Put petrol into diesel car

splashthecash

Here is my story...:(

Got a new car a couple of days ago (2017 Kia Carens - desiel) and was coming back from visiting from Wexford to Kildare. The tank had approx 1/4 tank and stopped in Bunclody to put some more into it.

I realised after about 20 euro had gone in that it was unleaded, instead of desiel (it would have been about 13-14 litres going on the price). I panicked....put an additional 25 euro of Desiel (which would be about 21 litres), paid for both and hopped into the car and drove home (which was about another 30/40 mins drive)

The car was fine all the way home but after I got back I confessed to the wife (she was the reason I panicked ) and went outside again to try and see if any issues in starting...it started but you could hear that it was taking longer to start now.

I haven't tried it this morning because (a) im afraid what might be obvious and (b) that trying it again, could push the contaminated fuel further into the engine (although this is probably too late as for the drive home last night)

A mechanic friend said it might be possible to just pump the fuel out of the tank/fuel lines and just replace the fuel filter....is this the case or could it be worse? or what are people's experiences after driving post putting in the wrong fuel. He can help me tomorrow, but should I get the tank/system drained asap rather than waiting another day?

I know now that not panicking, not turning on the engine and getting the tank drained right away would have been the optimal approach.

handlemaster

Did the mechnic say what damage it would do just to finish the tank and do nothing ? Keep adding diesel when the dial moves down

denismc

Sorry to hear your predicament. It happened to me a few years ago as I was waiting for the ferry, I put almost a full tank of petrol into a Golf TDI.
Almost as soon as I started it was obvious something was wrong.
So I got the tank and fuel line fully drained, filled it with diesel and had no trouble since.

At the very least you will have to drain the tank, but as for engine damage only a mechanic will be able to tell.

AFAIK adding petrol to a diesel engine is not as serious as putting diesel into a petrol car.

Toyotafanboi

30% petrol is a strong mix to be fair. To be honest, any potential damage has probably been done on the drive home.

It'd be no harm to get it pumped out really as it is a strong mix. If you had added €4-5 euro worth and copped it, I'd be inclined to say keep topping up with diesel and you'l be ok.

That said, not that it's too much of a comparison, my sister in law once added €30 petrol to a quarter tank of diesel in her 161 Astra and drove it 50kms home, the car was running like a dog. Got it pumped out and it's been grand so far but I guess the added wear and tear may rear it's head down the line.

Fuelrescue.ie done the whole thing for around €180.

I wouldn't take the car to my main dealer to have the tank drained, that's for sure.

splashthecash

handlemaster wrote: »

Did the mechnic say what damage it would do just to finish the tank and do nothing ? Keep adding diesel when the dial moves down

He said not to drive it anymore. However another mechanic friend said that the mix would probably be enough to get through it and to keep topping up regularly until all is flushed out....so a little confused as to what to do

splashthecash

My worst nightmare is that either Kia or a mechanic turn around to me and say the engine has seized and the car is a goner....that couldn't happen could it?

Toyotafanboi

The engine won't seize but you may see fuel system problems down the line.

You just spent €30k on the car, get an independent company to pump it out and change the filter so no trace of petrol can be found.

Kia give 7 years warranty on those cars so if you do have fuel system issues in a year or two it will be impossible for the manufacturer to blame it on fuel contamination.

It's a but shady but the best thing to do really.

splashthecash

Toyotafanboi wrote: »

The engine won't seize but you may see fuel system problems down the line.

You just spent €30k on the car, get an independent company to pump it out and change the filter so no trace of petrol can be found.

Kia give 7 years warranty on those cars so if you do have fuel system issues in a year or two it will be impossible for the manufacturer to blame it on fuel contamination.

It's a but shady but the best thing to do really.

