Pal Posted June 24, 2007 Report Posted June 24, 2007 Went to Tesco's to fill up my wifes Diesel Galaxy and stuck unleaded in!!! I was at a 'pay at pump' and wanted to go into the shop anyway so having filled it to the brim I drove about 20 metres to a space and backed in. Went to shop, came out and it wouldn't start. Felt sick as I realised immediately what I had done! Imagine how I felt having to call my wife to tell her what I had done, I was, am still am, close to tears. :o Anyway I have been delivered back home being and Sunday and garages are closed. What should I do? Obviously it will need to be drained down but anyone know what are the likely long term consequences? Why would it cut out immediately when I see some people drive for a while before realising? Is there a sensor or something that would cut it out? Do you think I would be insured for any costs/damage? It is accidental damage after all and I can't see a wrong fuel exclusion on the policy. It is a 04 TDi Thanks. Pal Quote
seatkid Posted June 24, 2007 Report Posted June 24, 2007 (edited) Don't think there will be any significant damage. PD is not as delicate as CR If you have any DIY carmechanic experience, I would drain off the tank, new fuel filter and some diesel and you should be away after a bit of cranking. I think what happenned was, the fuel mixed while stood, and when you started the fuel pump circulated the fuel (there is a return line), hence no start - which is good (as it stops further damage) If you go to a garage, be prepared for lots of sharp intakes of breath, and much shite talk about this needs changing and that needs changing, and Edited June 24, 2007 by seatkid Quote
Richard gal Posted June 24, 2007 Report Posted June 24, 2007 Dont worry you wont have done any damage, if you hadnt stopped it then it would have run longer.Once drained and new fuel filter it will be fine, i am told it happens about 1000 times a day. Quote
sparky Paul Posted June 24, 2007 Report Posted June 24, 2007 Don't worry - as the other guys have said, I would be very surprised indeed if you have damaged the engine in any way. Just follow the advice given, and the car will be fine. :o Quote
Pal Posted June 24, 2007 Author Report Posted June 24, 2007 Thanks for the optimism guys, I so hope you are right about not causing any damage. Anyone know any trustworthy and reasonably priced garages in the South Herts/North London area? Cheers. Pal Quote
familyman Posted June 24, 2007 Report Posted June 24, 2007 i saw something similar to this on one of the motoring progs on t.v. (fifth gear i think ) they ran the car till it stopped ,drained out the duff juice .filled up with the correct fuel and started it up ,sure it ran rough until the engine got rid of any residual fuel in the system but it was fine after that ,only thing i can think of is that the cat might be contaminated Quote
tim-spam Posted June 25, 2007 Report Posted June 25, 2007 only thing i can think of is that the cat might be contaminated...it won't be. The catalytic converter on a diesel is a much simpler and robust thing than on a petrol engined car. In addition, the MOT emissions test for a diesel can not measure its effectiveness, so don't worry. Quote
big_kev Posted June 25, 2007 Report Posted June 25, 2007 Went to Tesco's to fill up my wifes Diesel Galaxy and stuck unleaded in!!! You do realise that all the Girlie's on this forum have now printed this off and are laughing at you. Please do not supply them with any more ammunition in their war against men. p.s. Let us know how much it costs and if there was no damage. Quote
mumof4 Posted June 25, 2007 Report Posted June 25, 2007 WEll i aint laughing....i never put the wrong fuel in purely and simly because i had a sticker on the Gal saying in big capital letters DIESEL ONLY!....and i have one on the veccy saying UNLEADED ONLY!....though i have to admit to picking up the wrong nozzle thingy on more than one occasion when i went to put fuel in the Veccy! :o Quote
gazzauk80 Posted June 25, 2007 Report Posted June 25, 2007 You can do it your self. Park the car on a down hill slope and undo the fuel filter The petrol will run out.. Make sure you put something to collect it..Wait for it to stop dripping when its done fill back up with diesel and away you go..It will take a fair bit of cranking and make sure you keep topping the tank up for a while but all should be good Quote
mumof4 Posted June 25, 2007 Report Posted June 25, 2007 umm..he filled it to the brim which means about 70 litres or so of fuel he will have to contain and dispose of!! Quote
Pal Posted June 25, 2007 Author Report Posted June 25, 2007 (edited) Phoned Shiela's Wheels this morning and whatever the extent of the damage, apparently it is covered. Just a Edited June 25, 2007 by Pal Quote
chromedome Posted June 25, 2007 Report Posted June 25, 2007 You could use a Vectra as a bucket........................... :o Quote
Pal Posted June 25, 2007 Author Report Posted June 25, 2007 Quote Big_Kev "You do realise that all the Girlie's on this forum have now printed this off and are laughing at you." I know... wot a PLONKER!!!! I am more than happy to be the butt of the joke, I really do deserve it! I will not try to make any excuses for my mistake. Funnily enough I had consecutive diesel Mondeos over a 10 year period whilst my wife always had petrol cars. Now I have a petrol Focus and she has a diesal Gal. All I can say is thank heavens for insurance. I am truly humble. Yours embarrassingly.... Pal Quote
mumof4 Posted June 25, 2007 Report Posted June 25, 2007 You could use a Vectra as a bucket........................... :o Only 60 Litres please!!..Ill bring a funnell! :16: Quote
MrT Posted June 25, 2007 Report Posted June 25, 2007 If you are looking for a small independent garage in South Herts try Far East products and services, they sorted out my Galaxy air con when Ford couldn't and my wifes car when the dodgy silicon Asda/Tesco petrol messed up the lambda sensor. 01923 839892 Quote
teresa Posted June 25, 2007 Report Posted June 25, 2007 You could use a Vectra as a bucket........................... :16: Only 60 Litres please!!..Ill bring a funnell! :D yeah save me some as well i always seem to be running empty Quote
mumof4 Posted June 25, 2007 Report Posted June 25, 2007 You know..i was thinking..if he drained it himself.....he could flog it on here at cut price!! :D Or..we could just all roll up with our little petrol cans ..least hed make some of his money back :16: Quote
teresa Posted June 25, 2007 Report Posted June 25, 2007 cool idea maz let us know when ur draining it pal , me and maz will be 1st in cue Quote
big_kev Posted June 26, 2007 Report Posted June 26, 2007 Yours embarrassingly.... Pal I notice it didn't take them long ....GT and MO4 are already taking the ....... Quote
mumof4 Posted June 26, 2007 Report Posted June 26, 2007 Us??Noooo........ :rolleyes: Waste not.... want not!! :lol: Quote
big_kev Posted November 7, 2007 Report Posted November 7, 2007 (edited) Interesting news snippet http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7082285.stm Although I prefer this one http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7076799.stm Edited November 7, 2007 by big_kev Quote
Smilge Posted November 7, 2007 Report Posted November 7, 2007 I can't understand how people make this mistake ......... I mean ...... i always have a quick taste before I stick the nozzel in the hole ..... ;) Quote
mumof4 Posted November 7, 2007 Report Posted November 7, 2007 My kids always remind me when i go to fill up which coloured pump to use..the one and only time i picked up the black one, i got screams from inside the car. "THE GREEN MUMMY, THE GREEN ONE!" lmao. Quote
big_kev Posted November 7, 2007 Report Posted November 7, 2007 Alledgedly Black Ones are bigger and don't fit in the hole. Quote
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