stupid stupid me

Wig

I think you should phone up a few small garages and ask for quotes to collect the car by simple towing (assuming not automatic),
drain the fuel from tank,
remove + empty fuel filter + refit,
open the injector pipes/fuel rail whatever, and turn engine over until good diesel comes through.
change fuel filter for new.
And that should be enough.


Another check to do would be to ask if there is an in-tank fuel pump with reservoir attatched, they have them on petrol cars not sure about diesels. So I would look in the tank and remove and empty the reservoir if there is one.

If you hadn't driven it, it would have been enough to drain the tank and refill - job done.

photome

I was under the impression putting petrol in a diesel wasnt that big an issue..it is the other way round.

Drain it off and refill it I thought that was all that was needed.

If it is a lease car doesnt the lease cover problems/bdowns?

Inactive

photome wrote: »

I was under the impression putting petrol in a diesel wasnt that big an issue..it is the other way round.

So was I, in fact I seem to recall that it was advised to add a small amount of petrol to a diesel during severe winter weather.

lifesuckssometimes

Inactive wrote: »

So was I, in fact I seem to recall that it was advised to add a small amount of petrol to a diesel during severe winter weather.

I think petrol acts like a thinner and diesel has lubricating properties in it to protect the engine so the petrol will affect the protective properties of the diesel

In a diesel engine on some cars you can use cooking oil but thin with spirits/diesel but need a filter which is only a couple of £s

moggylover

Don't panic - I did this shortly after I bought my car, the previous one was petrol - and it actually ran fine until I ran out of the diesel that was in the tank, and got to the petrol (which apparently floats on top). My local garage towed us home, emptied the tank and replaced the filters, and that was that! No huge bills, and no repercussions - and that was about 3/4 years ago now. I can remember being horrified at wasting £30 worth of petrol though - :rotfl: - even worse now:eek:

And, of course, it is easy for me to admit cos I is a girl:o

Wig

It's not a problem if it is only a few litres, then you could change pump and fill with diesel to the top. But this guy had about 75% petrol in there, and he drove it home so contaminated fuel could be in the pipes and fuel filter, but maybe not yet reached the engine as it was only 5 miles to get home.

iolanthe07

So was I, in fact I seem to recall that it was advised to add a small amount of petrol to a diesel during severe winter weather.

That might have been the advice for pre-common rail/turbo diesels. I believe Citroen once had a diesel that would run OK on petrol and just about anything else.These days the turbos need lubricating from the fuel; very high pressure is involved and tolerances are very tight. OP should be OK though because, as has been pointed out, petrol is lighter than diesel and so for five miles he would have most likely been burning the correct fuel.

AdrianHi

£1,200 is nearer the truth worse case scenario.
Get the tank drained and re-filled with diesel and everything should be fine, should be able to get it done for under £100.

snoopstah

I agree with everything said - don't drive the car, just get the nearest garage to drain the tank and change the filter. To be honest the biggest hit to your wallet will probably be the cost of the wasted fuel in the tank!

Pew_Pew_Pew_Lasers!

iolanthe07 wrote: »

These days the turbos need lubricating from the fuel;

A turbo lubricated with diesel?