Petrol And Diesel Don't Mix

[AMacdonald]

Well, it had to happen one day. My wife added half a tank of unleaded to my '97 Alhambra TDi 90, then drove 15 miles on it without noticing anything amiss. Oddly enough, it was very poorly when I tried to start it later.

 

So, assuming the engine has had it, can anyone suggest an approximate ball-park figure for what I can expect to pay for a replacement, fitted?

[Guest marcusheawood]

It will probably survive if you clean it out and flush it...the 90 PS engine is old technology!

[Guest galaxysam]

Get the tank drained and fuel lines flushed and new filtre fitted. While the car is being driven because of the fuel return it tends to mix the fuel but as soon as you switch off the petrdol and diesel seperates and then it wont start, had a diesel car a few years back ( not a galaxy) some one borrowed it and put petrol in, they did about 70 miles and parked up, got in it to go home and it did not want to know. Can cause serious trauma though on the latest diesel engines as they work on extremely high pressures and rely on diesel to act as a lubricant so as soon as the petrol goes through it wrecks the injection pump etc, have heard stories ( not on gals ) of 3-4 grand to repair !!!

[Guest MATT]

dont worry - it wont be as bad as you might think, like already said, its just a case of flushing it, and new filters, etc.

 

my neighbour filled his X5 with petrol :P wasn't as bad as it could of been, because he didnt do many miles.

 

MATT

[johnb80]

Syphon out the contents of the tank and dispose of safely !!!!!

 

Put as much diesel in the tank as you can via jerry cans / towing to garage etc. Get a new fuel filter and fill it with diesel before fitting, start your engine, don't rev it just let it idle (thats when most fuel is being returned to the tank). After a couple of minutes go for a drive and forgive your other half.

 

Regards - JB

[marinabrid]

also do what i did for the wife, get one of them diesel only stickers for the fuel flap.

also i painted on the fuel cap as well with tipex.

[Guest chrisadams]

Did the same on a TD Toyota MPV last year, put in 15 ltrs before I realised, filled it up with diesel and hoped for the best.

After 20 miles it almost died, the only way it would stay running was foot flat to the floor.

Drained out 30 ltrs of petrol/diesel mix into cans and refilled it with diesel, after which it ran sort of Ok, but well down on power, just kept topping it up every few days until it was all out the system, been Ok ever since.

Wont have one of each in the family now, both cars run on the same fuel, saves a lot of confusion