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Petrol instead of diesel

7 replies

chatnicknameyousuggested · 12/07/2020 20:41

I am so down about this. I feel so stupid.
I have been driving for 36 years, and have NEVER done what I did yesterday: put petrol instead of diesel in my tank. I just wasn't thinking.
I drove on it which was even worse. Got towed to a garage where they charged me a fortune for draining the tank.
Drove it home, seemed fine apart from one or two little "jumps" in the engine. This is how I knew I'd made a mistake, lots of little "jumps".
If I have damaged the engine, would the garage have been able to tell me? Or will the damage not appear until later?
Is it worse, petrol instead of diesel, or the reverse? Or is it the same?

I feel so stupid. I really do.

OP posts:
Mishmased · 12/07/2020 20:43

Oh gosh so sorry, royal pain in the hole. I don't know the answer to you q but I hope nothing goes wrong with your car.

Mumdiva99 · 12/07/2020 20:49

I've done it....no excuse just wasn't thinking. Drove about 4 miles no idea until the car wouldn't start. Got someone to empty tank, add in some diesel and he stuck in a bottle of something to 'clean the engine. This was about 6 years ago....no lasting damage. (I think I've done it one other time too.....same car....same rubbish excuse....) The worst thing is the expense and the humiliation for being so stupid, twice....

If it happens again there are firms that sort it at roadside. No need for a tow. I used RAC first time and one off the Internet the second time.

december212 · 12/07/2020 20:50

I'm sure if you are going to do it, petrol in a diesel is the better of the two. Sure I've heard of this happening with friends before and all was fine (other than draining the tank which has just been filled up costing £££).

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Icanflyhigh · 12/07/2020 20:55

Petrol into a diesel engine is ok quantity depending. Often used as a cleaner in diesel engines.
I've done it, 10 quid worth into an empty tank before I realised, so just filled up to the brim with diesel and kept topping up. If anything car ran better.
Garage offers me the option of calling Dr Fuel Confused but it was absolutely fine.

chatnicknameyousuggested · 12/07/2020 21:00

It was half a tank full.

OP posts:
Jessicabrassica · 12/07/2020 21:09

I've done it too. We were having work done on the house at the time and it was one of the builders who came to pick me up. Boy did they laugh at me. No long term damage to the car though.

Thatnameistaken · 12/07/2020 21:13

Last August we were an hour away from boarding a ferry to the hebrides. DP said we should quickly fill up on the mainland as prices would be high on the islands.
So he started to fill my car then banged on the window shouting "Its petrol!!! I've put petrol in!!!!"

I did so well not to lose my shit with him, he'd put £17 worth into a £45 capacity tank. I said to fill right up to the click with diesel and we limped of the forecourt and parked up.
It was Sunday so there were no garages open and time was running out to board the ferry. After some furious googling we found that a third mix might not be catastrophic and there was no way I was missing my holiday. It was a pretty noisy drive onto the ferry but we made it onto the island and just kept topping up every time the gauge went down a notch.

The alternator died after we returned but the mechanic thought it was incidental, it ran lumpy for a few weeks and now the glow plug light flashes for 10 minutes every time I start up but it hasn't caused any permanent damage to the engine.

So don't worry it will probably be fine.

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