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I made a really stupid mistake earlier tonight. I was at a gas station refueling my 2009 Nissan Altima (2.5L 4-cylinder engine). I stupidly selected the only option that was available at the pump which was biodiesel fuel. Before I filled up the car, it had about a quarter tank of unleaded gas left. I filled it up to about 3/4 of a tank with the biodiesel fuel. So now the car has 1/4 unleaded fuel and maybe 1/2 tank of biodiesel fuel. I drove the car for a total of maybe 20 minutes between the time I left the station and when I got home. After 5-10 minutes of driving my car started acting a little weird and thought at first it was something else. Then later I realized I put the wrong type of fuel in the car! Ugh!
There is a gas station just down the street from where I am (a 5 minute drive at the most). I was able to drive around without too much trouble before I came home but it did start acting weird. I read that if you top it off with unleaded fuel then it should "dilute" the diesel fuel. As I keep driving, I should keep topping it off with more unleaded fuel. I still have a little more than a quarter tank to fill the car with right now. Is this even a viable option at this point? I have a AAA membership but they told me that all they will cover is the cost of towing the car to a repair shop and then will probably be paying at least $500 in repairs if not more (from what I've read). What are my options at this point? Thanks!
Half a tank? I doubt you're diluting that. I'm shocked you made it 20 minutes of driving. And.. How did you manage to fill it? The nozzles are supposed to be different sizes.. The diesel being larger than the hole on your filler neck..
Have it towed and have the tank drained. Then fill it up.. You will likely be fine..
You could probably drive it to the station, but.. If AAA is going to cover the tow.. Have it towed. Better than not making it to the station and still having to get the tow.
In theory, it is possible to 'drive it out'.. But.. I don't think I'd go that route.. You know you've already got some in your system by it running rought.. Draining the tank, possibly changing the fuel filter.. Maybe run a bottle of injector cleaner through. Think that'd be my route.
You're not going to drive the diesel out of it, the engine won't last long enough. You need to have it towed to an ASE shop and have them drain the tank, flush the injection system and hope like crazy you didn't contaminate the cats. If you did, the bill will be over a grand. The probabilities are high you'll have to replace the exhaust manifold from being cracked, the pre-cat, and the cat.
Half a tank? I doubt you're diluting that. I'm shocked you made it 20 minutes of driving. And.. How did you manage to fill it? The nozzles are supposed to be different sizes.. The diesel being larger than the hole on your filler neck..
Have it towed and have the tank drained. Then fill it up.. You will likely be fine..
You could probably drive it to the station, but.. If AAA is going to cover the tow.. Have it towed. Better than not making it to the station and still having to get the tow.
In theory, it is possible to 'drive it out'.. But.. I don't think I'd go that route.. You know you've already got some in your system by it running rought.. Draining the tank, possibly changing the fuel filter.. Maybe run a bottle of injector cleaner through. Think that'd be my route.
I can't explain how I managed to not even notice anything odd while I was at that gas station. I was just not even thinking straight. Anyway, will the repair shop only drain the tank? How much does that usually cost?
The nozzles are supposed to be different sizes.. The diesel being larger than the hole on your filler neck..
Usually but I don't think that's law, I've seen a lot of diesel nozzles using the smaller version. The smaller nozzle for unleaded came about when they switched from leaded gas.
You don't need fuel injector cleaner -- it will just add to the contamination and serve no purpose. Residual diesel will mix with gasoline. Siphon everything you can out of the tank and then fill the tank all the way. By the second fillup it should be running 100% normally again.
If you can't get it to fire on all cylinders after filling with gasoline, replace spark plugs which might be fouled.
If you run it to the point where it will not start, you will have to remove a fuel line and cycle the key to keep turning on the electric fuel pump until diesel is purged and you are getting mostly gasoline through the fuel line.
I am also surprised if it still starts and runs on 75% biodiesel.
Diesel won't do your catalytic converter and oxygen sensors any favors, but they will probably survive. But don't press your luck and continue to try to run the motor. Best not to try and start it again until the diesel is greatly diluted. Check engine light will go off by itself in a couple of days, or possibly not until the second tankful of legitimate fuel comes through, or the light can be reset.
This from a repair shop owner who has done this himself, and seen it a few times.
Sad to say, I have heard of quotes for replacing fuel filter, all injectors, fuel pump, fuel lines, etc. etc. when this happens. These things are not in any way necessary and are either ignorant or attempted thievery.
I made a really stupid mistake earlier tonight. I was at a gas station refueling my 2009 Nissan Altima (2.5L 4-cylinder engine). I stupidly selected the only option that was available at the pump which was biodiesel fuel. Before I filled up the car, it had about a quarter tank of unleaded gas left. I filled it up to about 3/4 of a tank with the biodiesel fuel. So now the car has 1/4 unleaded fuel and maybe 1/2 tank of biodiesel fuel. I drove the car for a total of maybe 20 minutes between the time I left the station and when I got home. After 5-10 minutes of driving my car started acting a little weird and thought at first it was something else. Then later I realized I put the wrong type of fuel in the car! Ugh!
There is a gas station just down the street from where I am (a 5 minute drive at the most). I was able to drive around without too much trouble before I came home but it did start acting weird. I read that if you top it off with unleaded fuel then it should "dilute" the diesel fuel. As I keep driving, I should keep topping it off with more unleaded fuel. I still have a little more than a quarter tank to fill the car with right now. Is this even a viable option at this point? I have a AAA membership but they told me that all they will cover is the cost of towing the car to a repair shop and then will probably be paying at least $500 in repairs if not more (from what I've read). What are my options at this point? Thanks!
You MIGHT eventually need a catalytic converter or air-fuel ratio/oxygen sensors -- time will tell. Right now you need to NOT RUN IT ANY MORE until the tank is drained. I can not see "at least $500 in repairs" to drain and refill the tank.
I am a long-time repair shop owner with previous experience with this exact situation a few times.
I never did anything more than drain out all possible fuel, refill, disconnect and purge the fuel line, reconnect the fuel line and drive the vehicle. At this time there is nothing to repair. Gasoline will rinse the diesel from the fuel lines, fuel filter and injectors.
Fill it up completely with gas before starting, cross your fingers and hope for the best.
Worse case here might be fouled plugs, filters, injectors etc so it's not an enormous issue but could be costly if you can't do the work yourself.
"Fouled injectors?" Please explain!
Don in Austin
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