Cheers, thanks....I have someone lined up to pump it out tomorrow. Hopefully, it'll just be a case of throwing some fresh deseil into and it'll start up again

Gaoth Laidir

Isn't adding some petrol to a diesel car supposed to be beneficial in that it cleans it through and reduces emissions. Now I'm not sure about 30% but I have been told up to 20% every now and again is a good idea.

colm_mcm

Change the fuel filter too. a genuine Kia one.

dev100

splashthecash wrote:

I realised after about 20 euro had gone in that it was unleaded, instead of desiel (it would have been about 13-14 litres going on the price). I panicked....put an additional 25 euro of Desiel (which would be about 21 litres), paid for both and hopped into the car and drove home (which was about another 30/40 mins drive)

Wouldn't worry too much at all everytime you go out keep diluting it down with fresh diesel .fill it up to the spout with diesel. Basically petrol burns/ explodes at a lower flash point so in theory your car should be nippery .

bazz26

Gaoth Laidir wrote: »

Isn't adding some petrol to a diesel car supposed to be beneficial in that it cleans it through and reduces emissions. Now I'm not sure about 30% but I have been told up to 20% every now and again is a good idea.

Not good on modern diesel engines with common rail fuel injections systems.

flower tattoo

Gaoth Laidir wrote: »

Isn't adding some petrol to a diesel car supposed to be beneficial in that it cleans it through and reduces emissions. Now I'm not sure about 30% but I have been told up to 20% every now and again is a good idea.

I accidentally put 87 cent of petrol in mine and panicked but was told by a few people that up to a tenner every month cleans out the filters! I haven't been brave enough to try it - this on a 6 yr old diesel

colm_mcm

flower tattoo wrote: »

I accidentally put 87 cent of petrol in mine and panicked but was told by a few people that up to a tenner every month cleans out the filters! I haven't been brave enough to try it - this on a 6 yr old diesel

Yeah don't bother.

Gaoth Laidir

colm_mcm

A 2017 Carens uses a slightly more up to date tech than a 98 Escort! (1.8 Endura launched in 1986)

mfceiling

Don't put any petrol in a diesel engine full stop. You've done it now OP so drain the tank and keep it topped up with good diesel.

My mate threw 2 litres of petrol into his 2004 mercedes sprinter with €40 of diesel. At the toll booth on the n7 it stopped and wouldn't start. He managed to get it going after a few minutes turning. He pulled in at portlaoise and filled it to the throat with diesel and never risked it again.

shamrock55

Happened me today,put in around 10euro worth of petrol before i realised,i then rang my local garage to see what the story was and was told it would be no problem and to jest fill up with diesel and to keep it topped up for a while

Sam Russell

shamrock55 wrote: »

Happened me today,put in around 10euro worth of petrol before i realised,i then rang my local garage to see what the story was and was told it would be no problem and to jest fill up with diesel and to keep it topped up for a while

Up to 5 litres is as much as you can get away with. Fill to the brim with diesel if it is less than 5 l, and top up regularly for a while.

Otherwise, drain the whole fuel system inc filter and refill with clean diesel and hope it starts. Again keep it topped up for a while. Costs the tank of fuel and €200 plus a few litres of clean diesel.

shamrock55

Its a pain in the ass,so easy to do when youve been filling a car with petrol for 20 yrs then suddenly change to diesel

shamrock55

Ive done about 35km since and it seems normal,ive 4 or 5 hrs driving to do tomorrow though,im gonna top up every 10l or so anyway

biko

Get one of these.
You think it won't happen again but it's a small price for increased safety.

mossy50

change filters and horse in a bottle DIPETANE into it

CJhaughey

Petrol is bad news in modern diesel systems, Diesel is a lubricant due to it being a light oil, Petrol is not a lubricant and the significance of this is that fuel pumps and injectors have extremely tight tolerances and depend on the fuel to lubricate as it flows through.

splashthecash

Hey all, I'm the OP and just to update...two days after it happened, I got the mix in the tank pumped out, and refilled it with 25 quods worth and there have been no issues since....thank god!

JohnBoy26

denismc wrote: »

Sorry to hear your predicament. It happened to me a few years ago as I was waiting for the ferry, I put almost a full tank of petrol into a Golf TDI.
Almost as soon as I started it was obvious something was wrong.
So I got the tank and fuel line fully drained, filled it with diesel and had no trouble since.

At the very least you will have to drain the tank, but as for engine damage only a mechanic will be able to tell.

AFAIK adding petrol to a diesel engine is not as serious as putting diesel into a petrol car.

It's the other way around

shamrock55

Ive done about 300 km since yesterday and everything seems fine,i used about 10l and topped up again,im gonna keep topping up every 10l for a while,seems to be running as smooth as always