Unleaded in a diesel E39.

[gazm3]

The wife has just put £20 of unleaded in her E39 derv.
Ran it until it stalled. The tank probably needs draining, new fuel filter. And Hopefully it will fire up

Anyone with experience of such a problem,women!

[march109]

Maxfield has

I've rescued many a friend/family member (normally female) in the same situation, I have a quick fix which doesn't involve towing, but I won't state it here for fear of being done for improper disposal of diesel.

Lent the girlfriend my derv countless times that once she was used to it she has also attempted to put derv in the TT too.

[78dude]

Was the tank empty when your wife filled up the car with £20 of unleaded fuel?
I had a lot of that problem in my young days when I worked at Europcar, customer filled up desel in petrol cars etc.... Some times just to fill the rest of the tank with diesel can help....

[gazm3]

Tank was empty, Im hoping no damage to the engine or fuel pump?.

[78dude]

oki, well Im not an expert but if I was you I think I would just fill the rest with petrol and just let it blend with the diesel and just drive it empty again and then fill it up.... Fuel pump should be okay I supose?

[patrick85]

What's derv??

[maxfield]

You can do with that on petrols if you fill up with diesel, but not the other way round.

Diesels work on such precise timing, it can really bollocks it up. I think the fuel pump will be OK. But only time will tell.

[tomtomiS]

as far as i know it might cost you dearly, im told the fuel system will need overhauling, new injectors and suchlike. not trying to scare you, but modern diesels REALLY dont like petrol

[gazm3]

I may be lucky, because its not a modern modern diesel. S reg not a higher pressurised tank. If it was a new car it would f00ked the engine etc. 2001 onwards aparently?.

[Jhonno]

diesel is also used as a lubricant in the fuel system i believe..

I thought some petrol in a diesel was fine, its been used in very cold climates to lower the freezing point of diesel to stop it freezing in the tank

[oze30]

diesel is also used as a lubricant in the fuel system i believe..

I thought some petrol in a diesel was fine, its been used in very cold climates to lower the freezing point of diesel to stop it freezing in the tank

They use this mix for arctic/frozen temps running. It makes a lower freezing point, so less likely to freeze inthe lines.

Derv engines run silly compression (similar to an RC glow engine) Its the compression of the cumbustion that keeps the fuel burning. That's why deisels used to have to wait for the glow plugs to heat uop to start the initial burn, then the pressure of the compression stroke does the rest, igniting it.

Well that's how I was told about deisel workings!

[march109]

diesel is also used as a lubricant in the fuel system i believe..

I thought some petrol in a diesel was fine, its been used in very cold climates to lower the freezing point of diesel to stop it freezing in the tank

They use this mix for arctic/frozen temps running. It makes a lower freezing point, so less likely to freeze inthe lines.

Derv engines run silly compression (similar to an RC glow engine) Its the compression of the cumbustion that keeps the fuel burning. That's why deisels used to have to wait for the glow plugs to heat uop to start the initial burn, then the pressure of the compression stroke does the rest, igniting it.

Well that's how I was told about deisel workings!

You are correct sir.

Diesel engines are compression engines rather than petrol engines being combustion engines, this is why petrol engines reguire constant electrical input and diesels do not and also how diesels produce more torque.

The compression, torque and lack of continual electrical input characteristics are also the reasons why diesel engines are used in submarines. But engines operating above the water line such as outboard motors are more commonly petrol engines.

[topspark]

Just spoke to my brother about your dilemma, He is a diesel fitter at MAN/ERF trucks.

He reckons you will be ok , but follow these steps first.

Drain as much diesel out of the tanks as poss.

Drain filter housing of all petrol and replace the filter.

Fill filter housing with diesel

crack all injector lines at the injectors and crank over until all petrol is dispelled. (preferably into rags)

Refit all lines to injectors and hope for the best. My brother says that you may have got away with not wrecking your pump. The perol has no lubricating qualities as diesel does . So you may of trashed the bearings in the pump.

good luck

lee

[bilun777]

Just spoke to my brother about your dilemma, He is a diesel fitter at MAN/ERF trucks.

