put unleaded petrol in a diesel van

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confusedmix
confusedmix Posts: 106 Forumite
in Motoring
Hi everyone,

I'm in a bit of a panic as I accidently put unleaded petrol into my diesel van. Now I put £20 worth of unleaded in, and there was only a little diesel in there beforehand.

Could anyone tell me if this is going to affect my van? Is it dangerous?

Please help I'm in a panic and I know if I take it to the garage they will make a huge bill.

Many thanks.
«1345

Comments

  • Sandoval
    Sandoval Posts: 903 Forumite
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    You should be panicking I'm afraid.

    If it's just a drop of unleaded you can fill it to the brim with diesel and it dilutes enough that shouldn't make a difference, but £20 worth of unleaded is going to require having the tank drained.

    Don't tell me you've driven it from the petrol station? :(
  • johnnyroper
    johnnyroper Posts: 1,592 Forumite
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    If you have aa cover give them a bell as they have a team that specialise in this situation.
  • confusedmix
    confusedmix Posts: 106 Forumite
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    thanks for the replies and yes I did drive it from the petrol station, ok now I am really really panicking!

    help

    I am covered with the aa but will they charge me for draining the petrol as it's technically my fault even though I didn't do it on purpose?
  • Sandoval
    Sandoval Posts: 903 Forumite
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    Why on Earth did you drive it!?
  • johnnyroper
    johnnyroper Posts: 1,592 Forumite
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    They will charge but cheaper than garage and they will come to you so worth ringing them.
    How was van driving after if ok then you could be lucky and got away without any expensive damage
  • confusedmix
    confusedmix Posts: 106 Forumite
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    I didn't know what else to do. Oh My God!

    What will happen now?
  • confusedmix
    confusedmix Posts: 106 Forumite
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    The van was fine when I drove it home from the petrol pump, which is about a mile from my home.

    Please could someone tell me what will happen? Can I fill the tank with diesel so it will diltue?
  • mikey72
    mikey72 Posts: 14,680 Forumite
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    Did you fill it with diesel as well, or just the 4 gallons of petrol before you drove it?

    edit, you appear to have answered that as I posted.
    What van is it, how big is the tank?
  • KillerWatt
    KillerWatt Posts: 1,655 Forumite
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    confusedmix wrote: »
    I didn't know what else to do. Oh My God!

    What will happen now?
    You run the risk of damaging the injection pump among other things.
    Remember kids, it's the volts that jolt and the mills that kill.
  • Sandoval
    Sandoval Posts: 903 Forumite
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    The last thing you should do is start it up and drive away. That's just burying your head in the sand and making the problem worse. :(

    That said it's done now. I'm assuming you didn't drive far because you haven't mentioned that the van is spluttering or anything.

    Get the tank drained and keep your fingers crossed now, hopefully it'll be okay.
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