Help the wife has just filled the car with petrol
13 June 2006, 10:08 AM
#1
Scooby Regular
Thread Starter
iTrader: (4)
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: The yorkshire dales - best roads in the UK
Posts: 3,311
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Help the wife has just filled the car with petrol
Whats wrong with that....it's a bl@@dy Diesel thats what 
Today is my day off before work at 19:00 tonight, i was going to spent the day fitting my ecu and few other bits to the scoob and chilling out before work...not now.
I was woke at 08:30 this morning with "honey i have just filled the Golf with petrol" thankyou i said still half asleep and rolled over rather miffed at being woke.
How much i ask after coming round, £40 she says..bugger no chance of topping up with Derv then
Does anyone know if Golf mk4 TDI's have a drain plug in the tank? i have the use of a ramp so can get under easy. I also have a pump you can fix to a drill maybe i could use that with a pipe down the filler neck?
How much if any can i leave in: ie 1/4 of a tank then fill with Diesel.
Any idea's would be helpful.
Andrew
Forgot to add she had the good sense not to turn the engine over/start car.
Today is my day off before work at 19:00 tonight, i was going to spent the day fitting my ecu and few other bits to the scoob and chilling out before work...not now.
I was woke at 08:30 this morning with "honey i have just filled the Golf with petrol" thankyou i said still half asleep and rolled over rather miffed at being woke.
How much i ask after coming round, £40 she says..bugger no chance of topping up with Derv then
Does anyone know if Golf mk4 TDI's have a drain plug in the tank? i have the use of a ramp so can get under easy. I also have a pump you can fix to a drill maybe i could use that with a pipe down the filler neck?
How much if any can i leave in: ie 1/4 of a tank then fill with Diesel.
Any idea's would be helpful.
Andrew
Forgot to add she had the good sense not to turn the engine over/start car.
Last edited by T5OLF; 13 June 2006 at 11:06 AM.
13 June 2006, 10:16 AM
#3
Scooby Regular
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: High Wycombe
Posts: 3,763
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
From memory (of a recent tv program):
- You should not run the car with ANY petrol in as damage can be caused to fuel pump and other bits further up line that require lubrication from diesel.
It's usually a full drain of the tank, flush out and refil.
Glad your mussis didn't start the car, that's saved you a couple of hundered.
- You should not run the car with ANY petrol in as damage can be caused to fuel pump and other bits further up line that require lubrication from diesel.
It's usually a full drain of the tank, flush out and refil.
Glad your mussis didn't start the car, that's saved you a couple of hundered.
13 June 2006, 10:17 AM
#4
Scooby Regular
Thread Starter
iTrader: (4)
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: The yorkshire dales - best roads in the UK
Posts: 3,311
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Yeah she called Green flag, they said they would tow the car in and get it fixed. But she never bothered for some reason only known to her.(she was rather stressed after the 2 mile walk home) so i never asked why she left it at the garage.
13 June 2006, 10:18 AM
#5
Moderator
iTrader: (5)
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Not all those who wander are lost
Posts: 17,863
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
From the ukmkivs forum:
Well i got the problem fixed and it cost me minimum amounts of money, so heres what to do if any of you people are as stupid as me and have the same problem
I disconnected the fuel line where the fuel filter is under the bonnet on the left hand side
there are two pipes connected to the fuel filter that head towards the engine and two pipes that head back into the engine bay and down the back - one of the ones that heads back has a wierd looking clip on it and this is the return line, the other one that heads back the same way is the fuel feed line. you will need to loosen the clip with a pair of pliers and then take the fuel line of from the metal pipe end that it fits over.
Then i got a hand pump which i picked up from a model shop and got a small peice of tubing which came with the pump (the pumps are used for filling model aircraft with fuel) the tube is slightly too small to get any suction inside the fuel line so a few rounds of electricians tape and it fitted nicely
then i had to pump out all of the fuel by hand (10 quids worth + the 5 liters in the reserve tank) took about twenty minutes
then I used two jerry cans and made a few trips to the petrol station and filled the tank
voila ( total cost £82.50 ) including jerry cans, pump, extra tubing and the fuel for a full tank again and this also includes the £10 of unleaded i stupidly put in the car
better than the £250 quid some people were going to charge me.
