OT: Petrol in a Diesel Engine RAV4

trashcan2 · 10-07-2007, 09:57 AM

My mate's put petrol in his RAV4 diesel engine - filled right to the brim and driven 5 odd miles...smells weird, anyone know what the likely bill is?

Will insurance cover it>

Thanks for thoughts...

SMOKE EM IF U GOT EM!! · 10-07-2007, 10:10 AM

I'm pretty sure ins. won't cover it, sucks! Sorry to hear that!

mjh93sa · 10-07-2007, 10:30 AM

I don't think Insurance will cover you friend's negligence.

Potentially he could also be looking at a new engine. Diesel is in itself a lubricant and as such is used to lubricate things like the high pressure fuel pump, whereas petrol will act as a cleaner and strip all lube. You can even get problems with things like fuel lines if they use a rubber that is incompatible with petrol. You can read a lot of examples of people petrol fuelling a diesel years ago, but the modern common rail engines just aren't that tolerant.

See here: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/...7/mfdies27.xml

And buy him one of these : http://www.netparts.co.uk/store/inde...FQQdEgodqHQm2Q

trashcan2 · 10-07-2007, 11:17 AM

ouch....some better news would be nice..

it was weird how it happened; the diesel cover wouldn't work because he was at the pump on one side and it was out of order so he drove round to the other side - same place and expected it to be diesel too

lot on his mind unfortunately.

SoYank · 10-07-2007, 11:58 AM

Even more on his mind now.

mjh93sa · 10-07-2007, 12:29 PM

It's one of those things that it pays to be paranoid about. Even after more than four years of diesels I still check about 3 times that I've got the diesel pump and it's displaying a hideous figure per litre before starting to pump.

creepy coupe · 10-08-2007, 08:01 AM

I would have thought fully comp will cover it, after all driving your car into someone else is no less negligent IMO.

Serjames · 10-08-2007, 08:19 AM

listen if 5 miles is all he's driven and he's quick a drain of the tank MIGHT, and I repeat MIGHT still save the day.

If there was enough diesel in the fuel pump and line to the injectors he may not have even drawn petrol from the tank.

Twill still need stripping to check, but I DOUBT at 5 miles of steady driving any major damage has been done, If it had it wouldn't run right ?

Massive overcompression detonation etc ?

Not sure about the long term lubricant stripping aspect though...

Either way will be a headache, but a rav 4 diesel refurb should be easy to source ?

Still bad news I'm afraid, but not irretrievable

SJ

trashcan2 · 10-09-2007, 04:39 PM

all turned out okay, after a drain and £200 his car is running fine...phew!!

mjh93sa · 10-09-2007, 04:53 PM

Lucky man. though as james says you can't really predict the long term effects. He just might want to move forward the time that he changes it.

Serjames · 10-09-2007, 04:56 PM

whew...

lucky he stopped when he did !

SJ

* p.s. any petrol drivers out there with visions of mixing in diesel would NOT be so lucky !!

