Answers from experts only please

[supermono]

I've just been reading reams of internet twaddle, but I need definitive answers from experts please not hearsay and guesswork...

Last night like an imbecile I managed to get 18 litres of unleaded in my diesel 207 1.6 HDi. Decided to top up with diesel meaning I ended up with a full tank of approximately 35:65 unleaded:diesel.

Drove for 110 miles without a problem, topped up with another 10 litres of diesel, I'll do another 50 miles today and top up again...

Everything seems pretty much normal including a cold start this morning so have I got away with it? Will my diesel pump screw up or anything else bad happen soon? Am I better off topping up regularly or purging the whole lot in 4-500 miles then filling up afresh?

Like I said please I only want expert advice not guesswork -- if you don't know facts please don't reply, I've read enough BS already.

Cheers!
SM

[The Wookie]

There's unlikely to be BS, just opinions. Here are the facts...

The Diesel fuel lubricates the fuelling system as it passes through and Petrol does not provide the same lubrication

A large proportion of unleaded run for a short amount of time can damage a fuelling system immediately, with failure occurring not long after the mistake has been made

The lower the proportion of unleaded, the less damage or chance of damage will have occurred

Some Engines are more resilient to misfuelling than others, generally speaking newer tech is closer to the material limits of the components, so they rely on the properties of the fuel more, making them more sensitive.

If you've put a little bit of petrol in and done your best to dilute it, the chances are that if you have actually caused any damage, it will only reduce the life of things like injectors or injector pumps rather than cause an outright failure.

[EDLT]

I assume that by expert advice you mean someone who is going to tell you what you want to hear?

There is no definite answer that can be given over the internet, without looking at your car how do you expect someone to diagnose any faults? All you can get is anecdotes and guesses of what MIGHT happen. If you want experts to check it take it to a garage.

[HellDiver]

But, everyone on the internet is an expert.

Any reply you'll get is anecdotal. My anecdotal evidence says it'll be fine.

[sperminator]

I don't know what constitues an "expert" in your book. I have misfueled 3 diesel cars in the last 10 years. 1 was a pug 307, one was a transit van, and one was a merc 220 CDI. The pug got about 80:20 diesel : unleaded, the transit got about 60:40 diesel:unleaded and the merc got about 90 : 10 diesel unleaded. The pug suffered no ill effects no breakdowns and passed the subsequent MOT, as did the Transit. The Merc however died on it's arse before I got it off the forecourt and cost about 2700 quid to put right.

[hamzamian]

check the manual for your car and see what it recommends for cold running...

iirc my last oil burners (Mitsi Colt.. a looong time ago and Merc 200D even longer ago) stated diesel should be mixed with petrol in extreme temps to prevent it freezing and gave guidelines for the ratios at different temperatures.

So... if you manual has a similar section read that and see what it says, if it does say that you can run up to 35:65 with petrol then you know there's nothing to worry about.

Otherwise worst case scenario is that you've shortened the life of the injectors and fuel pump a bit

[DJC]

My father did the same thing with a similar engine in his 307.

In the end he had Pug flush the system for him and cost about £150. Nothing wrong with the engine for the experience, which granted I thought was a damn lucky outcome. After you have used your current fuel, Id go and see a Pug or diesel engine specialist and ask them to take a look anyway.

[eldar]

supermono said:

Like I said please I only want expert advice not guesswork -- if you don't know facts please don't reply, I've read enough BS already.

Cheers!
SM

I suggest you pay for expert advice, then, rather that just asking on the internet, where you won't know who is or isn't an expert, and will have no come back.

Be lucky.

[supermono]

EDLT said:

you mean someone who is going to tell you what you want to hear?

Absolutely. What I want to hear are facts about what happens when a 2006 Peugeot 207 1.6HDi (or equivalent) is run with a 35% unleaded mix.

EDLT said:

There is no definite answer that can be given over the internet, without looking at your car how do you expect someone to diagnose any faults?

I don't expect them to diagnose anything, see above. Interesting position though, are you saying that if I asked on the internet what happens when a match is struck on the side of a matchbox, no definite answer can be given?

SM

[HRG.]

