Oh bugger bollox and arse

[Chassis 33]

Filled up the car today and something was wrong, just couldn't figure it out until I came to pay...tenner of unleaded in an oil burner, Rover 418 to be precise with the old French XUD diesel in it. Thankfully it was an empty tank so I filled up with another 40l of diesel (and a litre of 20w50 just to add to the lubrication ). Anyway got me the 10miles back home with no dramas, no smoke and just as little power as it's always.
Going to be nervous for the next few hundred miles, but hopefully it will be ok, I'll report back!

Regards
Iain

[Avocet]

Keep topping it up with the correct stuff every 50 miles or so to dilute the petrol. I doubt there wil lbe any problem. I'm told that in very cold countries, people often put a bit of petrol in with their diesel to help stop it freezing.

[GreenV8S]

Not thought of adding oil, but it sounds like a smart move. Was that your idea on the spur of the moment, or is that a known trick?

[Chassis 33]

That was a spur of the moment "well it can't do any more damage than the petrol" thought (and being an old school engine and not on of these new fangled million bar sequential pulsed injection 2000lb/ft jobbies I thought it would help), in an ideal world I guess I would of used 2-stroke oil, but failing that I put in the cheapest 20w50 chipfat mineral they had. Having said that I wouldn't of had brain fade in an ideal world!

Only done 35miles so far but all seems ok, the big test will be a run out to L'boro on Saturday!

Regards
Iain

Edited by Chassis 33 on Thursday 24th January 09:55

[FWDRacer]

Used up to a 25% mix of petrol in winter (Germany - Bavaria) to avoid waxing. You've got absolutely nowt to worry about, a nice side effect will be clean injectors and piece of piss MOT pass. Adding the engine oil was overkill.

[David H]

FWDRacer said:

Used up to a 25% mix of petrol in winter (Germany - Bavaria) to avoid waxing. You've got absolutely nowt to worry about, a nice side effect will be clean injectors and piece of piss MOT pass. Adding the engine oil was overkill.

Was going to say the same. Many people I know have done this on old cars to clean the injectors, de-wax the system etc, works well by all accounts although I wouldn't do it purposely myself.

[Chassis 33]

Thanks for the reassurance! The oil was probably an overkill but with the fragile at the best of times Lucas pump on there I thought I had nothing to loose. The car as only MoT'd a fortnight ago so I've a while to get the system dirty again

Regards
Iain

[Munter]

While we're on the subject.......no I have not done it yet. But I do worry occasionally that I will at some point put petron in the Diesel Vectra I have. Now mine is the 2.0 DTi version. I think it's a fairly old design engine. But does it have one of the super high pressure fuel pumps? Have I got one where I might be able to do the above should I have a moment of bugger bollox and arse?

[FWDRacer]

If it is is a common rail engine - No chance - the pumps seize as the lubricity of the fuel is paramount in lubricating a common rail pump. You'll only "get away with it.." in previous generation engines with inline injector pumps.

.........Don't be a chump at the pumps

Edited by FWDRacer on Thursday 24th January 13:58

[Munter]

FWDRacer said:

If it is is a common rail engine - No chance - the pumps seize as the lubricity of the fuel is paramount in lubricating a common rail pump. You'll only "get away with it.." in previous generation engines with inline injector pumps.

Aye what you say is true. But is it a common rail engine. I would think the 1.9dtci (The fiat/GM eninge)that replaced it is. But does anybody know, is the 2.0 DTi common rail?

[BB-Q]

I see mis-fuelled common rails every week. I've only ever heard of one failing due to this, and that was a rumour of a brand new Merc limo in London.

Every garage I've ever spoken to about it has never experienced a failed pump either.

I know they're supposed to fail, but the only manufacturer that insists on a new pump if it is done during the warranty period is Ford. All the others seem to think it will be either just fine or will fail outside of the warranty period.

Experience is showing the motor trade that this is purely an arse-covering myth created by the manufacturers.

anyway, common rail diesels don't need to be mis-fuelled to kill their pumps and injectors- they do it all on their own!

Oh, and your Rover will be absolutely fine, by the way. Just keep topping it up every chance you get until you've done a couple of tanks worth and then refuel as normal. The ball park figure for old style diesels is 20% permitted contamination, so if you have a 10 gallon tank then up to two gallons of petrol should be fine.

Edited by BB-Q on Thursday 24th January 21:56

[Busa_Rush]

I used to add petrol to my old Mondeo when it was running on veggie oil, about 5 to 8 % petrol thinned the oil out nicely.

[That Daddy]

BB-Q said:

I see mis-fuelled common rails every week. I've only ever heard of one failing due to this, and that was a rumour of a brand new Merc limo in London.

Every garage I've ever spoken to about it has never experienced a failed pump either.

I know they're supposed to fail, but the only manufacturer that insists on a new pump if it is done during the warranty period is Ford. All the others seem to think it will be either just fine or will fail outside of the warranty period.

Experience is showing the motor trade that this is purely an arse-covering myth created by the manufacturers.

anyway, common rail diesels don't need to be mis-fuelled to kill their pumps and injectors- they do it all on their own!

Oh, and your Rover will be absolutely fine, by the way. Just keep topping it up every chance you get until you've done a couple of tanks worth and then refuel as normal. The ball park figure for old style diesels is 20% permitted contamination, so if you have a 10 gallon tank then up to two gallons of petrol should be fine.

Edited by BB-Q on Thursday 24th January 21:56