Gas in a diesel- RIP my Sprinter?

[SuperGaper]

Just posted in the Fishshows thread about Sprinter as a daily driver last week.

Well, today my newest employee put 24.5 gallons of gas in my Sprinter, then drove it about
a 1/4 mile.

Now towed to shop, pump out and dispose of said 24.5 gallons of Gas/Diesel mix (tank holds 26 gallons.)

Odds on motor working again? 2006 T1N, 220k on the clock, ran as strong as the day I bought it-
integral to business operations.

Ironically, just traded in a Duramax for an Eco-boost Ford Transit Van and was worried I would put
diesel in the gasser!

Don't worry, cross posted to Sprinter-Source.com

[gregL]

A friend did that once to his in-laws' car in Austria, and it worked fine afterward.

[tele.savalas]

This happened once to our Hotshot Crew carriers (international 5500 engines) on a project fire. Fuel guy was sniffing glue, but quickly realized his error. He was able to pump out the gas and all was good.

[GeezerSteve]

then drove it about
a 1/4 mile.

Now towed to shop

Why was it towed? Did he realize his fuckup and shut it down? Or did the engine stop running? If the former, good chance of a good outcome. If the latter, best o' luck to ya, bro.

[SuperGaper]

Why was it towed? Did he realize his fuckup and shut it down? Or did the engine stop running? If the former, good chance of a good outcome. If the latter, best o' luck to ya, bro.

Reached destination, then called me. I called tow truck, my mechanic is of course, not optimistic.

Its a work truck, and given that I just bought a new work truck, well, this isn't on schedule. Also built
the business from the ground up in 2007 with this van, so will be sad to let it go, but need to figure the end
game most importantly- replacements are 40-50k

[GeezerSteve]

Got it. Only 1/4 mile = maybe ran on diesel fuel in the line. Problem is that diesel pump and injectors are designed to be lubricated by diesel fuel.

[rob stokes]

Better that way over putting diesel in a petrol.

Good luck

[toast2266]

Better that way over putting diesel in a petrol.

Good luck

Think you've got that backwards. Gas in a diesel: very bad. Diesel in a gas: kinda bad, but not the end of the world.

[SuperGaper]

Hopefully OK, will know more tomorrow, was starting to mis-fire before parking, and yes most concerned about
injectors and fuel pump- was nearing retirement, but was counting on making it to next summer.

The guy who filled it owns a Ducati and Husaberg, you'd think a motorhead like that would note the
difference between a diesel and a gasser?

Can only imagine what the drain/disposal will cost- any Jackson mags need burn fuel this fall?

[SuperGaper]

Think you've got that backwards. Gas in a diesel: very bad. Diesel in a gas: kinda bad, but not the end of the world.

Yep. Its the lubricity in the diesel that makes gas so bad. Especially with the super high PSI in the fuel system in modern diesels.

[tenB]

Most likely, the engine is fine if it was still running. If not, it might be worth checking the insurance policy with your business. You can buy a decent used sprinter for less than the cost of a new motor.

[SB]

Vibes, hope it works out.

If not it's just a thing.

[glademaster]

I think it will be fine, and that your mechanic is saying it sounds so bad because he's a mechanic trying to make ends meet in Jackson, WY.

[stuckathuntermtn]

Think you've got that backwards. Gas in a diesel: very bad. Diesel in a gas: kinda bad, but not the end of the world.

The diesel nozzle doesn't fit in the gas port.

WTF? I've been fired for less. I hope this guy is a super A+ above and beyond employee when it comes to other stuff.

[My Pet Powder Goat]

The diesel nozzle doesn't fit in the gas port.

WTF? I've been fired for less. I hope this guy is a super A+ above and beyond employee when it comes to other stuff.

Uhm, right, but a gas nozzle will fit in a diesel port. Which is what happened


I have a feeling when you were a child this toy stumped you pretty good

[rob stokes]

Think you've got that backwards. Gas in a diesel: very bad. Diesel in a gas: kinda bad, but not the end of the world.

Ah, learn something new everyday.

[LightRanger]

Uhm, right, but a gas nozzle will fit in a diesel port. Which is what happened

Did you miss the fact where he was just pointing out to toast (based on toast's comment) that a diesel will not fit in a gas port so the reverse situation of what SG described above is significantly less likely? Reading comp? I mean, Stuck says some stupid shit, but this wasn't really that egregious...

[NW_SKIER]

The biggest problem of putting gasoline in a diesel engine has nothing to do with the lubricity of the fluid. It takes too long for that have any effect on the engine. The problem is that gasoline has a much lower combustion point and the high compression ratio of your diesel engine will ignite the fuel before it's at top dead center causing detonation in the cylinder. This causes things like bent connecting rods and valves. I seriously hope your guy shut that thing off before it happened

[Timberridge]

In NJ you can't pump your own gas, so one of the teenagers manning the pump at the local station puts gasoline in a friend's MB GL350. His wife got 200' down the road...and a new engine is on order. The gas station's insurance is paying.

It may be worth checking to see if this is covered under vehicle's insurance policy.

[toast2266]

The diesel nozzle doesn't fit in the gas port.

Theoretically true, but (apparently) where there's a will, there's a way.

[NW_SKIER]

Theoretically true, but (apparently) where there's a will, there's a way.

If it doesn't fit, spit on it and try harder.

[dewam]

Can only imagine what the drain/disposal will cost- any Jackson mags need burn fuel this fall?

Speaking from experience, an old Ford V-8 will burn that mix without any problem. I have an old F-250 with a carb and it has burned many barrels of mixed fuel. Doing my part for hazmat removal.

[XXX-er]

Theoretically true, but (apparently) where there's a will, there's a way.

A gas jockey put Diesel in the company minivan instead of RUG, I had it towed to a dodge dealer where I let them deal with it, I explained to the station that it wasn't my truck it was a lease and so it all had to be done by the book

consider maybe a gas jockey might not be the sharpest knife in the drawer and who knows what kind of nozzle the maintenance dude ( also not real sharp) put on that pump ?

[SuperGaper]

Thanks everybody, you guys and Sprinter-Source both think probably not fatal.

Hope so, tough to schedule 2 crews with only one operating work vehicle.

In my mechanics defense, he has worked on it for the last 200,000 miles, and knows some really
expensive stuff gets transported a long way in it, so reliability is very important.

Van is cheduled for retirement next summer anyway, just a big inconvenience right now work wise. Plus just laid down $14k on a new van last week.

Regarding the employee- tough call, he's pretty good at the basic skill sets, but like everybody now
always looking at the phone or texting or worse trying to flirt with the hot gallery girls and interior decorators we work
with.

[babybear]

sorry to hear about all this spenc
hoping it all works out ok for ya