My expert advice... It'll either fk up or it won't, only time will tell

[JonRB]

EDLT said:

There is no definite answer that can be given over the internet, without looking at your car how do you expect someone to diagnose any faults? All you can get is anecdotes and guesses of what MIGHT happen. If you want experts to check it take it to a garage.

[dibbers006]

It will be fine. It's like smoking or drinking... ultimately, you have slightly shortened the life of certain components but only at the top/ end of their working life.

As has been mentioned, the more highly strung a vehicle... the more likely it is to be affected.

You car is hardly pushing the boundaries of technology so will no doubt be ok

[supermono]

sperminator said:

The Merc however died on it's arse before I got it off the forecourt and cost about 2700 quid to put right.

Ouch. So I presume that was a common rail? What about the other two? What did the 2700 quid go towards? Was it the merc garage replacing everythhing that *might* have been damaged or did they inspect components and replace only damaged ones?

SM

[EDLT]

supermono said:

EDLT said:

you mean someone who is going to tell you what you want to hear?

Absolutely. What I want to hear are facts about what happens when a 2006 Peugeot 207 1.6HDi (or equivalent) is run with a 35% unleaded mix.

EDLT said:

There is no definite answer that can be given over the internet, without looking at your car how do you expect someone to diagnose any faults?

I don't expect them to diagnose anything, see above. Interesting position though, are you saying that if I asked on the internet what happens when a match is struck on the side of a matchbox, no definite answer can be given?

SM

Yes, how often have you struck a match on the side of a matchbox and it didn't light or just snapped, its the same with your car. There are several possibilities, if it hasn't gone wrong yet then its probably fine.

[supermono]

JonRB said:

EDLT said:

There is no definite answer that can be given over the internet, without looking at your car how do you expect someone to diagnose any faults? All you can get is anecdotes and guesses of what MIGHT happen. If you want experts to check it take it to a garage.

Tell me where I asked for someone to diagnose my car?

SM

[Busa_Rush]

Add some 2-stroke oil if this happens again, most garages sell it. For every litre of petrol add something like 20ml of oil. Add the oil to a plastic fuel can then add a few litres of diesel to get it well mixed and pop it in the tank then fill up with diesel. Sorted

[supermono]

Busa_Rush said:

Add some 2-stroke oil if this happens again, most garages sell it. For every litre of petrol add something like 20ml of oil. Add the oil to a plastic fuel can then add a few litres of diesel to get it well mixed and pop it in the tank then fill up with diesel. Sorted

What a brilliant idea. Hopefully it won't happen again but if it does I'll remember that.

SM

[JonRB]

supermono said:

Tell me where I asked for someone to diagnose my car?

You didn't. But you did rather bullishly demand only expert advise, so the comment that you should go and pay an expert for it seemed fair to me.

Busa_Rush said:

Add some 2-stroke oil if this happens again, most garages sell it. For every litre of petrol add something like 20ml of oil. Add the oil to a plastic fuel can then add a few litres of diesel to get it well mixed and pop it in the tank then fill up with diesel. Sorted

Are you an expert though, Busa_Rush? Because the OP doesn't want any internet BS.

Edited by JonRB on Monday 3rd August 12:08

[bridgdav]

Why don't you talk to an expert with credentials, rather than an internet expert.
A bit like the 12yr old girl in a chat room turning out to be a 50 yr old paedophile.

Try here:
http://www.autofuelfix.com/index.htm

Have a chat with them..!

[Mr Whippy]

It'll be fooked

Honestly though, the pump self-lubricates with the diesel. I've done it before on a low pressure old style Bosch pump, and afterwards it leaked a little bit out of the throttle arm and suffered about 5-10% lowered economy there after.

A HD pump on these newer diesels is probably much more sensitive to pump wear due to the tighter tolerances. Old ones wear eventually and then start throwing faults due to not being able to supply requested flow at the desired pressure. You may be fine to 100,000 miles, rather than 150,000 miles had you not done it... BUT, it's a gamble.

I'd trade it and swap it sooner than later... if you were thinking of it as a long-term keeper anyway.

Dave

Edited by Mr Whippy on Monday 3rd August 12:17