Petrol In Diesel

[wineman69]

my wife has just filled our rav4 diesel with petrol ,she has driven it about 3miles to home not realising what she had done .called green flag to take down to my local garage to be drained ,waiting for them now ,dont no what the outcome will be keeping everything crossed

[Davrav]

my wife has just filled our rav4 diesel with petrol ,she has driven it about 3miles to home not realising what she had done .called green flag to take down to my local garage to be drained ,waiting for them now ,dont no what the outcome will be keeping everything crossed

Well, truth will out - I did the same thing back in August [on our wedding anniversary of all days]

Filled up and drove about 8 miles before I realised. Stopped immediately I sensed a problem and called RAC. Not covered by membership as driver error but have to say that they were excellent. Opted to pay for a roadside service rather than being taken to a garage.

Sent their specialist van who turned up within 40 minutes. Very competent - pumped system out both ways and purged the system. Refilled with about 20 litres of diesel [they normally only put in enought to get you to a filling station] and gave me a bottle of diesel treatment to add to first tankfull.

According to the chap who came out, the main danger is to the high pressure pump as it has very close tolerances and petrol does not have the lubricating properties of diesel.

Not a cheap experience and one I don't want to repeat but [everything crossed here], no further issues.

The patrolman told me he does about twenty calls a week for incorrect fuel.......................

[+Steve]

good luck with the outcome mate...

[Davrav]

good luck with the outcome mate...

Yeah, guess I was trying to say the same thing..................

[mystic]

Petrol in a diesel isnt as bad as the other way around, i loved my old little diesel car which i just pretty much put any fuel i wanted in, Normally had half tank of diesel (which was about 10p more expensive) which i then topped up with petrol because it was cheaper. Ran fine, emissions fine, great little engine.

[crofter]

my wife has just filled our rav4 diesel with petrol ,she has driven it about 3miles to home not realising what she had done .called green flag to take down to my local garage to be drained ,waiting for them now ,dont no what the outcome will be keeping everything crossed

Just to set your mind at rest a bit,the petrol/derv mix would not reach the pump straight away so some of the journey the motor would be running on the right fuel.

It all depends what the ratio of the mix was and as petrol is lighter in density,and with the derv being cold,some of it would lay on top and as fuel is drawn from the bottom this would help.

Just an opinion.

Del

[Big Kev]

my wife has just filled our rav4 diesel with petrol ,she has driven it about 3miles to home not realising what she had done .called green flag to take down to my local garage to be drained ,waiting for them now ,dont no what the outcome will be keeping everything crossed

Just to set your mind at rest a bit,the petrol/derv mix would not reach the pump straight away so some of the journey the motor would be running on the right fuel.

It all depends what the ratio of the mix was and as petrol is lighter in density,and with the derv being cold,some of it would lay on top and as fuel is drawn from the bottom this would help.

Just an opinion.

Del

Sir Patrick Moore died yesterday (RIP), BUT LEFT HIS BRAIN TO MA MUCKER DEL......good exply there auld yin.....

Big Kev

[CharlieFarlie]

I did the same .. Put 20 quids worth of super unleaded in the Rav diesel.. As above it takes quite a while to use the fuel in the filter the pump and the fuel lines so 3 miles is VERY unlikely to have done any damage at all.... Likely no petrol has reached the pump at all.. A good drain down and purging of the pipes will see the car back to its self.... I found the red face took a little longer do go ..