What to do when you pump unleaded gasoline into your fuel tank?

[KGMau]

Yeah, I did it this weekend in Pismo Beach (pumped unleaded into the fuel tank)... ... It seems Mobil stations put green handles on their regular unleaded pumps (To me, green = diesel). I only pumped 7. 5 gallons before I realized my mistake. The tank was half full before I started pumping.

I heard many suggestions from customers or the employees of the Mobil station: 1) "a friend of mine just topped-off his tank, and he had no problems" 2) "one guy with a diesel MBZ called his mechanic and was told to put engine oil into the tank" (amount/type unspecified). 3) "tow your truck to a garage and have them drain the tank" 4) "disconnect the fuel line and let the lift pump drain the tank (onto the ground). 5) "newer diesels will shut-off before any damage occurs. "

My first inclination was to have the truck towed to a garage and have the tank drained... . But it only took a few minutes/calls to conclude that this idea was unworkable (6:30 pm Saturday on a Labor Day weekend).

Drank a couple of beers.

Decided against "topping off with diesel" or "adding engine oil," as the truck is new and I wasn't sure who/what to believe.

Drank another beer and had a burrito while reading the yellow pages for ideas. Concluded that I was going to have to drain the tank myself.

Walked back to the service station and was offered a ride to the local K Mart (seems they felt bad, and this wasn't the first time it had happened). Bought 6 5-gallon plastic Blitz containers (on sale for $4. 99 each) and two siphoning devices (ended up using a chunk of old garden hose instead). Home by 2:00 am today.

Any suggestions or warnings (other than "don't pump gas into your diesel") in case this happens again - to me or anyone else? What kind of damage can occur? Will the Cummins shut itself off and avoid damage?.....

BTW: diesel tastes like ****!

 

[Power Wagon]

You did the best thing. If you only got a small amount, say, 2 or 3 gallons out of 35, it's not a big deal.



Any concentration over 10% is likely to be noticeable in how it runs, over 20% and you may have trouble. Normally, and especially on the 12V engines, you should be able to drive it at least a little ways (heat is your enemy on this), to get out of trouble if it's still mostly diesel.



I'd put a bottle of Stanadyne Performance Formula in some safe place where it won't leak out, and if you do ever get stuck with some gas in your diesel (wont' work for high concentrations), just dump the bottle in the tank, and you'll have enough cetane rating and lubrication that it'll probably be fine.



Be aware that mixing gas in your diesel will result in exhaust that is nearly lethal... It reeks, smokes blue, and is so acrid it'll choke you, make your eyes water...



Just remember that if you suddenly started running bad. It's one way of determining if you have gotten gas. That diesel smell in the exhaust will become stronger, and the exhaust will burn your throat and eyes very badly.



You can use that diluted fuel slowly. Put a few gallons per tankful of diesel in... and use Stanadyne Performance Formula. Hey, no point in wasting the stuff. You've spent a pile of money on it already. Might as well get some miles.

 

[illflem]

You did the right thing, here's what the Chevron diesel website says;



"I accidentally mixed gasoline with my diesel. What can I do?



One percent or less gasoline will lower the flash point of a gasoline/diesel fuel blend below the specification minimum for diesel fuel. This will not affect the fuel's engine performance, but it will make the fuel more hazardous to handle. Larger amounts of gasoline will lower the viscosity and/or cetane number of the blend below the specification minimums for diesel fuel. These changes can degrade combustion and increase wear.

The best course of action is to recycle gasoline-contaminated diesel fuel back to your supplier. People ask if they can correct the problem by adding more diesel fuel to the blend. Usually the answer is no; the amount of additional diesel fuel needed to bring the flash point on test is impractically large. Those who try dilution should have the blend checked by a laboratory before use to be sure it meets specifications. "



BTW, the Chevron site has much good info on diesel, additives, etc.

 

[chuck3]

Wow, 1% is not very much is it? 35 gal tank full would only equal three tenths of a gal. correct? So if he put 7. 5 in a full tank that would equal 20% huh? Good thing he drained it.

 

[Fireman Dave]

Give it a sniff.

Sorry to hear about your misfortune. I always sniff the nozzle before I pump - no matter what the color of the nozzle or what the pump says on it. I often wonder what people may be thinking when they see me with my nose in the nozzzle.



I know I'm anal, but I have nightmares of going through what you did, so I always want to make sure. Also, nobody EVER borrows my truck. I don't want to risk a well intentioned friend messing me up with gasoline.

 

[DHatfield]

I would definatly say drain it. Its better to do that than drive it and create other problems.

 

[chuck3]

Fireman Dave, I though I was the only one that sniffed the nozzle before fillup, so glad Im not alone on this.

 

[Fireman Dave]

Chuck,



Let's start a support group!

 

[Steve St.Laurent]

If you have a 24v truck you could do like I did when I got a bad load of diesel and had to drain my entire tank. First, hook up a long hose to your drain line from the fuel filter. Then open the drain valve and turn on the ignition and then BUMP the starter - the lift pump will run for ~30 seconds and pump fuel out the drain line. Then turn off the ignition for a few seconds, turn it back on and bump the starter - keep doing that until it's drained. If you notice it at the gas station you MAY be able to get them to allow you to dump it into their overflow tank, otherwise you'll have to buy quite a few fuel cans to dump it into (7 - 5 gallon cans in my case). It might not hurt to put some Stanadyne in the tank before doing this for the lubricity for the lift pump (NO IDEA whether this is necessary or not - guys?).

 

[Happy Camper]

Hey! I thought everyone sniffed the nozzle! I do it twice sometimes to make sure. Oneservice station attendant started to pump and I said "is that diesel" he assured me it was. I don't trust anyone including myself when it comes to fill up. SMELL IT!! And make sure it is green.

 

[Deezul1]

A friend of mine put gas in his truck and he was prolly pretty low on fuel. He got several blocks and the truck quit running. That was a 91 or 92 truck.

 

[Bad340fish]

Been there

First of all... open door. . place head in door and slam repeatadly lol. Actualy You did the right thing IMO. I Filled both tanks on my old PSD work truck with 93 octane. I was talking with my boss on a cell phone when I filled up. HUA got me on this one. I didn't even notice until I went to pay. I handed the clerk the fleet card and he said 34 gallons of gas?? I said. . no I got Diesel and pointed to the truck. Clerk said. . no you got gas. Fired it up and moved it away from the pumps and called a tow truck.



It hardly had any diesel left in it. But one of the morons at the fleet center dumped the dieseloline in his truck. Messed his truck up pretty bad lol.

Clark

 

[PZicha]

I had some kid fill me up with 35 litres of gas (9. 25 gallons US) and then ran it 30 miles before figuring things out , I had about a 30% mix and I have to say you wouldn't of known it . Talked to a guy who ran on a 50/50 mix for 300 miles 200,000 miles ago and its still running strong... . I had a decal made for the little fuel door that says DIESEL FUEL ONLY and I always fill my own now