuel filter .

Funmum05

I drive a 2010 S Max and you can't put a petrol nozzle in. Just doesn't fit. I'd say its likely that you let your diesel go down to low and dirt got in which has happened a number of times to me. I've been advised by a Ford mechanic that when this happens to drive it in a low gear at high revs to clear it out.

colm_mcm

not certain that easy fuel was standard. this is capless as well isn't it?

Oxter

colm_mcm wrote: »

not certain that easy fuel was standard. this is capless as well isn't it?

It is capless and is standard, from 08, possibly earlier.

See posts above. If the OP's car is 5 years of age it should be Easyfuel and thus impossible to fill with unleaded.

ml100

Could it be a garage selling questionable diesel issuing a receipt for petrol to avoid any come back from the purchaser?

Kopparberg Strawberry and Lime

Im surprised the smax ran on petrol like that if it was filled with petrol.

I thought itd be near impossible , then the mechanic gets it going again on the same fuel ?

Dunno, sounds like dodgy diesel. But possibly ran out of diesel and it had water mixed ?

Also damn not being able to use the truck pump much faster fills with that !

Atari Jaguar

ml100 wrote: »

Could it be a garage selling questionable diesel issuing a receipt for petrol to avoid any come back from the purchaser?

Could even be a shop assistant who needs to get a pair of glasses and or a hearing aid.

Oxter

Kopparberg Strawberry and Lime wrote: »

Im surprised the smax ran on petrol like that if it was filled with petrol.

I thought itd be near impossible , then the mechanic gets it going again on the same fuel ?

Dunno, sounds like dodgy diesel. But possibly ran out of diesel and it had water mixed ?

Also damn not being able to use the truck pump much faster fills with that !

And not being able to use the green diesel pump too! A Ford mechanic would hsve known it's impossible to put in unleaded.

The Ford Easyfuel Funnel is availablr for those who use their cars on a farm and want to fill up with agridiesel or use fuel additives