Diesel cockup

[JohnnyBoxer]

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

That's an interesting forum, I think I recognise someone on that thread, from here

 

[bikemad]

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.

Tut tut or was it more putt putt

 

[Rockred]

Who needs Mates like that eh! Giles ?............. Bastids...

 

[BillWright]

Hi

Its quite right that petrol in a diesel is less damaging than vice versa. In fact it was an old lorry drivers trick to mix some petrol with the diesel during the winter months. It reduced the risk of the diesel sludging in the freezing weather.
The problem is that the diesel doesn't atomise, and in a worst case scenario, can lead to fluid lock.

The police mechanics believed that a petrol engine run on the wrong fuel required all seals and bearings to be replaced, although that seems a bit extreme

Bill

 

[BigDan]

Hes already started the bike with diesel in it, re-symphoning the tank and refilling with petrol isn't going to sort this. Get to a mechanic asap

 

[OldCroc]

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.

Thanks for all the responses. Tim, sitrep is that I have had the battery on a charge all day and been out and cranked it again - nothing. So it looks like I will have to follow your steps and drain again etc. It will have to wait until the weekend now - I just hate pratting about doing stuff like this when the weather is good! Thanks again.
OldCroc

 

[JJH]

Thanks for all the responses. Tim, sitrep is that I have had the battery on a charge all day and been out and cranked it again - nothing. So it looks like I will have to follow your steps and drain again etc. It will have to wait until the weekend now - I just hate pratting about doing stuff like this when the weather is good! Thanks again.
OldCroc

Buy a can of easy start and spray into air intake. Jjh

 

[Smug]

Do what JJH says. It will start on the easy start and hopefully pump the diesel out of the injectors.

 

[bikemad]

I'd remove & clean the plugs leave them out after emptying tank,then a few short bursts on starter (be easier on batt) you should smell fresh petrol hopefully plugs in & off you go

 

[Bendy toy]

Injectors and plugs can be removed and cleaned. Crank the engine without plugs to pump petrol through the fuel lines.

 

[OldCroc]

Thanks for all the replies. Work has kept me away from the bike but I can hopefully start using the advice above tomorrow night.
OldCroc

 

[OldCroc]

By way of an update. Did as was suggested and bought a can of easy start. Removed a further 10l of petrol deisel mix, removed the air filter and gave a few sprays of easy start directly into the air box. After much popping and farting it started so shot off to a petrol station and filled again (petrol this time!)
It has since started every time (a little rough when cold) but goes like a rocket again!

 

[Bendy toy]

Deleted.

 

[OldCroc]

Not sure why yours was deleted but I saw your message in the email notification. I understand what you were saying - when I first started it in the garage with the rocket fuel the headers were glowing red in a very short time!

 

[Bendy toy]

Not sure why yours was deleted but I saw your message in the email notification. I understand what you were saying - when I first started it in the garage with the rocket fuel the headers were glowing red in a very short time!

Ive said it before and thought here I go again.

The glowing pipes are down to the knock sensor retarding the spark timing. That protects the piston but risks overheated exhaust valves. Geoff from Hilltop says to always use posh petrol if you want to reduce the risk of valves failing.

 

[JJH]

Ive said it before and thought here I go again.

The glowing pipes are down to the knock sensor retarding the spark timing. That protects the piston but risks overheated exhaust valves. Geoff from Hilltop says to always use posh petrol if you want to reduce the risk of valves failing.

I thought ADVANCING the timing would do that. JJH