Put the wrong fuel in! Can anyone help?

[BTB 500]

Yup, ironically (because it causes less damage) it's much more difficult to put diesel into a petrol car.

 

[jamesgreen]

So i've tried draining it myself, firstly with a tube down the filler neck. This didn't work as there appears to be an anti-siphon device stopping the tube from going down. that was £20 down the drain. I then had a look online and there was a video showing how to disconnect the fuel line and then to turn the key to the second position and the fuel pump will push the fuel out. But i'm guessing that wont work for me because using the fuel pumps can cause damage if petrol is put through them?

 

[BoristheBounce]

Without wanting to sound in any way condescending, how does this actually happen?

There's several people here who've done it. Are you drivers who regularly have access to a mixture (pardon the pun) of petrol and diesel vehicles and simply get mixed up on which one you're in, or do you consciously conclude the fuel type being correct for that car when reaching for the pump and later realise the blunder?

It's never happened to me so far, so I'm genuinely curious how it happens or what's going through your mind during that fill-up.

Before I did it I would have said you have to be a moron to do it

The day I did it I actually questioned if in-fact I had pulled up at the wrong pump, (not my usual filling station) so checked, or at least thought I had, I was obviously distracted so didn't click when I did check that it was in-fact the wrong pump, easier done than you may think.

 

[jamesgreen]

Without wanting to sound in any way condescending, how does this actually happen?

There's several people here who've done it. Are you drivers who regularly have access to a mixture (pardon the pun) of petrol and diesel vehicles and simply get mixed up on which one you're in, or do you consciously conclude the fuel type being correct for that car when reaching for the pump and later realise the blunder?

It's never happened to me so far, so I'm genuinely curious how it happens or what's going through your mind during that fill-up.

To be honest i don't actually know I guess my mind was just elsewhere at the time
Its funny because as soon as i felt it judder i knew exactly what i had done!

 

[a111r]

So i've tried draining it myself, firstly with a tube down the filler neck. This didn't work as there appears to be an anti-siphon device stopping the tube from going down. that was £20 down the drain. I then had a look online and there was a video showing how to disconnect the fuel line and then to turn the key to the second position and the fuel pump will push the fuel out. But i'm guessing that wont work for me because using the fuel pumps can cause damage if petrol is put through them?

The electric in-tank pump won't be damaged by petrol.
Where are you in London?
If near me, then I can help you drain it and dispose of it correctly (and f.o.c.)

 

[jamesgreen]

I managed to do this in my Audi A6 a few years ago.

Tank was empty and I filled it up so I would guess a 95% petrol bias.

I then headed up the motorway oblivious until it started to splutter, however I managed to get it off the motorway and park it up somewhere safe until I could get it recovered.

Part of the group of companies I work for does open cast coal mining so they recovered it took it to the workshops and emptied the tank.

We re-filled it with diesel and off I went, I did another 30,000 miles in it without repercussion.

Lets hope its this simple for you.

Well that great news. Its a brand new car and it didn't get driven far with the wrong fuel in it (i only live half a mile from the petrol station) so i'm hoping that damage is minimal.
Coming to the conclusion that i'm not going to be able to drain the tank myself, i've done some more research and there is a local company to me Wrong Fuel Recovery who claim they can come out to my house and drain it all here and get my car going again. Has anyone ever used one of these companies? Does the tank not need to be dropped from the vehicle to drain it?
There only 12 miles away from me and they said they can have someone with me today so i'm wondering if i should let them have a go. They have given me a quote of £150, does this seem fair?

 

[Trickythemerc]

Just pay the money and all should be well again. Half a mile drive would be on the diesel in the lines and filter, just get it done, sounds like you have had a bit of luck.

 

[jamesgreen]

The electric in-tank pump won't be damaged by petrol.
Where are you in London?
If near me, then I can help you drain it and dispose of it correctly (and f.o.c.)

Hi, that would be great! I'm located in Barnet (EN5 area)? I read online that even unlocking the vehicle on certain cars can damage the fuel pumps because it activates them and the internals are not designed for petrol fuel?

 

[jamesgreen]

Just pay the money and all should be well again. Half a mile drive would be on the diesel in the lines and filter, just get it done, sounds like you have had a bit of luck.

