Can a diesel engine run on gas. .

[dcarman]

This morning tractor was running noisily like a diesel does . I was past empty so I dumped in 5 gallon of fuel. I grabbed a yellow can and dumped it in . . I pretty sure it was diesel in the can but it didn't smell right. Im the only one that fills gas can up so it was me.I did add some diesel winter fuel additive . Since then its running realy rough and knocking and engine noise. smoking way more then normal. So how does a diesel engine react to gas in motor.

Not good! Gas preignites in a diesel engine from the high compression.You can add up to about 10% gas for winter use but any more can quickly ruin the engine. You may get such things as bent rods and blown pistons, not a recommended thing to do.

 

[northcreek2624]

Military truck engines are multi-fuel, they are primarily Diesel but can be run on gasoline or anything else that burns. Not sure what the engineering is behind that or if it damages anything internal but, hey!..if a enemy tank is on your ass, who cares.

 

[GB540]

While older diesels were more forgiving for small amounts of gas for anti-gel purposes, you really don't want gas of any kind in diesel fuel. This is especially true in a newer common-rail engine (Tier 3 and up). At minimum you're flirting with a $10,000+ non-warranty repair.

Story: A workplace crew had dumped some gas into a rental aerial lift, and the foreman begged me to tell him it was ok to top the machine of with diesel and everything would be fine. I told him absolutely NOT, and the fuel in the machine had to come out. He calmed down after I explained the machine WILL stall with a guy in the air, plus his job would be paying for a new engine, and it'd be easier to avoid all that...

 

[LouNY]

That page looks to be clickbait, 10 or more ads per inch of text, with no real value. Thanks anyhow.

Very few ads when I clicked on it.

Many years ago before the abundance of additives it was a common practice to add a bit of gas to the diesel in the winter.
It was the recommended way but often a cold snap would catch people before the right blend of Kerosene and diesel was delivered.
And on gelled up systems gas was the 911 of the day.
Did it ruin some engines? I'm would not be surprised, but most owners were pretty careful of how much gas got put in that expensive motor.

 

[Bavarian]

Just because a certain diesel engine can run on gas doesn't mean any other can do too.

 

[T J]

This morning tractor was running noisily like a diesel does . I was past empty so I dumped in 5 gallon of fuel. I grabbed a yellow can and dumped it in . . I pretty sure it was diesel in the can but it didn't smell right. Im the only one that fills gas can up so it was me.I did add some diesel winter fuel additive . Since then its running realy rough and knocking and engine noise. smoking way more then normal. So how does a diesel engine react to gas in motor.

The best advice is to drain the sustem and put in the correct fuel. The old Cat engines would run on most any, including buttermilk. Yes, buttermilk. However, the newer egines ca't run on gas without harm, no exceptions.

 

[joe48]

Yeah , if it's an md

A Farmall MD only starts on gasoline and warms up then switches to diesel. Just like all diesels if you run gas through the injectors and pump you'll be in for a VERY big repair bill.!!

 

[cullenskink]

Diesel nozzles at truck stops tend to be BIG...better flow to fill big tanks faster.

Despite what some think, there is not any industry standard for nozzle color.

Ford (maybe others) basically wants to swap out the fuel system...hence the crazy cost. I'm not at all sure if this overkill or not. Some folks seem to do just fine draining the tank and adding ATF with fresh diesel.

If you want to be conservative, don't even turn the key (or push button). Doing so will fire up fuel pumps. Call a tow truck.

I still find it weird that there is no consistent nozzle color in North America. I live in Canada now and sometimes it's yellow or black, never red. in UK, possibly all of europe, there is a consistent color for diesel nozzles across all filling stations. I think it really helps. A simple semi-solution to the problem.

 

[cullenskink]

Military truck engines are multi-fuel, they are primarily Diesel but can be run on gasoline or anything else that burns. Not sure what the engineering is behind that or if it damages anything internal but, hey!..if a enemy tank is on your ass, who cares.

That's probably because they don't have to meet any environmental standards. I bet they could run on peanut oil, the original diesel fuel

 

[KingBubba]

A word of caution for all vehicles, gas or diesel. Letting a fuel tank run down to the bottom is not advisable for any vehicle because detritus that has gathered in the bottom from over the years of sediment in the fuel delivery tanks at fuel stations, is at the bottom of your tank. The little fuel in the tanks slops around a whole lot more than a full tank will and, in doing so, drags more sediment into the fuel and into the fuel lines and into your fuel system. This causes clogs in the lines, carburetors and injectors and causes all around engine problems. Always strive to refill your tanks when they are no less than 1/4 tank full to avoid the introduction of grime and grit into your fuel lines