Who's a silly boy then

[Bob U]

Filled the car up yesterday and not until I had put £33 worth in did I realise I was holding a green nozzle instead of a black one. I topped up with another £55 of Diesel which means I now have a tank with about 40% unleaded in it. The car starts and runs OK and isn't making any strange noises. I will keep diluting the tank with more diesel as I use it.

Can anyone tell me if this will cause any permenent damage?

Do I need to drain the tank or will topping up with more diesel as soon as I can be OK?

[nopanic - neil]

Simple question,

Whats the car, and how old?

[Andy]

Sorry Bob, But the only help I can give you is:

You Plonker!

[Bob U]

Simple question,

Whats the car, and how old?

2000 Disco TD5

[nopanic - neil]

I wait to be corrected, but in the mean time

From what I have been told, over a period of time, the old diesel engines where OK to run with contaminated fuel. You just run it as normal, but keep topping it up, to dilute the petrol.

The new common rail diesel engines, run with higher tollerances, so you have to be very careful, so any contamination, may cause more than expected damage, seals are prone to damage as well

I think, petrol is lighter than diesel,  so it will sit on top of the diesel, so until it the fuel level goes down. So there should be very little damage at present.

For what its worth, I would get the tank drained and refilled. It will stop any problems in the future. A question, can you call out the AA and will they do it?

But I would still take better advice than mine, I have been told at times I make very little sence at the best of times. 

Good luck,

May be worth checking on a Disco forum.

[Bob U]

Thanks Neil.

 I ran it a couple of miles yesterday back from the services and 5 miles this morning to work. I will take it to a local garage and get it drained to be safe

[Nordic]

Its happened at work a few times with our engineers, which begs the question what else do they screw up while on site!

The last time it f**ked up the fuel pump and that seems to be the most common problem.

[Paddy_NL]

I think, petrol is lighter than diesel,  so it will sit on top of the diesel, so until it the fuel level goes down. So there should be very little damage at present.

My first thoughts exactly. Be safe Bob, drain the tank.

Has the Disco got an "Army-like" fuel tank with a release bolt, so you don't have to tip the car over?

[Lorry]

I'd always imagined that petrol and diesel would mix, but it seems not after a bit of a Google.  If they did, I'm sure that someone would suggest it as a "go faster" trick, and I've never seen this suggested (and do look as I have a TD4)

Views on engine damage vary, but it seems that as petrol is not a lubricant (and diesel is) there is a risk of terminal damage to common rail injectors (I assume the TD5 has these) or to an old fashioned injection pump.

Best bet is to dump the lot, but what do you do with ten gallons of sh!te fuel

[Bob U]

I've spoken to a LR dealer. Yes, my car does have common rail injectors. His opinion is that it is 90% sure to cause damage and recommends draining the tank. One saving grace is that diesel is more viscous and therefore the two would stay seperate with the unleaded on top so it will be OK to drive it to a garage. Bolox, £88 of fuel got to be dumped.

I'm not the only silly bastard. hundreds like me on here. Lots of conflicting views on how to rectuify

http://www.simong.org/index.php?p=902


 

[Nordic]

Depending on your policy, excess vs cost vs no claims discount etc, your insurance company may be able to pay out if it starts to look pricey.

[nickliv]

Keep the old fuel for conflagraions at LM.

[Lorry]

Keep the old fuel for conflagraions at LM.

Isn't there a design for a water heater/shower on here somewhere.

Combine the two and you'll have a flame thrower.  Should keep the pikeys at bay

[Lorry]

I've spoken to a LR dealer............ 

That must have cost £100

The only clever idea I've seen is to mix engine oil in with the petrol.  I think the dealers right.  When you refill it with diesel, leave the ignition(!) on for a minute before you start it, to flush out the fuel rail and filters etc

[alibongo]

Bob a few years ago when I used to run a truck abroad I used to stick 50lts of petrol in my volvo F12 when i filled up to stop the diesel waxing up when it was really cold