Unleaded in Diesel

[Daffy]

My wife phoned me at 11.30pm last night to say that she had put unleaded in our Surf. It’s the 3l diesel 1995 model.

She only put in 2.6l before she realised. I had it bought back home on the back of a breakdown truck and hasn’t been started.

Would 2.6l of unleaded damage the engine? Can I just top it up with diesel? Should I drain the whole tank and replace the filters?

It’s sitting on my driveway and it’s now 1.20am.

We’ve only had it 6 months!! BAH!

Any suggestions would be much appreciated.

Night night

[gemini]

My wife phoned me at 11.30pm last night to say that she had put unleaded in our Surf. It’s the 3l diesel 1995 model.

She only put in 2.6l before she realised. I had it bought back home on the back of a breakdown truck and hasn’t been started.

Would 2.6l of unleaded damage the engine? Can I just top it up with diesel? Should I drain the whole tank and replace the filters?

It’s sitting on my driveway and it’s now 1.20am.

We’ve only had it 6 months!! BAH!

Any suggestions would be much appreciated.

Night night

no problem wont hurt it, fill the tank and run it through

[waveydavey]

unleaded in diesel

No problem mate I recently put £10 worth of petrol in my works van the same diesel van that i have been driving for 2 years, suddenly realised and filled the rest up with diesel...the only effect was that i got to work quicker in the morning
Petrol has a much lower flashpoint than diesel which is why petrol engines have lower compression ratios and diesels need glowplugs.
Also the lack of lubricant in petrol can damage a diesel engine if you run a high percentage of petrol in diesel fuel, but a small amount like you have will make hardly any difference once you top up the rest of the tank with diesel.

[TonyN]

Take it for an MOT quick! the emissions will be great............

[busa]

it will be the fastest surf in the country till the next time u fill it that is
i done the same with a transit it went like stink for about a week

[Guest]

It's only a real problem the other way round i.e. Diesel in a Petrol tank. Once saw the top of a Carburettor on a V6 Transit (Petrol) blown straight through the bonnet (no kidding there) because the guy who was driving it usually drove a diesel. Diesel will ignite under compression alone and don't need spark plugs wheras petrol has a lot harder time igniting.

Cheers

[da SLUG man]

It's only a real problem the other way round i.e. Diesel in a Petrol tank. Once saw the top of a Carburettor on a V6 Transit (Petrol) blown straight through the bonnet (no kidding there) because the guy who was driving it usually drove a diesel. Diesel will ignite under compression alone and don't need spark plugs wheras petrol has a lot harder time igniting.

Cheers

opposite happened to me!
2.0 litre petrol transit never ran well so i didn't notice the plug was loose!
spluttering and badly pinking and overheating as usual along the M4.... BANG!!! spark plug exited the engine bay trough the bonnet!!

**** the life out of me!

[Woodie]

Petrol in your diesel is an old trick used by the 4x4 men for years, in very cold weather your diesel used to tend to sludge up or get very thick, a gallon of petrol in the tank before filling used to thin it enough to make it start and run ok.

[Pete The Tart]

I can't believe that all of you have overlooked the fact that wifey has some serious making up to do! he he he

[Guest]

I can't believe that all of you have overlooked the fact that wifey has some serious making up to do! he he he

Well there's that too, however don't push it too far cos it can happen to anyone of us at some point or the other.
Cheers

[Daffy]

Cheers for the input guys,

Filled it up with diesel and it ran through fine.

Wife still trying to make up for it ! He he he.

Hope I don't make the same mistake or she'll make my life hell !!

[mark g8awo]

This is an old trick used by heavy haulage boys for stopping the diesal from waxing in the winter.Ideal mix is 1litre for every 100 litres. No need to dp it these days because of the adatives that is in he fuel today.

[Pete The Tart]

thank god for f#@kwit proof petrol pumps

very true lucky, my day would probably come if it wasn't for the fact that in NZ they have idiot proof diesel pumps in the garage that have a bracket on the delivery nozzle which means you have to dislocate all the fingers of one hand and tie them into a granny knot before you can get the bleedin thing off the pump, mind you they also have attendants who fill up for you, so as long as I dont get a blonde girlie one, I should be fine.......