Petrol into Diesel

[anabol20]

My wife has a 2002 C220 CDi and managed to put unleaded petrol into the diesel tank! She then drove about 1-2 miles before realising and promptly called the local garage. They drained the tank, refilled it with diesel and retested it. It seems to be running OK. However, they have included a note on their invoice that the chances of the high pressure pump failing are high.
Has anyone had any such experience and are the repair costs high if the failure does occur? Would you get any warning signs?

Many thanks in advance for any feedback.

 

[mike65]

Me sighs..../

Mike.

 

[anabol20]

I did more than sigh!!!!... :?

 

[pascal]

Funny enough, diesel in a petrol engine often does more harm.

Keeping my fingers crossed for you anobol.

BTW. What did you do with the wife?:lol:
Pascal

 

[nicky]

The car should be ok,i wouldent worry as this type of thing happens every day...........If the car is running ok i would leave it and not worry..Has your wife been in touch yet?????...lol

 

[anabol20]

Thanks for the comments guys. It took my wife a while to "come clean". I casually asked where the car was and she said it was "down at the garage" and then it all came out. The garage had told her some instances like this can cost between £3-6k due to the damage done internally so she was worried sick. I promise I am not that bad!!!

 

[mike65]

In the old days before fancy injection pumps ECUs etc you could mix up to 25% petrol into diesel without it doing outrageously expensive damage.

Mike.

 

[OlafMaxwell]

You should be ok....at least it was spotted quickly and before the petrol came through the pump. Refilling the tank to full with diesel would dilute any petrol left in it. It is a big help if the tank is drained rather than syphoned. When the tank gets half used refill it again. I often wish they made diesel nozzels oval or something so round petrol ones would not fit. A diesel nozzle won't fit in an unleaded car.....a LRP nozzle won't fit an unleaded car....so why not have it that petrol nozzles wont fit diesel ones.....

 

[piestore]

petrol in cdi

HI


The injection systems works at very very high pressures 1385 bar (20,000psi) therefore any lack of lube to the hi pressure pump is critical petrol has no lube, The danger is that the damage has started with a minor defect in the hi pressure pump which leads to subsiquent breakdown (total failure of the HP pump).

MB line is that if the engine has been run (at all even 5 seconds) change the HP pump 5-7 hundred quid. If you don't do it this could cost 3-4 k. If the hi pressure pump fails it distributes swarf around the complete fuel system fix is :-

new hp pump 600
new fuel tank (depends on model) 300
new fuel pressure reg 70
new set injectors (depends on model) 600
new pressure sensor 60
new filter 15

plus labour

Take my word for it it isnt worth the risk, bite the bullit and have peice of mind , fit a new hi pressure pump

 

[anabol20]

Piestore - would it give any warning sign that it was about to pack up? It is running fine at the moment with no unusual noises etc.

 

[anabol20]

Further point Piestore - given that there was still diesel in the tank (it had not run dry), surely there would have been a degree of lube for the system albeit diluted to a degree?

 

[normano]

My wife did the same!

Filled the E320 CDI with petrol, drove two miles and realised what she had done. Total cost of repair was £1000 which included a new high pressure pump. Make sure that they clean out all the swarf. Two years on they are still finding bits of swarf trapped in the base of the fuel filter bowl. MB suggested claiming the cost of repair on the car insurance. I didn't do this but MB said that they knew of several successful claims...

Just swapping the E320CDI for a CLS 350 petrol. I just hope it's impossible to fit the diesel pump nozzle into an unleaded fuel tank!

 

[wingco]

My friend had a diesel astra (T plate). His wife put petrol in it, but it was drained flushed and refilled with diesel pretty quick. Some months later all the injectors failed...still later the pump failed completely. Replacement cost was £2k - so he scrapped the car. Thats Merc prices to repair an astra!

 

[piestore]

petrol in cdi

Hi


Yes there is warning the engine stops and it costs between 3 and 5 k to put right, further possible damage is to the timing gear and valves. and yes there would be fuel in the tank which would assist in lubrication but the problem is that you can't tell if minor damage has occoured, the dealer puts the disclaimer on so that he is not liable for subsiquent damage.

In some ways its better if the pump shows signs of damage (difficult or uneven to turn by hand when removed from engine) as that is a clear indication that a replacment is required.

As a said in a previous post the recomendation is to fit a new pump anything else is a gambol.. YOU FEEL LUCKY ??????????

 

[piestore]

petrol in cdi

Hi

just read NORMANO post. ON a more light hearted note I had a female customer come in with a E240 filled with diesel and I informed her that it wasn't possible to do this as the fuel pump nozzel wouldn't fit and she very quickley corrected me " it can be done but it just takes a very long time". And advised me not to say anymore as her husband had just had the same conversation


OK then
(no she wasn't blonde)

 

[LNM]

20,000 psi ? fuuuuuuuuckinnnnNell That'd smart if you caught it in the eye.