Diesel cockup

[OldCroc]

Okay, I have always wondered how someone could fill their tank with diesel but I have just managed to do it. Now looking for help!

I managed to syphon out 16 litres and then filled up with Shell's finest (petrol this time!) When I tried the starter it took straight away and sounded not too bad for about 30 seconds or so and then the coughing and farting started until it died. Cranking the starter did not help.

So, the bike has been recovered to my home with a mix of about 16l of petrol and 4 of diesel. Are there any quick fixes to get it fired up or is this basically a dealer visit? (My local dealer does not collect, by the way - I have already tried!) I have a fair knowledge of basic spannering.

Any help much appreciated. OldCroc.

 

[Giles]

I have been there!!

But ... I didn't start the bike. (Not actually my bike but a company bike). Tank was drained and no damage / harm done. My understanding is that petrol in a diesel is probably not as bad as diesel in a petrol. I'm afraid the waxy diesel wont be doing your Fuel injectors any good at all ....

 

[Ex-Call Centre Chimp]

Rainbow at Rotherham picked my RT up from Lincoln when it wouldn't start. It was still under warranty though. Not sure if that helps?

 

[Norfolk Tiger]

I have been there!!

BMy understanding is that petrol in a diesel is probably not as bad as diesel in a petrol.

With your experience I'd have thought you'd have known the answer,diesel into petrol once flushed out normally not and issue.petrol into diesel not good

 

[JJH]

It should work. Quick maths says you have 25% diesel. I'd syphon out 10 litres and then fill up with super plus or whatever it's called now. It happend to me about 2 years ago on a f800 GSA 27 litres of diesel. Syphond out and filled up with petrol. Jjh

 

[Greenman14]

Rather than siphon why not run the fuel pump to drain the tank? Hot wire the pump terminals and disconnect the fuel lines as close to the injectors as possible. Refill with petrol and try again. Easier than removing the tank and draining it that way.

 

[Giles]

With your experience I'd have thought you'd have known the answer,diesel into petrol once flushed out normally not and issue.petrol into diesel not good

My experience doesn't cover motor mechanics ....

(but workshops did say, at least you had the nouse not to start it .. !)

 

[Norfolk Tiger]

My experience doesn't cover motor mechanics ....

(but workshops did say, at least you had the nouse not to start it .. !)

I'm guessing that's not all they said.......

 

[Greg Masters]

But ... I didn't start the bike. (Not actually my bike but a company bike).

Whose bike was it?

Was it the taxpayers?

 

[Giles]

Whose bike was it?

Was it the taxpayers?

Let's not get distracted from the issue today .... Old Croc has been a biff too ....

 

[Bounce]

My experience doesn't cover motor mechanics ....

(but workshops did say, at least you had the nouse not to start it .. !)

One doesn't have to be a mechanic to know that you don't put diesel into a petrol engine

 

[Bendy toy]

Just wondering why diesel fuel will damage petrol injectors? Though I can see why petrol would damage diesel injectors. Diesel is oily so should be easier on the injectors and fuel pump in both cases. But it will soon turn posh petrol into paraffin making the engine knock even allowing for the knock sensor. So best to syphon or pump out half of the tank and top up with proper posh. Tesco Momentum 99 has about the highest octane unless other know better.

 

[Norfolk Tiger]

Just wondering why diesel fuel will damage petrol injectors? Though I can see why petrol would damage diesel injectors. Diesel is oily would so easier on the injectors and fuel pump in both cases. But it will soon turn posh petrol into paraffin making the engine knock even allowing for the knock sensor. So best to syphon or pump out half of the tank and top up with proper posh. Tesco Momentum 99 has about the highest octane unless other know better.

As you say remove the bulk of the diesel fill with petrol and it most case away you go,though maybe in a smokey fashion for a while. It's when you do it the other way around petrol into diesel that things can go badly wrong if the engine is running for any length of time.

