DumbKauf!!! Petrol in Diesel Tank 2000NB TDI

[blubugger]

I have had this TDI since 2002 or so [90k miles]...and have never had a mishap or at least a stupid moment filling the tank with diesel...however, this eve I had about 1/4 tank in the TDI...went to the station...and obviously...not thinking...looked down and I had put ~5 gallons of gas [ie not the green hose bib]...so, angry with my stupidity, I got the car home [towed by the beloved wifey] without starting or running.. then siphoned about 8-9 gallons of mixed gas/diesel out of the durn thing.
My problem...1) the manual says that the fuel pump operates only when starting or running [which is not the case here] and 2) I have siphoned what I think is 99% of the mix out of the tank. There may be some residue that a 3/8 inch tube cannot get to.
Is removing the tank to get the last bit of mix out an absolute necessity? Can a small amount of gas get thru the system without damage or other?
Anyone else have any experience with this?
signed dumbkauf-Albuquerque.

[DZLBUG]

Happens quite frequently actually. You did well by having it towed and draining it out. No worries about the tiny amount left in the tank. Fill'er up with diesel go-juice and a double dose of Power Service or Stanadyne. This is good stuff to use anyways so I would get in the habit of using it.

[kcfoxie]

I back what DZLBUG says; PS or Stanadyne with a full tank of diesel will set you straight.

[QQQ]

Don't listen to those two. Clearly, you should sell the tdi bug to me for cheap..er I mean..um..oh..yeah...hmm..you know, get that time bomb off your hands.

[blubugger]

thanks to all for the advice...in the end...i remeoved the tank..partly cuz i felt that my stupidity should be rewarded with a plethora of work...and i am kinda curious what detritus is in the bottom of the tank after 90k miles.
and...as a side bar...i did have the car for sale on eBay and Craigs for a while...but times are tough...and noone had moolah to give...so i keep it....

again...danka for the reply....

[QQQ]

Originally Posted by blubugger

thanks to all for the advice...in the end...i remeoved the tank..partly cuz i felt that my stupidity should be rewarded with a plethora of work...and i am kinda curious what detritus is in the bottom of the tank after 90k miles.
and...as a side bar...i did have the car for sale on eBay and Craigs for a while...but times are tough...and noone had moolah to give...so i keep it....

again...danka for the reply....

Glad you're keeping. Probably no damage occurred. The ALH motor is a great motor.

[das_tractor02]

Courious....why did you remove the tank?

[DZLBUG]

Originally Posted by das_tractor02

Courious....why did you remove the tank?

Sounds like he is the belt AND suspenders type. There was no need to drop the tank. Any tiny amount in there would be negated by dilution from filling up the tank and by the use of a lubricity additive as recommended.

[simonsi]

30yrs ago truckers would mix petrol with diesel in winter as it kept the fuel moving, 10% would probably do no harm over a single tankful even for a modern engine.

[das_tractor02]

One of my kids put gas in the diesel tank a few weeks back. Could have crowned him king. I, correction he siphoned probably 12 gallons of diesel/gasoline mixture out into 3, 5 gallon buckets by removing the sending unit under the back seat. Then we dried it out using shop rags. Odd thing is, two weeks later I found myself replacing the turbo. I cannot put my finger on the connection between the two incidents, but I'm sure there has to be one. All is well for now......

[DZLBUG]

Originally Posted by simonsi

30yrs ago truckers would mix petrol with diesel in winter as it kept the fuel moving, 10% would probably do no harm over a single tankful even for a modern engine.

Emphasis on the 30 years ago. 30 years ago VW approved the use of gasoline added to the tank with the old school diesels. Its very different now and I would not recommend it for any diesel, simply because its no longer necessary. Diesel fuel standards and anti-gel additives give consistent cold-weather protection. In addition to that, 10% could cause some serious damage to any TDI built in the last 15 years. Injection pumps and injectors require lubrication from the fuel, gasoline does not lubricate. Do it on an 09+ TDI and break out your checkbook. The high pressure fuel pumps on these are prone to failure, particularly if mis-fueled. And once they fail - the entire fuel system requires replacement to the tune of over $6000.

Originally Posted by das_tractor02

Odd thing is, two weeks later I found myself replacing the turbo. I cannot put my finger on the connection between the two incidents, but I'm sure there has to be one.

No connection.

[simonsi]

Originally Posted by DZLBUG

Emphasis on the 30 years ago. 30 years ago VW approved the use of gasoline added to the tank with the old school diesels. Its very different now and I would not recommend it for any diesel, simply because its no longer necessary. Diesel fuel standards and anti-gel additives give consistent cold-weather protection. In addition to that, 10% could cause some serious damage to any TDI built in the last 15 years. Injection pumps and injectors require lubrication from the fuel, gasoline does not lubricate. Do it on an 09+ TDI and break out your checkbook. The high pressure fuel pumps on these are prone to failure, particularly if mis-fueled. And once they fail - the entire fuel system requires replacement to the tune of over $6000.



No connection.

I stated 10% over 1 tankful and I stand by that. You try to run it on gas or run high concentrations continually then sure you´ll get problems but that isn´t what I said.

[HudsonValleyVDub]

I'd bet had you just stopped at the 5 gallons and finished with Diesel, it wouldn't have had any ill effects....may have cleaned some internals....lol.

[blubugger]

actually...i never removed the tank...got tired of trying to position it off to the side...loosened the exhaust etc. etc. took the heat shield off...but in the end...got inside the car...under the back seat..took the metal cover off to get to the fuel assy...removed the fuel lines, the connector and the large ring...pulled the assy out and completely cleaned out all the fluid in the tank...put everything back together...works fine now.

[brents347]

Just throwing this out for an amusing anecdote related to this topic.

I once, in a very bad pinch, put about 4 gallons of gasoline mixed with about 6 quarts of 10/40 motor oil in the tank of my '02 Ford Power Stroke diesel. I had to run it about 20 miles before I was able to fill the tank with 23 gallons of diesel. I have about 20k on the truck since then with absolutely no ill effects.

I got this idea from a friend who once put about 15 gallons of gas into his Dads diesel truck. When he called hometo tell his Dad, Dad said "Walk inside, buy a case of oil, dump it in the tank and get your a** home!". That was an older (early 90's Ford diesel) truck and in no way am I recommending this procedure, but it's funny what you can do when you're in a pinch!

Brent

[kcfoxie]

You can get away with things like that as long as it's not your normal fueling method.

I've put raw veggie oil, auto trans fluid, used motor oil and kerosene in my tank to get me home. Car still runs!

[MyOtherRidesAVette]

Originally Posted by kcfoxie

You can get away with things like that as long as it's not your normal fueling method.

I've put raw veggie oil, auto trans fluid, used motor oil and kerosene in my tank to get me home. Car still runs!

Kerosene shouldn't be a problem for sure. Also called #1 diesel (winter diesel) by our friends to the North! FYI

[kcfoxie]

Yeah I know, the difference is the lubricating properties. D1 (Kero) won't lube the fuel pump and will wear it out faster. D1 mixed into D2 is what we call winterized fuel, which is why D2 prices spike (with D1 pricing) in the winter time. The more you know (TM)