10-07-2007, 09:57 AM	#1
trashcan2 Enlisted Member 4 Rep 46 Posts Drives: BMW 325d SE Auto Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: UK iTrader: (0)	OT: Petrol in a Diesel Engine RAV4 My mate's put petrol in his RAV4 diesel engine - filled right to the brim and driven 5 odd miles...smells weird, anyone know what the likely bill is? Will insurance cover it> Thanks for thoughts...
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10-07-2007, 10:10 AM	#2
SMOKE EM IF U GOT EM!! Lieutenant Colonel 219 Rep 1,795 Posts Drives: 06' E90 330, 20' F97 X3m Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: L.I, NY iTrader: (1) Garage List 2006 330i SPORT [7.34]	I'm pretty sure ins. won't cover it, sucks! Sorry to hear that! __________________ LIVE FAST..DRIVE FASTER!!
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10-07-2007, 10:30 AM	#3
mjh93sa Major General 148 Rep 5,080 Posts Drives: 530d Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Gloucestershire iTrader: (0) Garage List 2012 BMW M135i [10.00] 2011 Mini Countryma ... [5.50]	I don't think Insurance will cover you friend's negligence. Potentially he could also be looking at a new engine. Diesel is in itself a lubricant and as such is used to lubricate things like the high pressure fuel pump, whereas petrol will act as a cleaner and strip all lube. You can even get problems with things like fuel lines if they use a rubber that is incompatible with petrol. You can read a lot of examples of people petrol fuelling a diesel years ago, but the modern common rail engines just aren't that tolerant. See here: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/...7/mfdies27.xml And buy him one of these : http://www.netparts.co.uk/store/inde...FQQdEgodqHQm2Q __________________ Gone: Fiesta - Focus - E46 320dSE - E91 330dMSport - E82 135iMSport - R55 JCW Clubman - M135i Now: 530d
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10-07-2007, 11:17 AM	#4
trashcan2 Enlisted Member 4 Rep 46 Posts Drives: BMW 325d SE Auto Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: UK iTrader: (0)	ouch....some better news would be nice.. it was weird how it happened; the diesel cover wouldn't work because he was at the pump on one side and it was out of order so he drove round to the other side - same place and expected it to be diesel too lot on his mind unfortunately.
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10-07-2007, 11:58 AM	#5
SoYank Major General 576 Rep 7,519 Posts Drives: 2009 E90 335i MT Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Vinton, Virginia iTrader: (1) Garage List 2009 BMW E90 335i S ... [9.00]	Even more on his mind now. __________________ **2009 E90 335i Montego Blue · Black Leather · Burl Walnut · 6MT · US Spec** SatNav • ZPP • ZCW • 6FL • TPMS • iDrive • PDC • HWS • Xenons • BMW Assist • Power Rear Sunshade • Logic 7 European Taillights • Rear Foglamp • OEM Alarm • PicoTray • DataToys XM-DVR • Multi-view Processor Quaife ATB LSD • Short Shift Knob • Hartge Anti-Roll Bars • AP Racing Front Brakes • 19" Style 269
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10-07-2007, 12:29 PM	#6
mjh93sa Major General 148 Rep 5,080 Posts Drives: 530d Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Gloucestershire iTrader: (0) Garage List 2012 BMW M135i [10.00] 2011 Mini Countryma ... [5.50]	It's one of those things that it pays to be paranoid about. Even after more than four years of diesels I still check about 3 times that I've got the diesel pump and it's displaying a hideous figure per litre before starting to pump. __________________ Gone: Fiesta - Focus - E46 320dSE - E91 330dMSport - E82 135iMSport - R55 JCW Clubman - M135i Now: 530d
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10-08-2007, 08:01 AM	#7
creepy coupe Lieutenant General 1820 Rep 13,043 Posts Drives: BMW M340I G20 Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: UK iTrader: (2) Garage List 2015 BMW 435d [0.00] 2009 335i [0.00]	I would have thought fully comp will cover it, after all driving your car into someone else is no less negligent IMO.
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10-08-2007, 08:19 AM	#8
Serjames Colonel 129 Rep 2,426 Posts Drives: E93 335i M-sport Join Date: May 2007 Location: Surrey - UK iTrader: (0) Garage List 2007 E93 335i M Spo ... [0.00] 2003 Nissan Primera S [0.00]	listen if 5 miles is all he's driven and he's quick a drain of the tank MIGHT, and I repeat MIGHT still save the day. If there was enough diesel in the fuel pump and line to the injectors he may not have even drawn petrol from the tank. Twill still need stripping to check, but I DOUBT at 5 miles of steady driving any major damage has been done, If it had it wouldn't run right ? Massive overcompression detonation etc ? Not sure about the long term lubricant stripping aspect though... Either way will be a headache, but a rav 4 diesel refurb should be easy to source ? Still bad news I'm afraid, but not irretrievable SJ __________________
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10-09-2007, 04:39 PM	#9
trashcan2 Enlisted Member 4 Rep 46 Posts Drives: BMW 325d SE Auto Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: UK iTrader: (0)	all turned out okay, after a drain and £200 his car is running fine...phew!!
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10-09-2007, 04:53 PM	#10
mjh93sa Major General 148 Rep 5,080 Posts Drives: 530d Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Gloucestershire iTrader: (0) Garage List 2012 BMW M135i [10.00] 2011 Mini Countryma ... [5.50]	Lucky man. though as james says you can't really predict the long term effects. He just might want to move forward the time that he changes it. __________________ Gone: Fiesta - Focus - E46 320dSE - E91 330dMSport - E82 135iMSport - R55 JCW Clubman - M135i Now: 530d
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10-09-2007, 04:56 PM	#11
Serjames Colonel 129 Rep 2,426 Posts Drives: E93 335i M-sport Join Date: May 2007 Location: Surrey - UK iTrader: (0) Garage List 2007 E93 335i M Spo ... [0.00] 2003 Nissan Primera S [0.00]	whew... lucky he stopped when he did ! SJ * p.s. any petrol drivers out there with visions of mixing in diesel would NOT be so lucky !! __________________
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