Puting unleaded in a Diesel Vehicle

[Saturday]

Mercedes CLS 320 CDi 56 Plate
Yesterday evening we became the unfortunate victims of our own actions; we put unleaded fuel in a diesel vehicle and drove for less than 1 mile. Having got over the initial shock and dilemma, there was little comfort knowing that it happens once every 3 minutes as mentioned on various websites.

Having trawled through several forums, we’ve decided to get the AA Fuel Assist to attend to the vehicle this morning.

He arrived 10mins ago and appeared very confident and reassured me “it’ll all be fine”. It’s also reassuring to see that he is actually sucking the fuel out from the front and not from the fuel tank nozzle, as most people would do.

However my overall concern is the short to long term effects and repercussions as a result of this unfortunate situation.

Filters and fuel pump is what comes to mind and what appears to be mentioned in several postings and forums.

I would be keen to hear views and opinions and understand what the next course of actions should be.

 

[Alex M Grieve]

Mercedes CLS 320 CDi 56 Plate
Yesterday evening we became the unfortunate victims of our own actions; we put unleaded fuel in a diesel vehicle and drove for less than 1 mile.

Much has been written on this forum on this subject, so worth searching.

How much petrol did you add? What proportion of the fuel in the tank would that make up?

 

[Saturday]

We believe it's a 60L tank and it was filled up to half.

UPDATE:

The AA Fuel Assist gentlemen has been and gone. Whilst he was completing the paperwork I glanced over at a laminated sheet in the passenger door and it mention a product by Wurth to be used following these kind of situations.

So I purchased a bottle from him and he said put this in now and then fill up on top. I drove to the filling station and the car ran as if nothing had happen. Filled up and drove back on a dual carriage way and still no sign of any difficulty or problems. He advised me to fill it up once it's gets to around 50%.

He also confidently said that I should not have any further problems. He attends 3 to 4 of these a day and he said it couldn't of happen to a better vehicle, stating that owns one of these, pointing to the CLK parked next to it.

I mentioned to him my concerns about the fuel pump and filter and said I would only need to consider replacing them, had the fuel been left in the vehicle for a long period.

As with everything, there are no guarantees with his or anyone else's advice, but time will tell and I will keep this thread updated accordingly.

I'm driving to London this evening, so hopefully that should run the fuel through some more.

 

[Alex M Grieve]

We believe it's a 60L tank and it was filled up to half.
The AA Fuel Assist gentlemen has been and gone.
I'm driving to London this evening, so hopefully that should run the fuel through some more.

I once managed 60% petrol in my E 320 CDI and just kept truckin. It was fine, both then and subsequently.

Given the action you have taken, I am sure you have nothing to fear.

 

[colechelle]

My only corcerns with reading that is he sucked it out the front, we always sucked it out the tank top caps as sucking from the front only drains the near side saddle!! guess we will see in time!!!

 

[Saturday]

I cannot be 100% sure but he might have sucked the remainder of the fuel from the tank nozzle too, as I couldn't see that part of the vehicle. Than might explain the smooth running of the car since.

 

[bigbobs CL]

Wouldn`t worry too much, petrol in a diesel isn`t a problem, the other way round is!! I did the same once with my Diesel Smart Car, drained most of it out leaving about a fiver in then filled it with Diesel (only a 20Ltr tank!) Actually ran better than on Diesel alone!!

 

[Bolide]

The problem caused by petrol is lack of lubrication to the high-pressure injection pump. The pumps are lubricated by diesel - use petrol, which has much lower lubricity - and the pump will wear

Once you've reduced the concentration of petrol to a liveable amount I don't think anything on the car will suffer at all

Incidently, vegetable oil has lower lubricity than diesel so it causes problems with some injection systems, particularly those that run at high injection pressures

Nick Froome
www.w124.co.uk

 

[television]

The amount of petrol in the trade is said that 6 liters of petrol in 60 liters of diesel is the max without damage to the high pressure components pointed out by Bolide,, its a wait and see thing

 

[colechelle]

Wouldn`t worry too much, petrol in a diesel isn`t a problem, the other way round is!! I did the same once with my Diesel Smart Car, drained most of it out leaving about a fiver in then filled it with Diesel (only a 20Ltr tank!) Actually ran better than on Diesel alone!!

Sorry but you are so wrong there!, if you put derv into a petrol car is will smoke like hell, thats the worse thing,

petrol into a derv car and it run the pump dry and you get metal fillings in the fuel rail, the injectors and so on!!!

 

[television]

Adding to Coles post on putting diesel in a petrol car,, yes it will smoke like hell and smell,,worse than that it would be almost impossible to start when cold,, how do I know,, I used to do it during the fuel rationing

 

[Quick Silver]

10% PETROL USED TO BE ADDED TO DIESEL IN THE WINTER MONTHS IN THE GOOD OLD DAYS TO STOP IT WAXING AND WAVE A PETROL SOAKED BURNING RAG IN FRONT OF THE AIR FILTER TO GET IT STARTED WHEN WE USED HAVE PROPER WINTERS (anti waxing agents are added to diesel fuel just the same as they do with Aviation kerosene today). I have put petrol in my diesel vehicles many times over the years and just kept brimming the tank with diesel and never had a related problem. I have done it twice in recent years with the more modern CDi engines and just kept filling the tank once it gets down to 50% a couple times and again no ill effects . A lot of garages make a meal of it and empty your wallet as well as your tank !

 

[television]

10% PETROL USED TO BE ADDED TO DIESEL IN THE WINTER MONTHS IN THE GOOD OLD DAYS TO STOP IT WAXING AND WAVE A PETROL SOAKED BURNING RAG IN FRONT OF THE AIR FILTER TO GET IT STARTED WHEN WE USED HAVE PROPER WINTERS (anti waxing agents are added to diesel fuel just the same as they do with Aviation kerosene today). I have put petrol in my diesel vehicles many times over the years and just kept brimming the tank with diesel and never had a related problem. I have done it twice in recent years with the more modern CDi engines and just kept filling the tank once it gets down to 50% a couple times and again no ill effects . A lot of garages make a meal of it and empty your wallet as well as your tank !

There is no comparison between a diesel engine and a diesel CDI an entirely different beast