Gridlock Mikey

A friend has just texted me to ask if Diesel will kill the car off

They are abroad and have accidently topped up with about half a liter of diesel.

Could they still drive and top up at every opportunity to "flush" it through or will they have to do the Drain it all and refil?

Half a litre in a 60 ltr tank can't be that bad can it? I reckon if they take it steady for say 20 miles then top up with proper fuel and do this every 20 miles or so, then it'll have flushed out after 100 miles or at least diluted the diesel to insignificance. Then run the car gently for about 300 miles topping up as they go.

Because they are abroad, obviously it'll be a right pain in the **** to do the draining thing

Mikey

STi wanna Subaru

iTrader: (1)

not sure but I would drain the tank personally.

Gridlock Mikey

Anyone know enough about how the engine works to be able to suggest thatthe diesel concentration isn't that much of a problem. Or indeed the total opposite

Thanks for your input STi by the way

STi wanna Subaru

iTrader: (1)

Diesel is an oil which will mean the fuel will be more prone to det........ how much I don't know. As it's a scoob and the knowing how sensitive the engines are to det is the reason I would drain the tank unless someone on here with a greater knoladge then myself (wont be hard to find! ) says otherwise I would err on the side of caution.

I should have epanded my original reply.

TonyBurns

iTrader: (3)

I know that you can put petrol (in small quanties for very cold running in winter) in a diesel to give it better combustion, this should say everything really, the diesel is a heavier (thicker) fuel so wont burn as well, will it cause damage? well better safe than sorry, depending where your friends are, and if their aa/rac/greenflag membership covers them abroad with the local breakdown company(s) id get the tank drained.

Tony

Gridlock Mikey

Thanks Guys

Mat Mc

Don't drive it, diesel will block up the injection system, probably wont do the cat any good. You can get away with petrol in a diesel but not the other way round. It will probably run, smoke a bit and be alright but, I wouldn't if it was my car.

pugoetru

If it was my car i would fill it with petrol and forget about it as you say half a litre is nothing but thats just me i run a scoob on lpg

Ray_li

Let him try it. If it works we will all save loads running on diesel

pugoetru

they sound like diesels sometimes anyway

scoobyboy

half a litre is nothing really just fill up with petrol at next chance and you probably wont notice any difference

julian N/W wrx my93

prob get a few more mpg!

APIDavid

iTrader: (4)

Agreed !!,, Probably too late now to advise them anyway, but driving off boost and lightly for 100 miles then refill with Best SUL available and forget it ever happened.

David API

wakeboardar

I once put a gallon of diesel in a an astra gte i just filled it up with petrol and it was fine smoked a little for a few miles but no lasting problems

THE M25 FLYER

If its such a small amount then it wont do any harm,just lay off spanking it till
the contaminated tanks been used and refilled with refilled with something more suitable. Mark (RAC Patrol).

WR1 Ant

I agree with above and I am also an rac patrol (7564) "Hello Mark" !!!!!!!!!!!!