Fuel Contamination

Jim_B · **May 04, 2014, 17:22:14**

Hi folks, I foolishly put approx 5 litres of petrol into my i30 diesel last night. Having been distracted I noticed my mistake and added 40 litres of Diesel to fill her up. The car was fine going home but I starting thinking of my actions once I sat down. I've ended up paying the RAC to drain my tank after I found a lot of conflicting accounts on the Web of potential harm.

Any views or feedback on this would be welcome as am sure it's not just me that's been absent minded. Cheers.

CraigB · **Reply #1: May 04, 2014, 17:58:10**

I made that mistake myself once in my Transit van, only difference is I didn't realise until the tank was full

You've diluted it right down putting 40 Ltr's on top so I wouldn't expect any issues, long term driving wouldn't be recommended but as you said the car got home fine I believe it'll be fine.

By the way your Avatar ( car ) is upside down... I hope the wrong fuel didn't do that

Shambles · **Reply #2: May 04, 2014, 19:19:03**

I'd also have had the tank drained.

Some might say you diluted the petrol with the diesel, but the fact is that diesel is denser and causes the petrol to float on top, meaning it'll always be there, until you start to choke on it.

Quote from: CraigB

By the way your Avatar ( car ) is upside down...

That's to help you guys "down under" see it in its proper perspective

asathorny · **Reply #3: May 04, 2014, 19:28:17**

CraigB · **Reply #4: May 04, 2014, 19:32:28**

Quote from: Shambles on May 04, 2014, 19:19:03

Quote from: CraigB
By the way your Avatar ( car ) is upside down...

That's to help you guys "down under" see it in its proper perspective

Jim_B · **Reply #5: May 04, 2014, 19:43:33**

Yes, my car pic definitely appears down under. Not quite sure how I achieved that lol. Thanks for the feedback folks, it's appreciated.

Dazzler · **Reply #6: May 04, 2014, 21:52:28**

Quote from: Jim_B on May 04, 2014, 19:43:33

Yes, my car pic definitely appears down under. Not quite sure how I achieved that lol. Thanks for the feedback folks, it's appreciated.

Maybe you were subconsciously trying to tip the contaminated fuel out!

Think you did the right thing BTW.

TheReaper · **Reply #7: May 04, 2014, 22:12:15**

Quote from: Dazzler on May 04, 2014, 21:52:28

Quote from: Jim_B on May 04, 2014, 19:43:33
Yes, my car pic definitely appears down under. Not quite sure how I achieved that lol. Thanks for the feedback folks, it's appreciated.

Maybe you were subconsciously trying to tip the contaminated fuel out!

Think you did the right thing BTW.

TheReaper · **Reply #8: May 04, 2014, 22:16:18**

At Jim, when you first loaded your avatar, it probably appeared to be sideways. And then you fixed it before you save it by rotating it. Just reload the picture. If it appears to be on the wrong rotation leave it. It will post right side up when you save. If that makes sense.

At least for me this happens to me quit a bit. More when I use tapatalk

Just Rick · **Reply #9: May 05, 2014, 06:35:14**

Thus the reason I have mis fueler fuel caps on both of mine,not worried about me doing it,but have concerns my wife may do it one day,you can not get a petrol nozzle in my tanks,so when you find you can't put the nozzle in the tank you start to think there is an issue

Craig00071 · **Reply #10: May 05, 2014, 09:11:13**

I don't think I would of worried about draining it. Maybe I would of kept topping up before empty to try to dilute it more.

I love how the i30 takes the larger high flow nossel though.
My diesel mondeo only takes the small pump nossel.

The Gonz · **Reply #11: May 05, 2014, 10:17:31**

Don't HOS me but ... I'd posted in a related thread that I stick to my favourite truckstop hi-flo bowser at my favourite BP discount station.

Recently I spotted a new sign stating that that particular line of bowsers is only for trucks - for the blind obedience of fools.

Phil №❶ · **Reply #12: May 05, 2014, 10:33:29**

Sorry guys but if you mis fuel your vehicle like this, it is best not to even start the car. Do not under any circumstances think that adding Diesel will dilute the mistake. You WILL damage the high pressure fuel pump, injectors or other engine components.

The reason for this is that the combustion properties of both fuels are entirely different. If the mixture were capable of surviving the high pressure fuel pump, the injectors, expecting to squirt atomized drops of oil into the combustion chamber at the precise time that combustion would occur, would instead be squirting burning petrol and oil, totally disrupting the timing of the Diesel motor, causing severe damage.

TheReaper · **Reply #13: May 05, 2014, 10:53:30**

Quote from: Phil №❶ on May 05, 2014, 10:33:29

Sorry guys but if you mis fuel your vehicle like this, it is best not to even start the car. Do not under any circumstances think that adding Diesel will dilute the mistake. You WILL damage the high pressure fuel pump, injectors or other engine components.

The reason for this is that the combustion properties of both fuels are entirely different. If the mixture were capable of surviving the high pressure fuel pump, the injectors, expecting to squirt atomized drops of oil into the combustion at the precise time that combustion would occur would be squirting burning petrol and oil totally disrupting the timing of the Diesel motor, causing severe damage.

ready to read the funny puns off this comment.

Phil №❶ · **Reply #14: May 05, 2014, 10:58:53**

Well, start the ball rolling Reaper.

Lakes · **Reply #15: May 05, 2014, 11:17:37**

4L petrol the rest diesel, if it's brimmed i would expect about 53L diesel, i would have left it & topped it up with diesel each day.
i know a guy who puts a small amour of petrol into his diesel as he does not drive it a lot & claims the petrol in the diesel stops diesel Bug , he has done this for ages.
not me i've never miss fuelled in my life & back in the 70's i knew guys that stuffed petrol motors miss fuelling with diesel.

Jim_B · **Reply #16: May 06, 2014, 13:46:09**

Thank you Reaper for the Avatar advice re my profile pic, it was indeed a tapatalk issue and I have now righted my picture. It was very tricky driving my i30 upside down, let alone with a contaminated fuel tank

Feedback appreciated. Since having the tank drained, I have driven over 100 miles and she is still running perfectly. No lasting damage done I hope, when I initially drove it home.

Dazzler · **Reply #17: May 06, 2014, 13:49:15**

Good news Jim

CraigB · **Reply #18: May 06, 2014, 17:00:02**

Nice to see you back on all 4 wheels Jim

TheReaper · **Reply #19: May 06, 2014, 22:17:54**

Quote from: Jim_B on May 06, 2014, 13:46:09

Thank you Reaper for the Avatar advice re my profile pic, it was indeed a tapatalk issue and I have now righted my picture. It was very tricky driving my i30 upside down, let alone with a contaminated fuel tank

Feedback appreciated. Since having the tank drained, I have driven over 100 miles and she is still running perfectly. No lasting damage done I hope, when I initially drove it home.

glad everything is back to normal