Thanks, thats what i thought!
I think i will just call them back and get them to come out, £150 seems like a decent price. At least i can then stop worrying

I'll keep you posted!

 

[a111r]

Hi, that would be great! I'm located in Barnet (EN5 area)? I read online that even unlocking the vehicle on certain cars can damage the fuel pumps because it activates them and the internals are not designed for petrol fuel?

Not far from me, then.
I'm free on Thursday, if that's any good?

If you do use the 'fuel doctors' ... then keep the fuel for me, please! I can bring you 2 x 25L containers

 

[HB]

My mum drove 2 miles in her C320 cdi after filling in with petrol. The only damage was the fuel pump. £500 later for a new pump, it was just fine.

I reckon you might be luckier with even less damage ....hopefully

 

[jamesgreen]

Not far from me, then.
I'm free on Thursday, if that's any good?

If you do use the 'fuel doctors' ... then keep the fuel for me, please! I can bring you 2 x 25L containers

Hi, thank you for your offer. I called back Wrong Fuel Recovery so that i can get it sorted and stop worrying about it. I will ask them when they get here if i can keep the fuel, they said someone will be here in an hour

 

[jamesgreen]

My mum drove 2 miles in her C320 cdi after filling in with petrol. The only damage was the fuel pump. £500 later for a new pump, it was just fine.

I reckon you might be luckier with even less damage ....hopefully

I'm hoping i escaped any pump damage

 

[MercedesDriver]

Without wanting to sound in any way condescending, how does this actually happen? There's several people here who've done it. Are you drivers who regularly have access to a mixture (pardon the pun) of petrol and diesel vehicles and simply get mixed up on which one you're in, or do you consciously conclude the fuel type being correct for that car when reaching for the pump and later realise the blunder? It's never happened to me so far, so I'm genuinely curious how it happens or what's going through your mind during that fill-up.

Well, I've been driving petrol cars only for last 7 years at least so you can just imagine how much concentration I need now with each filling. The good thing is that the tank filler cap is bright red and has written Diesel in bold letters.

 

[BoristheBounce]

The good thing is that the tank filler cap is bright red and has written Diesel in bold letters.

And you think that will stop you

 

[GeeJayW]

Good luck. Hopefully you've only operated the engine on the residual diesel left in the line and fuel filter. Drain, change fuel filter, refill with diesel, flush out the fuel line up to the high pressure pump. Then hope for the best.

 

[ash59fifty-uk]

Easily done if you're not paying attention

Funny as since it happened to me, I make a habit of checking which pump I'm lifting each time, and I've lost count the amount of times the wrong pump filler has been slotted in the wrong place. Probably on purpose by some cheeky sh*t no doubt

 

[markjay]

I always double-check and take a second or two to compare the labels on the filler neck and on the pump nozzle, even if it's my own car and I've done this millions of times before... old habit from the aircraft industry. This is why I have never ever misfuelled a car, in spite of mine being a petrol and the wife's a Diesel (wife 'does not do fuel' - I am in charge of refuelling both cars). Said that... with old age kicking in... I know it's just a question of time...

 

[a111r]

Hi, thank you for your offer. I called back Wrong Fuel Recovery so that i can get it sorted and stop worrying about it. I will ask them when they get here if i can keep the fuel, they said someone will be here in an hour

How did it go, hopefully all's OK?

 

[jamesgreen]

How did it go, hopefully all's OK?

Hi mate, so they came out in an hour as promised and the guy that arrived seemed to know exactly what he was doing. Surprisingly with in around 20 minutes as i was making the chap a cup of tea i hear my car start up! All was fixed and he stated hardly any petrol made it to the engine, so i was very lucky indeed! :bannana:

I had a quick look at his equipment and he had this huge machine that seemed to do everything automatically. He said i wasn't able to keep any of the fuel removed as they have very strict regulations about what they can and can not do. Apparently once they have removed it and it goes into their machine, it is then classed as a hazardous waste

I took the car for a quick test drive last night and all seems well.
Im just wondering if i should get the filter changed?
He did state that it shouldn't need replacing as it was mainly filled with diesel, but i think i should get it done just to be safe. What would you guys recommend?