# diagnose the problem with my car

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diagnose-the-problem-with-my-car/350205>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [March 28, 2006, 4:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diagnose-the-problem-with-my-car/350205 "2006-03-28T04:38:15Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\
**Post date:** [April 4, 2006, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diagnose-the-problem-with-my-car/350205/21 "2006-04-04T04:43:19Z")

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> [@chefIL11](#):
>
> THE RESULTS ARE IN:
> 
> this morning I had my car towed into the mechanic.
> 
> whoever said “anti-theft problem with the ignition” pat yourself on the back, you are correct.
> 
> whoever said replacing the entire ignition would cost $400 should punch yourself in the face… so you know what it felt like when i was told the cost of everything.  
> Thank god for a sympathic father who understands that his son is broke college student.
> 
> okay, ironically, one of my friends just called… she lent her car to her neighbor.
> 
> As a nice gesture, her neighbor put five dollars worth of gas in her car. The problem is: her car runs on diesel and…yep…you guessed it… her neighbor put unleaded in there. It’s a 14 gal. tank so a little over 2 gal. was put in there. it’s a bad day for cars.
> 
> of all the people, she calls me for advice. I just said to “have it towed… don’t even attempt to drive.”
> 
> How dangerous or bad is this for the engine if she (hypothetically) drove it.

That would be me in post #2. 😃 Damn I’m good. (modest too)  
Sorry about the $400 bucks, I know how it sucks to have to spend money you don’t have.

As far as your friend goes, was the engine run at all after the mis-fueling? (even started?)  
If the answer is a firm no, then all that has to be done is to drain the fuel tank, and fill it with the corect fuel.  
If on the other hand the engine was run, at the very minimum it will require a new fuel filter. If on the other hand, the engine was run till it quit, things might get a little more serious.  
I have drained the tanks on dozens of misfueled diesels, and never had one with engine damage, but it can happen.

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**Author:** ![chefIL11](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e36b37/32.png) [@chefIL11](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chefIL11)\
**Post date:** [April 4, 2006, 6:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diagnose-the-problem-with-my-car/350205/22 "2006-04-04T06:09:55Z")

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> [@Rick](#):
>
> That would be me in post #2. 😃 Damn I’m good. (modest too)  
> Sorry about the $400 bucks, I know how it sucks to have to spend money you don’t have.
> 
> As far as your friend goes, was the engine run at all after the mis-fueling? (even started?)  
> If the answer is a firm no, then all that has to be done is to drain the fuel tank, and fill it with the corect fuel.  
> If on the other hand the engine was run, at the very minimum it will require a new fuel filter. If on the other hand, the engine was run till it quit, things might get a little more serious.  
> I have drained the tanks on dozens of misfueled diesels, and never had one with engine damage, but it can happen.

the answer is yes, and driven about eight blocks home

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