Don't blame me if it blows up
Well i got the problem fixed and it cost me minimum amounts of money, so heres what to do if any of you people are as stupid as me and have the same problem
I disconnected the fuel line where the fuel filter is under the bonnet on the left hand side
there are two pipes connected to the fuel filter that head towards the engine and two pipes that head back into the engine bay and down the back - one of the ones that heads back has a wierd looking clip on it and this is the return line, the other one that heads back the same way is the fuel feed line. you will need to loosen the clip with a pair of pliers and then take the fuel line of from the metal pipe end that it fits over.
Then i got a hand pump which i picked up from a model shop and got a small peice of tubing which came with the pump (the pumps are used for filling model aircraft with fuel) the tube is slightly too small to get any suction inside the fuel line so a few rounds of electricians tape and it fitted nicely
then i had to pump out all of the fuel by hand (10 quids worth + the 5 liters in the reserve tank) took about twenty minutes
then I used two jerry cans and made a few trips to the petrol station and filled the tank
voila ( total cost £82.50 ) including jerry cans, pump, extra tubing and the fuel for a full tank again and this also includes the £10 of unleaded i stupidly put in the car
better than the £250 quid some people were going to charge me.
Don't blame me if it blows up
13 June 2006, 10:18 AM
#6
Scooby Regular
Thread Starter
iTrader: (4)
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: The yorkshire dales - best roads in the UK
Posts: 3,311
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by BlkKnight
From memory (of a recent tv program):
- You should not run the car with ANY petrol in as damage can be caused to fuel pump and other bits further up line that require lubrication from diesel.
It's usually a full drain of the tank, flush out and refil.
Glad your mussis didn't start the car, that's saved you a couple of hundered.
- You should not run the car with ANY petrol in as damage can be caused to fuel pump and other bits further up line that require lubrication from diesel.
It's usually a full drain of the tank, flush out and refil.
Glad your mussis didn't start the car, that's saved you a couple of hundered.
13 June 2006, 10:20 AM
#7
Scooby Regular
Thread Starter
iTrader: (4)
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: The yorkshire dales - best roads in the UK
Posts: 3,311
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by DJ Dunk
From the ukmkivs forum:
Well i got the problem fixed and it cost me minimum amounts of money, so heres what to do if any of you people are as stupid as me and have the same problem
I disconnected the fuel line where the fuel filter is under the bonnet on the left hand side
there are two pipes connected to the fuel filter that head towards the engine and two pipes that head back into the engine bay and down the back - one of the ones that heads back has a wierd looking clip on it and this is the return line, the other one that heads back the same way is the fuel feed line. you will need to loosen the clip with a pair of pliers and then take the fuel line of from the metal pipe end that it fits over.
Then i got a hand pump which i picked up from a model shop and got a small peice of tubing which came with the pump (the pumps are used for filling model aircraft with fuel) the tube is slightly too small to get any suction inside the fuel line so a few rounds of electricians tape and it fitted nicely
then i had to pump out all of the fuel by hand (10 quids worth + the 5 liters in the reserve tank) took about twenty minutes
then I used two jerry cans and made a few trips to the petrol station and filled the tank
voila ( total cost £82.50 ) including jerry cans, pump, extra tubing and the fuel for a full tank again and this also includes the £10 of unleaded i stupidly put in the car
better than the £250 quid some people were going to charge me.
Don't blame me if it blows up
Well i got the problem fixed and it cost me minimum amounts of money, so heres what to do if any of you people are as stupid as me and have the same problem
I disconnected the fuel line where the fuel filter is under the bonnet on the left hand side
there are two pipes connected to the fuel filter that head towards the engine and two pipes that head back into the engine bay and down the back - one of the ones that heads back has a wierd looking clip on it and this is the return line, the other one that heads back the same way is the fuel feed line. you will need to loosen the clip with a pair of pliers and then take the fuel line of from the metal pipe end that it fits over.
