Gasoline instead of Diesel? Get Help Now!

Hello,

I just accidentally filled my TDI with diesel instead of gasoline.

Can someone please tell me if I need to drain the old fuel, or is it enough to simply refill the tank with diesel?

The tank was almost empty (I had driven 930 km) and I then filled it with 25 liters of gasoline. That means I could still add about 40 liters of diesel.

Thank you very much for your help!

Regards,

Crissi.

Hi,

Okay, I would drain it as quickly as possible. Depending on the fuel injection system (VP37, VP44, CR, or PD), the gasoline can severely impair lubrication and even lead to significant damage. The higher the pump pressure, the more problematic the issue of incorrect fueling becomes.

Hi,

Bertil has already said it. At most, with a 90PS TDI engine from VW/Audi, I (but I'm crazy anyway) would simply add 40 liters of vegetable oil and somehow stir it well ; the 1Z/AHU has a VE37 (I don't know about others), and it can handle that. The important thing is that the pump doesn't suck in pure gasoline (at most, for a very short time)...



Best regards, Uli.

Hello,

Just wanted to let you know: It's running again. I drained the gasoline and added 20 liters of diesel. Then it ran a little rough for a short time.

It seems like it hasn't suffered any damage. PD probably isn't that sensitive in this regard.

Thank you again for your tips!!!

Best, Crissi.

Hi,
Okay, I would drain it as quickly as possible. Depending on the fuel injection system (VP37, VP44, CR, or PD), gasoline can severely impair lubrication and even lead to significant damage. The higher the pump pressures, the more problematic incorrect fueling becomes.

Be careful... I know of a case where this led to engine damage, and where insufficient lubrication was definitely the cause.

Regards,
Felix.

Hi Felix,

flaufer wrote:

Be careful... I know of a case where this led to engine damage, and where definitely faulty lubrication was the cause.

... did I say something different ?

Bertil wrote:

...I would drain it as quickly as possible...the gasoline can severely affect the lubrication and even lead to significant damage

.
I am also aware of pump failures caused by incorrect fueling. Recently, I saw a Mercedes with a common-rail system that had been incorrectly fueled. The seized high-pressure pump had ruptured the chain (so much for the saying "a chain is stronger").


@Crissi

Crissi wrote:

PD is probably not very sensitive

in relationships.
PD (Pressure Differential) and CR (Common Rail) systems are among the most sensitive systems with regard to incorrect fueling. You may not immediately notice the result (the error), but rather later. Even a short period of missing or incorrect lubrication can permanently damage the PD components.
But the less gasoline there was, the lower the likelihood of long-term damage. In any case, the decision to pump it out was the right one.