Accidentally put Diesel in my car. Will it be ok??
Posted by Gyuncakes@reddit | askcarguys | View on Reddit | 19 comments
I’m a first time car owner and I believe I may have accidentally put Diesel in my Nissan Sentra 2010 model. The gas pump was green and I unfortunately didn’t realize. I tried jumping it multiple times, recharged the battery at an Auto place, then even bought a new starter. I was wondering where I could tow my car to get the diesel flushed, and if my car is gonna be worth saving. I’m very concerned about this. I was also wondering if anyone could provide a price estimate if I am to have it flushed
Mostly-Useless_4007@reddit
Before you do anything, get a ride to that station. The colors are not universal. Green may mean diesel, but some places use yellow. There is no standard worldwide for the colors. Check to see what you really put in. Diesel pumps are wider than gas so you should not have been able to put it into your car.
imprl59@reddit
Why were you fucking with the battery and starter if you think there was diesel in the engine? Makes no sense...
IllMasterpiece5610@reddit
This again? Didn’t I reply yesterday? I’m pretty sure you didn’t put diesel in; diesel nozzles are bigger and won’t fit into a gasoline car’s filler. You mentioned using a green nozzle too; diesel is usually a yellow nozzle.
Gunk_Olgidar@reddit
Find a shop and tell them what happened. They will need to drop and drain the tank and clean out the fuel system, pull the intake manifold, remove the and clean fuel rail and run the injectors on a bench tester -- so make sure they can do all that. Optionally can just replace the injectors instead of bench testing (trade parts $ for labor $ should be about the same).
Worst case they may also pull plugs and clean out the cylinders if they flooded really badly during all that cranking... not incrementally huge money because they're already going to be there doing the injectors and plugs are adjacent.
Should be about $1000 plus any needed parts, depending on the labor market. The service writer at the shop can give you an estimate plus some "what ifs" they may find along the way.
sporkmanhands@reddit
How’s the diesel pump even fit in your intake? What?
Gyuncakes@reddit (OP)
Should have assumed from that, that it wasn’t to correct fuel.
KeeganY_SR-UVB76@reddit
So it didn’t fit? Did you just hold it against the fuel filler to get it “in enough”?
Gunk_Olgidar@reddit
Just the tip.
saggywitchtits@reddit
My younger brother did this once to a Toyota Corolla. We're guessing they used non regulation nozzles for the diesel. From then on he got the nickname Diesel.
Substantial-Set-8981@reddit
back in the day i filled my entire gas tank with diesel, I put in some octane booster and drove it all day. once it got lower, i put in higher octane gas until it was all gone, and the car ran and drove the best since putting the diesel in it.
That-Resort2078@reddit
No. Drain the rank and flush the fuel system.
ShoddyMain893@reddit
Diesel in a gas is way less worry some then gas in a diesel. That being said, was your car empty when you put diesel in? Did you fill it, or just top it off?
Gyuncakes@reddit (OP)
I just added onto it. It was only 15 dollars worth of it. The car ran until I’d assume the diesel fuel entered the rest
ShoddyMain893@reddit
The car stalled? The ratio is too high to continue driving, I would do as others recommended. Unfortunate mistake.
Gyuncakes@reddit (OP)
Yes exactly that! Thankyou for the help.
XtraChrisP@reddit
They mixed immediately. Have it towed to a shop and pay to have it emptied, and have your fuel system cleaned. From there, you'll know if something else is wrong too.
Gyuncakes@reddit (OP)
Is it urgent?? I’ve read diesel can be lubricating but my insurance cannot cover to tow my car for another 3 days. I can go without a vehicle till then. But I’m worried about further damaged and cost.
XtraChrisP@reddit
Most mechanics would say, if you notice in time, don't start it.
Affectionate_Sort_78@reddit
Your battery or starter wouldn’t be affected, so who knows what’s going on.