Then i got a hand pump which i picked up from a model shop and got a small peice of tubing which came with the pump (the pumps are used for filling model aircraft with fuel) the tube is slightly too small to get any suction inside the fuel line so a few rounds of electricians tape and it fitted nicely
then i had to pump out all of the fuel by hand (10 quids worth + the 5 liters in the reserve tank) took about twenty minutes
then I used two jerry cans and made a few trips to the petrol station and filled the tank
voila ( total cost £82.50 ) including jerry cans, pump, extra tubing and the fuel for a full tank again and this also includes the £10 of unleaded i stupidly put in the car
better than the £250 quid some people were going to charge me.
Don't blame me if it blows up
Trending Topics
13 June 2006, 10:29 AM
#8
Basically as Dunk. Drain tank. But replace the fuel filter and buy a few cans of diesel conditioner/treatment (such as Forté Advanced formula diesel treatment) and pour them in with a full tank of fresh diesel. This should help with any lubrication issued caused by the petrol.
Keep the petrol for your lawn mower, or mix it 33% per tank of petrol in a shopping trolley/runabout car (with a petrol engine, of course)
As for the Adverts, they are scaremongering. "potentially" you can do ££££'s of damage, but, like some garages inisisting on removing every fuel line, and the entire fuel tank to flush out. And also stipulate recon fuel pumps and injector when it isn't always the case. I have seen diesel run on with large amounts of petrol for great distances with no ill effects, however, others have suffered damaged pumps and injectors, leading on to melted pistons. But then, I have seen diesel engines that have melted pistons even though they have never been ran on petrol (Usually Renaults...they really are so crap these days )
Keep the petrol for your lawn mower, or mix it 33% per tank of petrol in a shopping trolley/runabout car (with a petrol engine, of course)
As for the Adverts, they are scaremongering. "potentially" you can do ££££'s of damage, but, like some garages inisisting on removing every fuel line, and the entire fuel tank to flush out. And also stipulate recon fuel pumps and injector when it isn't always the case. I have seen diesel run on with large amounts of petrol for great distances with no ill effects, however, others have suffered damaged pumps and injectors, leading on to melted pistons. But then, I have seen diesel engines that have melted pistons even though they have never been ran on petrol (Usually Renaults...they really are so crap these days
)
Last edited by ALi-B; 13 June 2006 at 10:39 AM.
13 June 2006, 10:54 AM
#9
Scooby Regular
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Sheffield; Rome of the North
Posts: 17,582
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
If the car hasnt even been turned over then surely draining the tank will be sufficient? After all: it takes half a gallon of petrol in a full tank to 'warm it up' enough to pass an emissions test on a worn engine..........
13 June 2006, 11:01 AM
#13
Scooby Regular
Thread Starter
iTrader: (4)
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: The yorkshire dales - best roads in the UK
Posts: 3,311
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by Karl 227
Drain the tank, shoot the wife
13 June 2006, 11:06 AM
#14
Scooby Regular
Join Date: Jul 2004
Posts: 2,832
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by T5OLF
She's been using the mx5 since the sun came out so it's easy done i suppose, maybe i should put a diesel engine in the Maz....or shoot the wife
chop
13 June 2006, 11:06 AM
#15
Scooby Regular
Thread Starter
iTrader: (4)
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: The yorkshire dales - best roads in the UK
Posts: 3,311
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by StickyMicky
how do you fit a car with petrol 
Sorry still half asleep
13 June 2006, 11:08 AM
#16
Scooby Regular
Thread Starter
iTrader: (4)
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: The yorkshire dales - best roads in the UK
Posts: 3,311
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by chopper.
Personally I wouldn't shoot her but use it as an opportunity for some 'forgivesness' sex
chop
chop
13 June 2006, 11:12 AM
#19
Scooby Regular
Join Date: Mar 2000
Location: Weston Super Mare, Somerset.
Posts: 14,102
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Perhaps Ali-B could correct me if I am wrong but I think the fuel sender unit is on the top of the tank and accessed by a panel under the carpet in the hatch area. With the sender removed you could simply syphon 90% of the fuel out of the tank and job done. I don't believe the full flush thing is necessary. dl Buy "DIESEL ONLY" sticker to go on fuel cap
13 June 2006, 11:58 AM
#21
Scooby Regular
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: Disco, Disco!
Posts: 21,825
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by BlkKnight
From memory (of a recent tv program):
- You should not run the car with ANY petrol in as damage can be caused to fuel pump and other bits further up line that require lubrication from diesel.
