Diesel in a petrol... jerry can!
Discussion
A friend of mine recently topped up my 20 litre jerry can with 10 litres of vpower diesel. At least he heard the vpower part...
The jerry can feeds some motocross bikes, they're extremely highly strung (relatively) huge compressions engines so I don't want to risk any diesel getting into the tank.
What would be the best way of ensuring all traces of diesel are gone from the can, or would the best idea just to be replacing it?
The jerry can feeds some motocross bikes, they're extremely highly strung (relatively) huge compressions engines so I don't want to risk any diesel getting into the tank.
What would be the best way of ensuring all traces of diesel are gone from the can, or would the best idea just to be replacing it?
Wash it out with petrol, keep the diesel in another can for the winter (assuming you've got an older diesel vehicle, blend it in to a semi-full tank). Jerry can will be fine after. Lose the sluice petrol in a lawn mower, old mini/motorbike etc.
Alternatively use both as bonfire starters. I hate wasting fuel!
Alternatively use both as bonfire starters. I hate wasting fuel!
1. Empty it on the bonfire, light and enjoy man's best friend and greatest enemy; fire.
2. Fill it with petrol.
3. Get on with your life.
The tiny amount of diesel that will be left inside the can after emptying it on the bonfire diluted in 20 litres of unleaded will have precisely no effect on an internal combustion engine. If you are a naturally cautious man, you could rinse the empty can between step 1 and step 2 with a small amount of petrol, but IMO it's a waste of money and effort. If it was my can, I'd dilute it further with more petrol so it reaches about 20% diesel/80% petrol and use it in the lawnmower, but I'm poor and don't like waste. Please don't put any water in the can, engines don't run well with water in the carb bowl.
2. Fill it with petrol.
3. Get on with your life.
The tiny amount of diesel that will be left inside the can after emptying it on the bonfire diluted in 20 litres of unleaded will have precisely no effect on an internal combustion engine. If you are a naturally cautious man, you could rinse the empty can between step 1 and step 2 with a small amount of petrol, but IMO it's a waste of money and effort. If it was my can, I'd dilute it further with more petrol so it reaches about 20% diesel/80% petrol and use it in the lawnmower, but I'm poor and don't like waste. Please don't put any water in the can, engines don't run well with water in the carb bowl.
We seem to have a divided opinion 
I think I'll buy another jerry can, I usually need more than one when I do a car track day.
kambites said:
I doubt that a tiny trace of diesel (it's not going to be more than about 0.1%) would even hurt a Formula One car, let alone a motocross bike.
Ironically formula 1 engines do far more miles than motocross bikes between rebuilds. I'm not suggesting for a second a 250 thumper is in a higher state of tune than an F1 engine, but the manual states top end should be rebuilt every 5 rides, which equates to around 7 hours of riding. Gives you an idea of the state of tune of them.I think I'll buy another jerry can, I usually need more than one when I do a car track day.
jon- said:
We seem to have a divided opinion
I think I'll buy another jerry can, I usually need more than one when I do a car track day.
You rebuild the engines every fifth ride, and you are fretting about some potential damage from a percentage of diesel which would be so small as to be hard to measure without expensive lab equipment? kambites said:
I doubt that a tiny trace of diesel (it's not going to be more than about 0.1%) would even hurt a Formula One car, let alone a motocross bike.
Ironically formula 1 engines do far more miles than motocross bikes between rebuilds. I'm not suggesting for a second a 250 thumper is in a higher state of tune than an F1 engine, but the manual states top end should be rebuilt every 5 rides, which equates to around 7 hours of riding. Gives you an idea of the state of tune of them.I think I'll buy another jerry can, I usually need more than one when I do a car track day.
you mention state of tune; what's the BHP per litre, compression ratio, etc?kambites said:
I doubt that a tiny trace of diesel (it's not going to be more than about 0.1%) would even hurt a Formula One car, let alone a motocross bike.
+1I wouldn't waste your time flushing it or buying another can.
Just use the diesel in something and fill with petrol. the tiny amount of diesel left in the can will do no harm to a petrol engine what so ever in any state of tune! I've done it countless times in the past to get out of a fix and never had a problem.
Your right to be cautious but this isn't anything to lose sleep over.
Hope that helps
Are they two or four stroke bikes? I'm guessing 4 since you refer to them as 'thumpers'. If two stroke, don't you add oil to the petrol anyway?
Either way, a trace amount of diesel isn't going to do any harm. I would be surprised if you see even the tiniest hint of blue smoke from your first fill up.
Whatever you do, don't use water, diesel (and petrol) don't dissolve in water, you'll just end up with a messy and contaminated jerry can, which could potentially cause problems with any fuel you put in it afterwards.
Either way, a trace amount of diesel isn't going to do any harm. I would be surprised if you see even the tiniest hint of blue smoke from your first fill up.
Whatever you do, don't use water, diesel (and petrol) don't dissolve in water, you'll just end up with a messy and contaminated jerry can, which could potentially cause problems with any fuel you put in it afterwards.
hidetheelephants said:
You rebuild the engines every fifth ride, and you are fretting about some potential damage from a percentage of diesel which would be so small as to be hard to measure without expensive lab equipment? you mention state of tune; what's the BHP per litre, compression ratio, etc?
They advise you do that, but in reality you rebuild the top end between seasons or when they start losing compression. The compression ratio is around 14:1. you mention state of tune; what's the BHP per litre, compression ratio, etc?They're carbed bikes too, but i guess if diesel isn't any "stickier" than petrol it should flow fine.
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