Accidentally put 4 gallons of diesel in pickup

[rtimgray]

I thought diesel nozzles were to big to fit in a gas filler opening? I can't speak from experience

I don't know how common this is. At one gas station I go to, I know that the diesel nozzle is too big for my (gasoline) truck, because I have tried it. That alone kept me from filling my truck with diesel, simply due to me not paying attention. This is at one of the pumps that has 3 blends of gas and diesel all at the same pump, but the gas and diesel handles are different.

Another station that I go to has their diesel pump on a separate island. The handle that is on the "outside" of the island has a huge nozzle, and I often see concrete trucks and dump trucks filling up there. The handle on the inside of the island has a normal size nozzle. So it probably varies from station to station.

To the OP, I bet you're okay by now. Good luck and take care.

 

[sixdogs]

I thought diesel nozzles were to big to fit in a gas filler opening? I can't speak from experience

At a gas station yes but I have a bulk tank at home. Nozzle is whatever I want it to be.

What I think helped me is that my diesel has two filters on the tank. One is a water block and regular filter combined while the second is a finer mesh filter. Smile at the redundancy but in 30 years I have never cleaned or changed an injector and while I do change my tractor fuel filters, have never had water in one. Plus, I add Stanadyne fuel treatment.

Also what helped, I think, is the 22 gallons of gas to go with the 4 gallons of diesel in the tank and the fact I kept topping it off with gas. If I get away unscathed, as I now think probable, I figure these two things made it possible. I'm now at "dumb plus 350 miles".

 

[Stimw]

So, when the diesel was in there did you have the urge to pass everything in site, brag about how much you can tow and brag about how high your mileage was?????

 

[sixdogs]

So, when the diesel was in there did you have the urge to pass everything in site, brag about how much you can tow and brag about how high your mileage was?????

As a matter of fact, I checked my mileage today (dumb plus 350 +/- miles) and it was unchanged from before.

I did change my oil today because I think I picked up a half quart of something from the diesel. I had synthetic in it and put synthetic back. I hope nothing is wrong there.

 

[Walt 2002]

My only concern would be cat. converter

My Senior Citizen friend got engrossed in talking to a pretty young woman at ajoining pump and put 80 gal of Diesel in his gas motor home on way to Florida. Had to pay to have Diesel pumped out which they kept then pay to fill his tank with gas of course. I would never have told that.

Walt Conner

 

[LD1]

I think you are out of the woods, but keep an eye on your sensors and such. Given the small qty of diesel I dont think you did any serious engine damage. I would not have ran high tests gas though. High test gas is harder to ignite (resists detonation). Basically, high test is "less" explosive. Since diesel is already "less" explosive than gas I would think running high test would have gave more issues with run-ability than 87. But glad it worked out for you.

A quick way to check a cat-convertor is with one of them laser temp sensors. If the pipe AFTER the cat is hotter than the inlet, it is working properly. IF the temp is the same, you probably have blown the guts out. If the inlet is hotter, then you likely are plugging up.

 

[sixdogs]

Thanks, LD1. I'll check the cat out.

In the interim, I've learned a lot and that gas and diesel will easily mix and one doesn't float on top of the other. So each time I add gas I reduce the percentage mix. I don't think I hurt the cat and mechanics with first hand experience say I might have to change the fuel filter but most likely not. No one could recall engine damage because it just won't start with a high enough percentage of diesel.

Diesel into gas is more common than we would think and the problem is that most people just fill an empty tank before they realize the problem. Were this to happen again or in a greater amount, I would siphon out as much as I could (HF has a cheap siphon) and try to get the tank as empty as possible. If the tank has a drain plug that would be better. Anyway, then fill with gas and you're good to go. Change the oil in a week or two and call it good.

Just to be on the safe side I'm still going to knock on wood but I think I'm OK.

 

[Xfaxman]

So, when the diesel was in there did you have the urge to pass everything in site, brag about how much you can tow and brag about how high your mileage was?????

Now that is funny, thanks for a good laugh!

 

[sixdogs]

OK, I'm now 700 miles into this and the vehicle runs fine, has plenty of power and the mileage is the same. It only stumbled a couple of times the first day before I realized what I did. I've kept adding fuel and today ran it out of fuel and then filled the tank. Tank capacity is 26.4 gallons and I'll bet I put that much in it.

What are the thoughts now? I have not done the temp check on the catalytic converter but I have searched online and there is some discussion about it possibly being ruined or plugged or whatever. Beats me but I don't think it could be plugged if I have good acceleration and mileage is the same. Any thoughts on this?


A separate thought is that the oil read about a half quart over where it was after the first day. I changed it right away but does anyone have any thoughts on this or it's cause?

Any advice appreciated.