It's usually a full drain of the tank, flush out and refil.
Glad your mussis didn't start the car, that's saved you a couple of hundered.
- You should not run the car with ANY petrol in as damage can be caused to fuel pump and other bits further up line that require lubrication from diesel.
It's usually a full drain of the tank, flush out and refil.
Glad your mussis didn't start the car, that's saved you a couple of hundered.
This is my understanding. Modern diesels run very high pressure fuel injection and do use the diesel as lube for the fuel pump!
VW PDI (Pump Deuse Injection) are some of the highest pressure diesels as well.
13 June 2006, 12:23 PM
#22
Scooby Regular
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: Markyate.Imprezas owned:-wrx-sti5typeR-p1-uk22b-modded my00. Amongst others!
Posts: 8,541
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by GC8
If the car hasnt even been turned over then surely draining the tank will be sufficient?
13 June 2006, 01:01 PM
#24
Scooby Regular
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Warrington
Posts: 4,554
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by T5OLF
I also have a pump you can fix to a drill
Vapour and sparks do not mix for long. A hand powered plastic pump should be OK.
13 June 2006, 01:03 PM
#25
Scooby Regular
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: W Sussex
Posts: 326
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My wife did this last year on a C3 16V HDI, optimax no less, and then drove it about 10m or so until it died in a cloud of white smoke.
1 AA relay trip, and 2 days later we got it back from the main dealer with nothing worse than a £220ish bill (including a full tank of diesel).
So I think your going to be OK given that she hasn't run it.
1 AA relay trip, and 2 days later we got it back from the main dealer with nothing worse than a £220ish bill (including a full tank of diesel).
So I think your going to be OK given that she hasn't run it.
13 June 2006, 04:34 PM
#26
Scooby Regular
Join Date: May 2006
Location: West Lothian
Posts: 137
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Husband did the same thing with our Diesel Cavalier only a month ago, we've had the car for years as well, but for some reason he drove up and completely filled it with unleaded. Luckily didn't drive away, spent the rest of the next day draining it. What a waste of £40
So it's not always the women to blame 
So it's not always the women to blame
13 June 2006, 04:42 PM
#28
Scooby Regular
Join Date: May 2006
Location: West Lothian
Posts: 137
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by Brendan Hughes
Eh? It's a Cavalier, he was hoping to kill it and get something better.
Used as a cheap runaround, cheap being the word here as it was given to us for nothing by my in-laws
Wouldn't have been my first choice but beggars can't be choosers Oh and I don't have to drive it so I'm not bothered
13 June 2006, 07:13 PM
#29
Scooby Regular
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: astra 1.9ctdi with dtuk green box. 195/300
Posts: 2,718
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
5th gear did a test just about this. Filled an astra diesel with petrol, ran fine no probs!!! even said it felt faster!! did an emmissions test and car stopped filled it back up with diesel ran like a good un...Vice versa with a petrol car car again ran (if a little lumpy) filled it back up with petrol, and it passed an emissions test. So don't believe what you hear or read, syphon it off, fill with diesel....away you go.
dave
dave
13 June 2006, 07:48 PM
#30
Scooby Regular
Thread Starter
iTrader: (4)
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: The yorkshire dales - best roads in the UK
Posts: 3,311
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by David Lock
Perhaps Ali-B could correct me if I am wrong but I think the fuel sender unit is on the top of the tank and accessed by a panel under the carpet in the hatch area. With the sender removed you could simply syphon 90% of the fuel out of the tank and job done. I don't believe the full flush thing is necessary. dl Buy "DIESEL ONLY" sticker to go on fuel cap
This is going great i thought just need some diesel and we are done. My mate arrived in his new 307 and offered to run me to the garage, so off we go jerry can in hand, quick fill up and set off back to my car.
On our return we open boot and find the jerry can laid on its side spilling its contents in his boot, rear seats and floor.
So we spend a frantic 15 mins mopping it up before sending off the valeting guy down the road.
It's cost me about 40 quid in petrol, 16 quid for spilt/bit left in can and another 45 quid to fill up plus 30 for cleaning my mates car.
So much for relaxing day before work. Anyway i got to Leeds with no problems so at least the car is running ok.