He reckons you will be ok , but follow these steps first.

Drain as much diesel out of the tanks as poss.

Drain filter housing of all petrol and replace the filter.

Fill filter housing with diesel

crack all injector lines at the injectors and crank over until all petrol is dispelled. (preferably into rags)

Refit all lines to injectors and hope for the best. My brother says that you may have got away with not wrecking your pump. The perol has no lubricating qualities as diesel does . So you may of trashed the bearings in the pump.

good luck

lee

Ditto .......My wife and bro in law both put petrol in merc E class and S class 320's ( me in my focus tdci )....All survived O.K...

[patrick85]

Still don't know what derv means, but I work in a ford bmw mitsubishi dealer and mis fuelling problems come in nearly everyday in various cars right up to brand new ones and I have yet to see any damage being done.

I do know a guy who let diesel drain out of a 03 corolla while it was on the back of a recovery truck as he was driving along the road. When he got back to the garage he filled up with petrol and left it running and went back into the garage. He heard a bang and went out to find the car and truck on fire. Apparently the cat got so hot it set the diesel on fire and the corolla was no more.

WHAT'S DERV???

[Jhonno]

diesel

[march109]

DERV = Diesel Engine Road Vehicle

[patrick85]

Why do you call it derv

[march109]

as above its an acronym for diesel engined road vehicle!!

DERV desribes the vehicle rather than the fuel, though its usually understood that DERV is also short hand for diesel too. the term DERV came about because diesel (or heavy oil) engines were invented primarily to replace steam power in tractors, stationary engines and trains. It was not used in road going vehicles until many years after petrol engine vehicles had allready been in popular use (mainly due to the fact the first ngines were mahussive). so DERV not only distinguished the vehicle from petrol going passenger vehicles but other types of diesel engined vehicles.

Busch, the family that own Budvar/Budweiser beer installed a diesel engine in his brewery in America many many years before you saw them used on the road or in ships and submarines.

[fozzymandeus]

They needed to be huge, I assume, to cope with the large forces at work due to the compression ignition. This is why diesel engines tend to be heavier than their petrol counterparts.

[Ian_M]

So could you call a petrol car PERV?

[oze30]

So could you call a petrol car PERV?

March, are you quoting wiki again???

[Jeepster]

I think you can only get away with it if your very lucky.

As stated above the proper way of dealing with it is to drain the system and overhaul it all. Seals can be damaged and all sorts. My old man did this to a 97 C Class, it got drained and most parts replaced, but it never ran the same again, idle was erratic and power was well down.

[march109]

So could you call a petrol car PERV?

March, are you quoting wiki again???

Nope, I have a boat too. Seems a wierd way to know about compression engines but there you are. I also have owned more than one DERV in my lifetime with my current one being a 200,000+ mile turbo diesel 405 estate with optional headgasket

And I've also been to busch gardens (owned by the budeiser company!) in Florida and tried the free beer in the visitor centre and seen the engine I've mentioned.

[maxfield]

I never knew the way diesel engines worked until I did it at college. Just thought it worked the same as petrol

[fozzymandeus]

I never knew how they worked until I had to teach it.

[Jhonno]

Well ive known how they work for a long while now

[patrick85]

I think you can only get away with it if your very lucky.

I think you're extremely unlucky if you don't get away with it.

[murran]

I never knew the way diesel engines worked until I did it at college. Just thought it worked the same as petrol

thats what i thought til i did it at college! very different principles tho. not going into it here!!
but the newer common rail diesel engines are the most like petrol engines, but alot of diesel engine tech and principals can be seen in newer petrols too like the vag "fsi" lean burn petrol engines.

[gazm3]

I got away with it, my wallet is £250 lighter.

I have to get £250 worth from the wife now.

[march109]

Just don't ask for vouchers so you can shop elsewhere!

[Jhonno]

Just don't ask for vouchers so you can shop elsewhere!