# I've put gasoline in my diesel vehicle. How fucked am I? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [July 14, 2012, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-put-gasoline-in-my-diesel-vehicle-how-fucked-am-i/628235 "2012-07-14T18:31:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![MostlyClueless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@MostlyClueless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MostlyClueless)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2012, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-put-gasoline-in-my-diesel-vehicle-how-fucked-am-i/628235/1 "2012-07-14T18:31:27Z")
I now have a mixture of (at most) 20% gasoline and 80% diesel in my tank. I was stupid enough to drive the car (A Skoda Fabia) home. So… recommendations? ---
**Author:** ![Tad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/278dde/32.png) [@Tad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tad)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2012, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-put-gasoline-in-my-diesel-vehicle-how-fucked-am-i/628235/2 "2012-07-14T18:45:58Z")
I don’t think you’ll have too many problems given the low ration of gasoline to diesel and the fact you were able to drive it home. Keep the tank filled with diesel and I doubt you’ll have too many problems. Concerning the problems, they are as you would expect with the breaking down of engine components/filters, poor engine power, stalling, etc. etc. Newer cars are sometimes more tolerant, sometimes not–older cars really don’t like it. But in your case you’re probably fine. ---
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2012, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-put-gasoline-in-my-diesel-vehicle-how-fucked-am-i/628235/3 "2012-07-14T18:49:49Z")
I don’t think you’ve screwed it up for sure YET. But I wouldn’t drive it anymore until you get that mix out of there. Or until a bonna fide diesel mechanic comes along and says its okay to do so. ---
**Author:** ![Capt\_Kirk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/779978/32.png) [@Capt\_Kirk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Capt_Kirk)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2012, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-put-gasoline-in-my-diesel-vehicle-how-fucked-am-i/628235/4 "2012-07-14T18:59:22Z")
Since diesel is denser, I would let the car sit and then try to siphon of as much fuel as possible. Other than that you need to drain the tank and start over. I would not drive anywhere, talk to a diesel mechanic. Good luck, sorry **CAPT** ---
**Author:** ![Tad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/278dde/32.png) [@Tad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tad)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2012, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-put-gasoline-in-my-diesel-vehicle-how-fucked-am-i/628235/5 "2012-07-14T19:04:48Z")
Depending on how far the car has been driven I don’t know that it’s necessarily necessary to drain the tank. But that’s definitely the safest thing for the engine at this point. ---
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2012, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-put-gasoline-in-my-diesel-vehicle-how-fucked-am-i/628235/6 "2012-07-14T19:11:49Z")
> [@Capt\_Kirk](#): > > Since diesel is denser, I would let the car sit and then try to siphon of as much fuel as possible. Other than that you need to drain the tank and start over. I would not drive anywhere, talk to a diesel mechanic. Good luck, sorry > > **CAPT** That would make things worse as you would most likely be draining more of the diesel and less of the gas. Unless you can manage to do the siphoning where the end of hose is near the top of liquid. Which you could do but when most people siphon they just end up with the hose at the bottom of the tank. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2012, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-put-gasoline-in-my-diesel-vehicle-how-fucked-am-i/628235/7 "2012-07-14T19:42:50Z")
If you can’t drain the tank, completely, by yourself, have it towed somewhere to have it done. Probably no harm has been done so far, but why risk doing further harm. I don’t know much about diesels, but for a gasoline engine I’d disconnect the fuel pump inlet and drain it there. ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2012, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-put-gasoline-in-my-diesel-vehicle-how-fucked-am-i/628235/8 "2012-07-14T19:51:56Z")
[Earlier thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=480031) ---
**Author:** ![Capt\_Kirk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/779978/32.png) [@Capt\_Kirk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Capt_Kirk)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2012, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-put-gasoline-in-my-diesel-vehicle-how-fucked-am-i/628235/9 "2012-07-14T19:52:10Z")
> [@billfish678](#): > > That would make things worse as you would most likely be draining more of the diesel and less of the gas. Unless you can manage to do the siphoning where the end of hose is near the top of liquid. Which you could do but when most people siphon they just end up with the hose at the bottom of the tank. Sorry I wasn’t clear, I meant to siphon from the top pulling the gas out until it becomes all diesel. As I have thought on this a bit more, I think a mechanic is the best option. Not because the work is all that difficult but because a shop will have a place to get rid of the fuel. Trying to do this yourself is a good way to start a fire. **CAPT** ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2012, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-put-gasoline-in-my-diesel-vehicle-how-fucked-am-i/628235/10 "2012-07-14T19:56:32Z")
Years ago, my daughter put gasoline in her diesel beetle, then drove it a short way till it stopped running. She ended up having to have the tank drained and cleaned, and her fuel gauge never worked right again, which may or may not have been related. But it was an expensive error for a high school student to make. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2012, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-put-gasoline-in-my-diesel-vehicle-how-fucked-am-i/628235/11 "2012-07-14T20:30:08Z")
