And They Say It Couldn't Happen....except To Me

[billynibbles]

Well, it had to happen I guess. After a year of diesel ownership, I seem to have topped up with petrol, although not fully. To around 20% seems to be my best guestimate. Got as far as Cirencester from west London before I got a warning light relating to a Depollution system failure (oxygen sensor?) and car went into 'limp home' mode, seemingly limited to 2000 rpm.

 

AA got me going again and arrived at Hereford where I'm taking it to a dealers tomorrow.

 

I'm still not convinced it was a mistake since I'm bloody sure I used a black nozzle, not one of the two green ones but who knows? I'm bloody sure my hands stank of diesel after too but the tank smells very 'fumy'. The receipt doesn't say what I bought.

 

Car still starts and have arranged to crawl to nearest dealer in Hereford in the morning.

 

If they're going to have to drain it, and I've only got three miles to go, should I bother with topping up with diesel in the mean time?

 

Just how dire is this?

 

If this is a mistake, (and not just a faulty oxygen sensor), I understand I'll have to kiss most of a tank of fuel goodbye, and possibly need a new fuel filter (or er yes and labour). Anything else before I go off to slit my wrists?

[wozza]

Doesnt it bugger up the injectors if you put petrol in a diesel?

[billynibbles]

Doesnt it bugger up the injectors if you put petrol in a diesel?

 

Well, I can only take some solace from the fact that it starts and runs, albeit slowly because of the warning light. Funny thing is, it's still smooth to drive - I still can't believe that I was able to drive from London to Cirencester without a hiccup.

 

I'm hoping that the fact that I put "only" about 25% petrol in the car, plus the fact that I've only used about 10 litres to get here (i.e 2.5 litres of it was petrol) that the damage is reversible.

 

I've read that petrol, being a solvent, can damage any plastic parts of the fuel system too. I guess that includes seals on things like the injectors - fingers crossed. Having just watched a programme about the O-Rings on the NASA shuttle disaster wasn't a good idea!

 

Oh well, next time I go to a funeral, spend three hours getting from Eastbourne to home in west London thanks to an accident on the M25 and then find that some b*****d has hacked my ebay account and tried to buy 2 grand's worth of cellphones from it, I won't try and top up the car on the same evening so I can get an early start the next morning!

 

I'll post the results of what happens next as I find out.

 

Exits muttering "I'm sure that holster was black!"

[Mike5483]

Go back to the garage and ask them if you can look at their CCTV footage to try and determine if you did use the correct or incorrect pump.

 

As you say, you have owned diesel cars for years, why should you pick up a petrol nozzle???

 

Have you tried re-filling it with diesel again, it might work better the more diesel you can get back into it.

[syrup]

The receipt doesn't say what I bought.

 

Doesn't the bill tell you cost per litre to enable you to tell. Does it tell you how many litres bought and total price so you can work it out? It's not as if you're new at buying diesel!

[xavtia]

Hope you get it sorted and its not too costly. Ring the petrol station for the price to work out what sort of fuel you put in. For what little I know I'd try not to drive it until the petrol has been drained, bit difficult but it will prevent further damage.

 

I stopped a guy in our local petrol station staring his BX a few years ago because I'd noticed he'd put petrol in instead of diesel. My ex boss put petrol in his transist van once and ended up trading it in so hope your luckier than him

[Welshguy]

My ex boss put petrol in his transist van once and ended up trading it in so hope your luckier than him

 

Lol I read that first and thought your boss didn't tell the garage he traded it in at...I was imaging the look on their faces after they handed over the cash/new car and then tried to start the transit! :blink:

[xavtia]

I dont think he did but it was just about running when he swapped it for a new vw lt just remember it costing him a fortune :blink: or did it cost the vw dealers a fortune :D

[billynibbles]

Just got the car back today, as I'd had to leave it in Hereford and go off on holiday to the Lake District in another car.

 

Doesn't seem to have suffered in any way, although my wallet did to the tune of three hours labour, and new fuel filter and of course the wastage of 50 litres of tainted diesel fuel, plus having to tank up again straight away

 

Double checked my fuel receipt and it definitely confirms I bought petrol - still can't think how, unless I saw the black hose and it registered as diesel in my mind - I'm used to garages with green hoses for petrol and black for diesel, and with such a long-range tank thanks to the mpg I get, I nearly always use the same filling station, but not this time.

 

All I can say is, never fill up with a lot on your mind!

[C4VTS]

As my school woodwork instructor would say "check, recheck, and then check again"

 

I still remember his catchphrase over 30 years ago. :lol:

[xavtia]

look on the positive side it might have cost you the fuel and a few hours labour but it could have been much worse and I bet it isnt something you do again in a hurry

[iannez]

dont want to worry you but problems caused by this dont happen over night. nearly every one we drain that has been run on petrol gets recoverd in a couple of thousand miles later with damage to the high pressure pump. hope youre one of the lucky ones but after doing the miles you have done before it was drained you will have to be realy lucky. if it does go down get it recoverd to a diffrent dealer to the one who drained it and you might get it sorted under warrenty. hope all goes well.

[wozza]

iannez does it bugger up the injectors as well just out of curiosity as im sure i read about itdoing that?

 

What exactly does go wrong or can go wrong when you fill up with the wrong fuel?