 

[Bendy toy]

Many years ago a friend drove a Peugeot 505 from Glasgow to the Midlands with a large percentage of petrol in the tank. Probably a lot more than 50% petrol. The engine apparently "sounded a bit noisy" but was back to normal when refilled with diesel. Those old pre chamber Pugs were just about bomb proof. Try it on a modern common rail engine and see how far it gets.

 

[tadhgocuilleain]

The problem is, diesel has a higher specific gravity than petrol, so whatever diesel was in there went to the bottom. When you started it, the engine ran on whatever petrol was in the fuel lines, then it started feeding on the diesel. Whatever you do with the tank, this diesel, mildly diluted with petrol, is still in your fuel lines and the bike won't run on that and pull clean petrol into the fuel lines.

I'd drain the tank again. Then, as mentioned above, remove the fuel lines as close to the injectors as possible and drain out whatever is left in there. Then when it's completely dry, fill it with fresh petrol (not the stuff you just took out). Maybe take out the spark plugs to see if they've blackened and clean them, but they're probably alright. Then, crank it until it starts. I don't recommend cranking for long periods non-stop. Starter motors aren't built for that. 10-20 second bursts, then stop for a few seconds. If you think your battery might not last long enough, connect jump leads to a running car or bike before you drain the battery, not when you hear the cranking getting slower.

If it still won't start after that, you could take off the injectors and give them a good clean.

Hope that helps.

Tim.

 

[Nutty]

(Not actually my bike but a company bike)

Company bike?

Not everyone here knows you're a copper, so I'll clarify.

Giles rode his fully liveried police bike into a petrol station, and filled it up with diesel, causing great amusement to his colleagues, the public, and the petrol station staff.

 

[Norfolk Tiger]

Company bike?

Not everyone here knows you're a copper, so I'll clarify.

Giles rode his fully liveried police bike into a petrol station, and filled it up with diesel, causing great amusement to his colleagues, the public, and the petrol station staff.

Bad man you forgot the part about abandoning said bike and riding off on a spare

The police refreshers now include a lecture based on this

http://www.revolutiondrivingtuition...ll-up-your-car-using-the-petrol-station-pumps

 

[The bigun]

Just wondering why diesel fuel will damage petrol injectors? Though I can see why petrol would damage diesel injectors. Diesel is oily so should be easier on the injectors and fuel pump in both cases. But it will soon turn posh petrol into paraffin making the engine knock even allowing for the knock sensor. So best to syphon or pump out half of the tank and top up with proper posh. Tesco Momentum 99 has about the highest octane unless other know better.

I did this on my way to hilltop thinking I'll use ultimate unleaded saw ultimate on pump and put 10 litres of diesel in ,so I syphoned it out and carried on but what Geoff said was from 07 onwards the injector seals are ceramic and wouldn't be harmed pre 07 are rubber which the diesel causes to swell he also said to change the plugs mines been fine since it did smoke on start up but 3 tankfuls later that's cleared up

 

[Myke Rocks]

OK, so a friend did it in Austria this year.

He had around half a tank of petrol in his Ducati Adventure, and topped it up with Diesel.
He rode about 20 metres out of the filling station and the bike stopped.
I went and got a 25 litre drum and a hose.
Gave him the hose. He got the mouthful of the mix as he started the syphon.
Emptied tank as best he could, and we shoved the bike back to the pumps.
He filled to the neck.
Now comes the nice bit.
Turned on the ignition. Turned it off again. (Pump starts momentarily and circulates a little fuel)
Did this around 12 times. Then on and hit the starter button.
Bike started first cylinder over and sat ticking over perfectly, with a slight whiff of diesel off the exhaust, which vanished after 30 seconds.
We lost, from start to finish, 40 minutes of our day out.
Myke

 

[Norfolk Tiger]

https://www.policespecials.com/forum/index.php/topic/124774-police-diesel-motorbike/