I use this battery operated siphon to drain my generator and lawn mower. It’s rated for gas, oil, water etc. > **[TeraPump TRHD03 Battery Operated 2D Pump with Buzzer - Power Water Pumps -...](https://www.amazon.com/TeraPump-TRHD03-Battery-Operated-Buzzer/dp/B00APU2XYG)** > > TeraPump TRHD03 Battery Operated 2D Pump with Buzzer - Power Water Pumps - Amazon.com Is your tank a 15 or 17 gal? 4 five gal cans will drain it. Then change the fuel filter and add fresh diesel. ---
**Author:** ![MostlyClueless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@MostlyClueless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MostlyClueless)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2012, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-put-gasoline-in-my-diesel-vehicle-how-fucked-am-i/628235/12 "2012-07-14T21:28:19Z")
13 gallons. I don’t have anything to drain or siphon it with, and a quick googling suggests that modern cars have measures against tanks being drained. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Me](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d2c977/32.png) [@Mr.Me](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Me)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2012, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-put-gasoline-in-my-diesel-vehicle-how-fucked-am-i/628235/13 "2012-07-14T22:54:36Z")
If the gasoline is floating on top of the diesel, get the end of the siphon hose below the level of the gas. As the fuel mixture is drained, what comes out will at first be diesel, then most of the gas should follow. After that I would fill it with fresh diesel fuel to dilute any remaining gas as much as possible. If the fuels have mixed, which wouldn’t surprise me, I’d siphon out as much as I can, and in either case talk to a mechanic experienced with your particular make of car. IANADM ---
**Author:** ![california\_jobcase](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9d8465/32.png) [@california\_jobcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/california_jobcase)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2012, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-put-gasoline-in-my-diesel-vehicle-how-fucked-am-i/628235/14 "2012-07-14T23:11:37Z")
Cpt. Kirk and others, diesel and gasoline mix like vinegar and water or rum and Coke. If the OP drove the car home, it’s mixed for good. It was mixed as the tank was filling, for that matter. ---
**Author:** ![spotthegerbil](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/439d5e/32.png) [@spotthegerbil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spotthegerbil)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2012, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-put-gasoline-in-my-diesel-vehicle-how-fucked-am-i/628235/15 "2012-07-14T23:44:05Z")
The top of the fuel tank is located under the rear passenger seat. You may be able to go in through there to drain off the bad fuel. From what I hear, Skoda (VW) motors are a bit more forgiving, but you really want to get the bad fuel out of there. Diesel lubricates the fuel pump, so having petrol in there may cause you issues. I don’t have access to my Fabia Haynes manual at the moment, however [briskoda.net](http://briskoda.net) may have some advice. Good luck. ---
**Author:** ![GreasyJack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/df705f/32.png) [@GreasyJack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreasyJack)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2012, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-put-gasoline-in-my-diesel-vehicle-how-fucked-am-i/628235/16 "2012-07-14T23:58:02Z")
This is a very different beast, but the manual from my old early 80’s Mercedes 240D said you could run a 20% gasoline mix in an emergency situation. What emergency situation this would be, I do not know, but apparently you could do it. I’m thinking it probably won’t cause any problems with such a low concentration, but I would agree with the others that you might want to check with the manufacturer or a mechanic with experience with these. ---
**Author:** ![Capt\_Kirk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/779978/32.png) [@Capt\_Kirk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Capt_Kirk)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2012, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-put-gasoline-in-my-diesel-vehicle-how-fucked-am-i/628235/17 "2012-07-15T01:40:45Z")
> [@california\_jobcase](#): > > Cpt. Kirk and others, diesel and gasoline mix like vinegar and water or rum and Coke. If the OP drove the car home, it’s mixed for good. It was mixed as the tank was filling, for that matter. Really. I figured they would separate because of the difference in densities. Is this because of the solvent qualities of gasoline? Sounds like it is mechanic time. **CAPT** ---
**Author:** ![california\_jobcase](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9d8465/32.png) [@california\_jobcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/california_jobcase)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2012, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-put-gasoline-in-my-diesel-vehicle-how-fucked-am-i/628235/18 "2012-07-15T02:00:18Z")
Density differences do not keep liquids from mixing. Oils won’t mix with water because water is a polar molecule and oil is non-polar. Ethanol is less dense than water but mixes just fine since they’re both polar. ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2012, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-put-gasoline-in-my-diesel-vehicle-how-fucked-am-i/628235/19 "2012-07-15T02:16:07Z")
They will mix. Back in the 80s miss fueling was fairly common. I delt with lots of cases, often where the vehicle was driven till it quit. I never saw engine damage from this, but and this is a huge but that was before today’s newer diesel engines and controls. My gut feeling is if in fact it has just 20% and no more it would probably OK. This is a semi educated guess based on experience and technical knowledge, and is not a guarantee. If on the other hand the 20% is a WAG and in reality might be 30% or more then I would have the tank drained and a new fuel filter installed. If you decide to not drain the tank a quart or so of ATF in the fuel tank would not be a bad idea. (Diesels love ATF) Hope this helps, let us know how it turns out. ---
**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2012, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-put-gasoline-in-my-diesel-vehicle-how-fucked-am-i/628235/20 "2012-07-15T03:07:31Z")
Maybe you can you split the difference? Siphon out half the tank. Top off with diesel. Viola, it’s now 90% diesel, 10% gasoline. Drive normally. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-put-gasoline-in-my-diesel-vehicle-how-fucked-am-i/628235.md?page=2)