2 gallons of petrol into 7 gallons of diesel tank

[Merryscholar]

My 2005 Citroen C3 was filled with about 2 gallons of petrol into a tank containing about 7 gallons of diesel and then driven about 4,5 miles. What is the worst and best scenario? Will I be able to drive the car? What do I do?

[chas2008]

you are not the first and wont be the last, the scaremongers say it will ruin pumps engines etc. in reality this doesnt happen. During the 4-5 miles it was probably still running on diesel left in the filter/pump. Best bet is to drain as much as you can and fill up with diesel and get the filter changed.

[Merryscholar]

Have any idea where I locate the filter, Chas2008?

[terence7556]

i did a similar thing about 5 years ago in a hire van.
the van owner said drain the petrol out (on the garage forecourt mind, dont drive or turn on the engine before draining it )
the AA said the amount involved was ok and to drive, which i did and to keep topping up the diesel to reduce the amount of petrol involved.the economy was fantastic or was i watching the fuel gauge continuously but its not something i would like to repeat

[kempie]

Why the contradiction chas2008?

If it is scaremongering to say petrol in a modern high-pressure common rail direct fuel injection Diesel engine will ruin pumps, engines etc. and this doesn't happen in reality why then suggest the tank be drained?

You can't have it both ways.

Petrol is a spirit with absolutely no lubricating properties whatsoever. Diesel fuel is an oil, with lubricating properties essential for components of high pressure common rail engines built to exacting tolerances, such as fuel pumps.

The amount of incorrect fuel is relevant to the likelihood of damage to the engine and to dismiss any warnings as scaremongering is irresponsible. But then it isn't your car so you face no repercussions.

http://www.theaa.com/motoring_advice/fuels-and -environment/misfuelling.html

[chas2008]

someone else trying to panic you, playing the word game! ok i forgot to say stop driving and sort it immediately, but then i like to think you had worked that out

(slapped wrists for me, happy kempie??)

the fuel filter is really just an advisory thing , i know of 3 vehicles that misfuelled (one the middle of last year ) all advised to change filters, none did , they are all still happily driving around one of them a 307 i will be doing during a routine service next month.
In Peugeots of a similar age & size its under the bonnet in a plastic housing in the fuel line to the pump i would assume it would be in the same place, if so its easy to replace but any doubt get a local mechanic to do it 5min job tops. Sometimes it takes a minute to fire up due to the air that gets in thats when panic sets in , but this is normal.Also the management light may come on but this should go out once the fuel pressure is up to spec.

By the way just going back to my original statement, i have worked in the motortrade (all main dealers )for over 30 years as yet i have never know an engine or injector pump or anything mechanical related to the fuel system fail due to misfueling....im not saying they dont but i have never come across it .

[chas2008]

someone else trying to panic you, playing the word game! ok i forgot to say stop driving and sort it immediately, but then i like to think you had worked that out

(slapped wrists for me, happy kempie??)

the fuel filter is really just an advisory thing , i know of 3 vehicles that misfuelled recently (one the middle of last year ) all advised to change filters, none did , they are all still happily driving around one of them a 307 i will be doing during a routine service next month.
In Peugeots of a similar age & size its under the bonnet in a plastic housing in the fuel line to the pump i would assume it would be in the same place, if so its easy to replace but any doubt get a local mechanic to do it 5min job tops. Sometimes it takes a minute to fire up due to the air that gets in thats when panic sets in , but this is normal.Also the management light may come on but this should go out once the fuel pressure is up to spec.

By the way just going back to my original statement, i have worked in the motortrade (all main dealers )for over 30 years as yet i have never know an engine or injector pump or anything mechanical related to the fuel system fail due to misfueling....im not saying they dont but i have never come across it .

[kempie]

Bear in mind that "over 30 years" in the motor trade is for the most part irrelevant; you can dispense with around 20 of those years when speaking of HDi engines. Standard Diesel engines are less susceptible to damage in this situation but gone are the days when you could supplement your Diesel with a little petrol to prevent waxing and thus aid winter starts.

[Merryscholar]

may thanks Chas and Kempie. It's great to experiece such livel debate. I have located what I hope to be the fuel filter: forgive the ignorance but I'm learning: it's slightly to the right and and above/behind the engine as I stand in front of the vehicle looking from the front bumper to the rear window. It's round, the size of a medium size American coffee mug and has a valve which I have opened at times to drain unwanted water in the diesel system. Thanks once again for your input. fellows.

[chas2008]

that sounds about right...like i said its not mandatory to change it just advisable. HAve you opened the valve ?..any petrol got this far ?