OT: Petrol in a Diesel Engine RAV4 - BMW 3-Series (E90 E92) Forum

trashcan2 · 10-07-2007, 10:57 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, 11:10 AM

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

mjh93sa · 10-07-2007, 11:30 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, 12:17 PM

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, 12:58 PM

Even more on his mind now.

mjh93sa · 10-07-2007, 01:29 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, 09:01 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, 09:19 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, 05:39 PM

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

mjh93sa · 10-09-2007, 05:53 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, 05:56 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, 10:57 AM	#1
trashcan2 Enlisted Member Drives: BMW 325d SE Auto Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: UK Posts: 46 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...

10-07-2007, 11:10 AM	#2
SMOKE EM IF U GOT EM!! Captain Drives: 06 330I SPORT Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: NASSAU NY Posts: 640 iTrader: (1) View SMOKE EM IF U GOT EM!!'s Garage	I'm pretty sure ins. won't cover it, sucks! Sorry to hear that! __________________ LIVE FAST..DRIVE FASTER!!

10-07-2007, 11:30 AM	#3
mjh93sa Brigadier General Drives: 135i MSport Coupe Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Gloucestershire Posts: 3,985 iTrader: (0) View mjh93sa's Garage	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 __________________ ///*MSport TiAg 135i 6AT * Black Leather * ProNav * BT * Voice * HiFi + 6FL * Adaptive Xenon * Full PDC * AutoDim Mirrors * Butt Warmers**

10-07-2007, 12:58 PM	#5
SoYank Major General Drives: 2009 E90 335i MT Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Between here and gone Posts: 6,777 iTrader: (1) View SoYank's Garage	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 • 18" Style 193M • Short Shift Knob • Hartge Anti-Roll Bars • AP Racing Front Brakes

10-07-2007, 01:29 PM	#6
mjh93sa Brigadier General Drives: 135i MSport Coupe Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Gloucestershire Posts: 3,985 iTrader: (0) View mjh93sa's Garage	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. __________________ ///*MSport TiAg 135i 6AT * Black Leather * ProNav * BT * Voice * HiFi + 6FL * Adaptive Xenon * Full PDC * AutoDim Mirrors * Butt Warmers**

10-07-2007, 12:17 PM	#4
trashcan2 Enlisted Member Drives: BMW 325d SE Auto Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: UK Posts: 46 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.

10-08-2007, 09:01 AM	#7
creepy coupe Colonel Drives: 335i Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: UK Posts: 2,500 iTrader: (0) View creepy coupe's Garage	I would have thought fully comp will cover it, after all driving your car into someone else is no less negligent IMO.

10-08-2007, 09:19 AM	#8
Serjames Colonel Drives: E93 335i M-sport Join Date: May 2007 Location: Surrey - UK Posts: 2,416 iTrader: (0) View Serjames's Garage	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 __________________

10-09-2007, 05:39 PM	#9
trashcan2 Enlisted Member Drives: BMW 325d SE Auto Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: UK Posts: 46 iTrader: (0)	all turned out okay, after a drain and £200 his car is running fine...phew!!

10-09-2007, 05:53 PM	#10
mjh93sa Brigadier General Drives: 135i MSport Coupe Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Gloucestershire Posts: 3,985 iTrader: (0) View mjh93sa's Garage	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. __________________ ///*MSport TiAg 135i 6AT * Black Leather * ProNav * BT * Voice * HiFi + 6FL * Adaptive Xenon * Full PDC * AutoDim Mirrors * Butt Warmers**

10-09-2007, 05:56 PM	#11
Serjames Colonel Drives: E93 335i M-sport Join Date: May 2007 Location: Surrey - UK Posts: 2,416 iTrader: (0) View Serjames's Garage	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 !! __________________