unleaded petrol in a diesel car

[sams mom]

What would happen if you put 1/3rd of a tank of unleaded petrol in a V (1999) reg ford focus 1.8 TDI Ghia diesel car and then topped up the rest of 2/3rds with diesel

[dusty1]

I would not even try it, the chances are you will kill the diesel pump through lack of lubrication for starters, plus the fact that there would be a lot less lubrication to the whole of the top end of the engine, it is also possible that the engine would overheat, therefor causing more damage,
best thing to do is drain the lot out empty the fuel filter and change it, and if you have already started it try and get some of the petrol out of the pump.
Good Luck

[Dee Sa]

last year I mistakenly put �4 worth of diesel instead of unleaded petrol before I noticed the mistake, rang RAC from the garage forecourt, they said as it isnt much diesel, fill the car up full with unleaded and keep it topped up for at least a week'.
They also said had it been the other way round and a diesel car I would have not been able to drive until the car was drained out and engine washed.
hope this helps.

[Gef]

That's interesting Dee Sa. A diesel pump nozzle should not fit into the filler tube of a petrol car.

[pop monkey]

Don't even think of running the engine till you have drained all the fuel out and filled it up with diesel or you will wreck the injector pump.

[markja]

gef, the diesel nozzle is larger than the petrol nozzle , therfore you can put petrol in a diesel car.also, at some places the diesel is the same size as the petrol ones.
my mate filled his motorbike up with diesel once, oh, how we laughed. he drove twenty miles before he noticed a lack of performance. he rides like a wuss !! (the last bit maybe an untruth. )