Filled my CRD up with GAS NO NO NO! HELP

welsh dragon · **Posted:** Thu Apr 24, 2008 12:01 pm

filled up with Gas by mistake - but did drive about 10 meters - in the repair shop now. Whats the best way to drain!

tonycrd · **Posted:** Thu Apr 24, 2008 12:17 pm

Drop the fuel tank. If not they cannot get everything out. Change the fuel filter!

dgeist · **Posted:** Thu Apr 24, 2008 12:26 pm

welsh dragon wrote:

filled up with Gas by mistake - but did drive about 10 meters - in the repair shop now. Whats the best way to drain!

Well, the trick is not so much how to drain but what to do with it. You can siphon the fuel out into any appropriate container till you most of it removed, then drop the tank (just like it sounds) and remove the fuel level sending unit/cables. Drain the last bits of it out with gravity, then rinse the inside out with some clean diesel (again, draining with your friend gravity). Depending on where you live, you might have govt location you can dump this type waste. I personally would have to pay a haz-mat company for disposal, so when I drained a tank on my other vehicle because of some really low octane crap I bought, I just kept it and blended it in the lawn/garden tools. I'll bet 2-cycle engines wouldn't mind a bit if there were some diesel in the mix...

Once you have the tank out, I'd disconnect the fuel lines at the filter head and use some gentile air pressure to blow the petrol out of the feeder lines (remember to put the other end in a jar or something) and try the let the engine-facing line drain downward. Let everything try out at least a few hours (since trace amounts of petrol will evaporate for the most). Let the filter head drain as well and put on a new filter.

If you went far enough that the engine started to sputter or sound really bad, I'd let a pro or someone who's done it before evacuate any materials from the high-pressure pump and fuel rail.

After this is all done, I'd try placing the sending unit in a tall jar with enough diesel to cover the inner workings and keep the engine return line separate until you know anything in it has been flushed (probably a few ounces worth, not much). Prime the head and start-er up. After you know the return tube has been flushed you can put it into that jar.

Once you know the engine is running well, and you have cleaned out the fuel tank, put everything back together and add a gallon or two. Prime again and start-er-up. Once you feel like it's running satisfactorily, fill up the tank. Any leftover badness will be diluted to be "less-bad" with a full tank of clean fuel.

welsh dragon · **Posted:** Thu Apr 24, 2008 12:32 pm

Isn't there an anti theft device in the filler neck to prevent siphoning?

dgeist · **Posted:** Thu Apr 24, 2008 12:54 pm

welsh dragon wrote:

Isn't there an anti theft device in the filler neck to prevent siphoning?

Some people claim to not have one. It's worth a check. You can always loosen the tank-side and slip something in from there.

tonycrd · **Posted:** Thu Apr 24, 2008 1:37 pm

dgeist, great write up. That's what I ment, just a bit to busy

welsh dragon · **Posted:** Thu Apr 24, 2008 1:54 pm

Thanks for advice guys... i'll let you know how I get on.....

msilbernagel · **Posted:** Thu Apr 24, 2008 3:01 pm

Gas... pahtoooooey!

Great advice above, but try not to worry about small amounts lingering - it can handle upwards of 25-30% gas in the mix and still run. The fuel pump (CP3) purportedly has a protective coating to prevent damage from low-lubricity fuels (such as when gas gets in). Once you get through the purge, it should come out of it unscathed.

We're pullin' for ya!

welsh dragon wrote:

Thanks for advice guys... i'll let you know how I get on.....

Fulltimer · **Posted:** Thu Apr 24, 2008 3:15 pm

Put a lit match by the filler tube to burn off any fumes! :shock:

= That is just a joke!

Terry

panda-52 · **Posted:** Thu Apr 24, 2008 8:12 pm

This is not as bad as you may fear. I (or rather my wife and daughters) have done this twice so far. It is not necessary to drop the tank. If you pull the fuel line coming from the tank at the filter head, you can siphon almost all the gas from the fuel tank. You may need a mitty-vac to start the siphon. If you don't own one of these it's a perfect excuse to increase your tool set. It will take several hours if it was a complete fill up to drain the tank this way. Then fill the tank up completely with fresh diesel. The first time this happened my CRD wasn't started and I did not change the filter. The second time it was driven until it stopped (about 1 mile) and that time I did change the filter. I worried about the common rail being full of almost 100% gas since it was on reserve when it was filled. Even so, it started immediately and ran like a champ. If possible I would never take it to the dealer or let them know this has happened as your vehicle will be forever branded as being "mis-fueled".

You will not be able to get a good siphon through the fuel filler tube. If you drain it completely this way and fill it up with fresh diesel your percentage of gas will be very low and it will not be a problem. I agree that your biggest problem will be getting rid of the gas/diesel mix you drain. I ran it in my lawn mower, tractor and mixed in my pickup truck all last summer. There have been posts about this before. Even if you do decide to drop the tank you will need to get the gas out before you try to remove it, as a full tank is surprisingly heavy.

Good luck.

kelticknight · **Posted:** Thu Apr 24, 2008 9:36 pm

i know a guy who put gas in his diesel toyota pickup,did have a proble
also know that grease monkeys put a little gas in diesel before it get MOT tested
so wouldnt worry

welsh dragon · **Posted:** Wed Apr 30, 2008 1:03 pm

Got my Jeep back the next day - tank dropped and cleaned fuel system also cleaned and diesel conditioner added at a cost of £70. Running as sweet as ever!

PS Cheers msilbernagel made me feel a little better at the time

IT LIVES!

kelticknight · **Posted:** Wed Apr 30, 2008 1:07 pm

this seems to happen alot from what im hearing

jaab · **Joined:** Tue Sep 19, 2006 8:16 am **Posts:** 1

Hi Everyone

I am new here.. have been to busy and have never posted before..

proud owner of a 2006 CRD Limited.

This thread reminded me of this VW Commercial

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ow0a06gsiF4

Cheers

Jose

kelticknight · **Posted:** Thu May 01, 2008 10:24 pm

welcome
funny doe

Filled my CRD up with GAS NO NO NO! HELP

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