wrong fuel in car!

[goldheart]

My sister's just put �5 worth of Deisel in her Vauxhall Cavalier instead of unleaded. Her tank was virtually empty though and someone has told her that this being the case and only having �5 worth, she should be ok to put unleaded in on top, as long as she fills the tank up though - it should wash through?

Do people agree or will she have to get the diesel sucked out professionally?

[v64paul]

as long as she did'nt start the engine, ok so far. get the tank drained. petrol and diesel do not mix to the point where the engine runs with no ill effects.

[goldheart]

unfortunately she managed to drive the car at 2mph about half a mile home as it had conked out just after she left the garage, she is assuming she put diesel in but the car was otherwise in perfect working order...  she thinks she used the end hose (which on going back to the garage later turned out to be the diesel pump).... strange cos she's never done that before and she wasnt distracted!

Thanks anyway!!

[corganiser]

I did this once on a van. The AA said there were two choices, draining which is time consuming, awkward and potentially expensive or taking a chance and topping up with unleaded. Downside is if it doesn't work you've wasted the cost of the unleaded and have more to drain. I took a gamble and topped up with unleaded. The van worked but was prone to backfiring loudly as it travelled. I kept topping up every time I got down to three quarters of a tank and it eventually stopped misfiring and returned to normal.

[5029]

a petrol car will run ok on diesel but a diesel will not run ok on petrol (due to lack of lubricants in the petrol). with such a small amount, she should be fine to fill it on up and mix it.

Do you mind me asking how she managed to do this as where i live diesel pumps are larger so as not to fit into petrol cars?

[goldheart]

Funnily enough she swears she cant remember doing it  - even if a million quid rested on it and has never done it before. I asked her about the nozzle and she said it fitted like normal... someone else said about the nozzle not fitting, but would that be because the car is an old G reg cavalier therefore the hole is bigger or something.  If thats the case and if she sorts the car out, then perhaps next time she goes to the garage she tries it again - but not pull the trigger on the pump!!

Thanks again all ...

[v64paul]

i refer you to my original answer. corganiser, thats why they are the fourth emergency service...

[twiglet4frog]

be cheaper to get a new sister wouldnt it?? or maybe get her head drained instead of the tank! lol

[goldheart]

yep!  at least I have another 2 to chose from!!

[petrastone]

My wife just put 11 litres of diesel into her 1.4l petrol engined Yaris.  Called AA and engineer said he could tow to garage for draining at �120 or to home where we could "easily" siphon off the 20 litres of petrol/diesel mix.  We opted for tow home but now find impossible to siphon out as filler pipe convoluted and can't get hose down into tank!!!!  Even disconnected the small bore pipes from tank, but nothing flows even with ignition on. Tank holds 45 litres.  Could we try brimming the tank so there is 3:1 petrol:diesel?

[goldheart]

I just kept putting petrol into my car - I put about 20 quids worth over the top of the diesel and drove it as normal - it did chug for a bit to start with and a bit of black smoke came out for a while (5 mins or so) but i didnt let it get under a 1/4 until recently, Im nearly on red today and its been fine... so I think the diesel is probably out now?!

I dont know if it will be the same for you as your wife put more in (I only put �5 in), I would try it and see - but then I have a much older car which I think is expendable and not worth getting done by a garage. I dont know what would happen to your car if you did the same and it didnt work... but I would try it!!

It may be worth posting a new question on the site, I dont think many people are gonna see this one!

Good luck anyway!

[petrastone]

Thanks Goldheart.  We brimmed it with unleaded and it seems OK.  Bit sluggish going up hills in second, but OK on the level.  Thanks for advice, we'll keep topping up !!