I have read with horror the possibles consequences of what I did last night.

Fuel tank on approx 15 litres. Visited local petrol station which was as usual manic.
Started to fill my Diesel with unleaded petrol and 13 litres went into the tank before I realised my stupid mistake.

I did not start the car. The petrol station were very good since I was blocking three of their pumps.

AA came an hour later and towed me back home (approx. 3miles). The engine was never started but I needed the ignition on to engage nuetral. I am due to have the tank cleaned out at 12noon by AA Fuel Assist.

If any of you have had a similar experience and can give some words of reassurance or advice I should be grateful. I am of a nervous disposition and have seen enough Internet horror stories so any crumbs of comfort would be much appreciated.

Many Thanks


Andrew

Sorry to hear that Andrew, you did the best thing by not starting the car as petrol acts like a solvent and will strip anything of lubrication. This could damage working parts and seals so good thinking on your part and the damage could now be minimal or no problem at all once the tank is drained. Hopefully the pump did not draw any petrol through as diesel pumps are fine tolerances and are lubed by the diesel.
Best of luck.

Andrew - I have no experience of this (yet ) but I would make a few comments.
You did the right thing by not starting the car.
Assuming our cars have electric fuel pumps then turning the ignition on will have primed the car but surely too early to get fuel from the tank.
You have a 54% to 46% diesel to petrol mix in the tank.
AA fuel assist will pump out this mix but I guess will not be able to get every single drop of the contaminated mix.
I would suggest that once the pump out is done, the more diesel you can put into the tank before starting the car the better.
Can you put a couple of gallons in (9 litres) and then drive to the nearest station for a full fill up.

first thing to do is NEVER mention it to the dealer, any remaining warranty on engine side of things is torn up and thrown away

Also PM Boxer he might be able to offer advice  Former Mod/Member, with the most post & Chicken George Arch nemesis

Quote:

Also PM Boxer he might be able to offer advice

Ouch! you are cruel

Hi

I did this once with my last car (Saab 93 diesel). I'd started putting unleaded in, and realised my mistake fortunately after only putting a couple of litres in. The tank was fairly empty, so I just filled it up to the top with diesel and then for the next few weeks, every time I'd used a quarter tank, I'd top up again with diesel.

Nothing untoward happened to the car or the engine, so from my experience, I imagine that a few bits of petrol left in your tank after a clean out shouldn't be too much issue.

Good luck!

BG

If you haven't started the car, then drain it and the fill it up with diesel.
And then start it without worry and use it as usual.
In tank there is an electric pump, but only for equalizing the two sections of the tank.
It doesn't pump any fuel to the engine. For that there is a mechanical lift pump which only works when the engine is ON.
So switching the ignition on only mixed the mix a little better.

Here is the LR point of view about this issue: Technical bulletin LTB00148

Don't worry, on first case, when they say "The ignition switch has not been turned to the ON position", they mean you haven't started the engine, not what you have done.

Last edited by alex_pescaru on 4th Apr 2011 8:42 pm. Edited 5 times in total

Arnt you glad you did'nt run it replace all highpressure stuff including injectors!!!!! thats gonna hurt! Freelander 2 TD4 Auto, SE, Narvik Black, Alpaca full leather, Rear Headrest Entertainment System, 6 CD, 18 HSE Wheels, Privicy tints

its £4000+ to replace all that on a freelander. there was an article about it once in Auto express. seems LR replace every affected part whereas other manufactures don't always At work
At home

"I can't always believe facts I read on the web" - Charles Dickens

winner by default of the tractor vs caravan race

Cant see why it's not covered on a comprehensive insurance? I'd argue it's accidental damage.

boiledgnat wrote:

Hi

I did this once with my last car (Saab 93 diesel). I'd started putting unleaded in, and realised my mistake fortunately after only putting a couple of litres in. The tank was fairly empty, so I just filled it up to the top with diesel and then for the next few weeks, every time I'd used a quarter tank, I'd top up again with diesel.

Nothing untoward happened to the car or the engine, so from my experience, I imagine that a few bits of petrol left in your tank after a clean out shouldn't be too much issue.

Good luck!

BG

if you haven't started then, the risk is less to have it drained, were as the risk of diluting and driving along is too high in my opinion

I know some insurances cover misfueling, were some don't cover it at all which at £4000 is a risk in itself Former Mod/Member, with the most post & Chicken George Arch nemesis

It's better to no run it, even it is, on this case, 20% gasoline.
I've seen engines run by mistake on aprox. the same ratio mix and besides of a slightly different sound they were fine. Of course, they were not common rail.
If you don't start the engine, an easy way to fix it by yourself is by the use of the same device used to prime/bleed the diesel system after the fuel filter change.
Disconnect the input from the tank to the fuel filter and by the use of that or any other hand pump, pump out all the diesel inside the tank. Off course, you will pump out the diesel on a suitable container, not through the diesel filter. It will take you a while but it will do.
Remember to switch the ignition ON, but not start the engine, from time to time for the electric pump on the tank to equalize the levels on the two sections of the tank.
Then reconnect the fuel line, fill the tank with diesel and way you go.
Even if inside the tank will remain about 0.5 liter (the suction port is not quite on the bottom), it won't be a problem when you put over 65 liters of diesel on top.
Time taken a few hours and cost zero if you don't take into account the hand muscles' ache.
Or let the LR people do it, but as on the paper states: "The cost of this repair work is not LR's responsibility".
andrewprd, please keep us posted about the cost of this mistake.

boiledgnat wrote:

Hi

I did this once with my last car (Saab 93 diesel). I'd started putting unleaded in, and realised my mistake fortunately after only putting a couple of litres in.
Good luck!

BG

mcphersonstrut wrote:

Andrew - I have no experience of this (yet ) but I would make a few comments.
You did the right thing by not starting the car.
Assuming our cars have electric fuel pumps then turning the ignition on will have primed the car but surely too early to get fuel from the tank.
You have a 54% to 46% diesel to petrol mix in the tank.
AA fuel assist will pump out this mix but I guess will not be able to get every single drop of the contaminated mix.
I would suggest that once the pump out is done, the more diesel you can put into the tank before starting the car the better.
Can you put a couple of gallons in (9 litres) and then drive to the nearest station for a full fill up.

They will get almost every bit out I know As I understand it the fuel pipes are disconnected under the bonnet, fuel tank is pressurised and the fuel is emptied, takes about an hour for a full tank. I know of one garage that has three Missed Fueled Rigs and do about thirty vehicles a week on a bad week for them it is down to two a day and the AA it seems do not cover it, you have to pay, about £300 including towing in and 25 litres of diesel as I understand it.  p****d off with a Digital Keyboard Warrior