Accidentally Put 2 Gallons of Gas in my TDI

davidjrtx · June 24th, 2008, 16:12

Hi guys I am new here. Today I accidentally put 1.9 gallons of gas in my 2006 Jetta 1.9 TDI. I grabbed the green nozzle and started pumping and looked down and it said regular unleaded on it, I stopped immediately but already had 1.9 gallons in it. I moved it over to another pump that had the diesel with a green nozzle also and filled it up 10 point something gallons of diesel. I went and got some fuel conditioner with lubricant form the auto parts and put in it also, the vehicle is hard to start but runs fine. I tried to siphon out the fuel but evidently there is something in the tank that keeps me from getting the hose down in there all the way. I got about a half gallon out of there was all, will it be ok to run this or will it damage the engine? I have drove it 29 miles since this happened...

mrGutWrench · June 24th, 2008, 16:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by davidjrtx

Hi guys I am new here. Today I accidentally put 1.9 gallons of gas in my 2006 Jetta 1.9 TDI. I grabbed the green nozzle and started pumping and looked down and it said regular unleaded on it, I stopped immediately but already had 1.9 gallons in it. I moved it over to another pump that had the diesal with a green nozzle also and filled it up 10 point something gallons of diesal. I went and got some fuel conditioner with lubricant form the auto parts and put in it also, the vehicle is hard to start but runs fine. I tried to siphon out the fuel but evedently there is something in the tank that keeps me from getting the hose down in there all the way. I got about a half gallon out of there was all, will it be ok to run this or will it damage the engine? I have drove it 29 miles since this happened...

__. David, I don't know about the 2006 but on the A4 model cars, you can access the fuel tank by flipping the seat bottoms open. There is a slit in the carpet on the seat base; fold this apart and you can see a plate over the top of the fuel pump/pickup. Remove the screws and lift the plate, then tap the tabs on the ring with a hammer and a piece of wood (point the piece of wood onto the tab) until the ring loosens. Then lift up the top of the fuel pump/pickup -- but not far or it will pour fuel all into your rear seat area. Just enough to get a syphon hose into it.

__. If it's hard to start, you need to get that fuel mixture out. Just syphon out what you can, fill it with fresh diesel, put in a double dose of Power Service or Stanadyne and you should be fine. (You might want to hit it with a little 2-stroke oil, too.)

d2305 · June 24th, 2008, 17:03

You have a lift pump, and you need to pull the inlet hose off you fuel filter and turn on your ignition, and pump out your tank.

bikeprof · June 24th, 2008, 17:13

d2305:

I know that RUG(regular gas) is NOT good for our engines but a little is not that bad...

1. how many DIESEL gallons did you put in total?
2. can you locate regular oil(low viscosity, tranny oil?) that is clean to add into the fuel tank to LOWER the CETANE %?

In Europe, the cetane is higher than here FYI (by about 5 points).

That would be the easiest manner to use the fuel mixture that you have in your tank and use it quite harmless-ly.

Just my two cents...

davidjrtx · June 24th, 2008, 17:14

I think the additive I put in there must have finally got up to the injectors, I went out a few minutes ago and it cranked right up with out having to crank on it for a little bit. I figured I may as well top it off since I had took a little fuel out and burned a little so I went to the station and it held 2.3 more gallons. You guys think I should still drain it?

Edit:

1. Total of about 12.5 gallons of diesel and 1.9 gallons of regular gas and I put some CETANE booster with lubricant. I guess I should not have put that?

2. Yes there is an auto parts right up the street what should I get?

naturist · June 24th, 2008, 18:55

1.9 gallons of RUG in a full tank of diesel would not be recommended fueling but should be ok, especially with some lube and cetane booster. just drive it out. Go forth and sin no more, my son.

Given the way it got in there, it should have been pretty well mixed with the diesel. I wouldn't worry about it.

But if you are, when you get down a half tank or so, fill 'er back up and add s'more lube & cetane enhancer. You'll be fine.

The folks who have reported damage have been the ones who say it ran really ragged right up until it quit and wouldn't restart. No, it is not good for the injection system or the engine, don't make a habit of it. But that's a pretty small amount, you should be fine.

97TDIStu · June 24th, 2008, 19:04

Keep on topping off more diesel every 50 miles until it dilutes it enough.

Nocky · June 24th, 2008, 19:08

In the old 80’s non TDI’s the owner manual says you can put up to 1/3 gas

.

You should be ok good that you added 10 gal of diesel.

davidjrtx · June 24th, 2008, 19:31

Well I did not do it on purpose believe me

I pulled into a station I had not been to before because I saw that they sold diesel and I needed some, all the nozzles I have seen for diesel are green around here so I grabbed the green one and started pumping then looked at the pump and green was regular at this pump. 2 pumps over was another pump that had a green nozzle there with diesel and beside it a green nozzle for regular.

wjdell · June 24th, 2008, 19:31

I would have put a quart of ashless 2 cycle In. Then in two more tanks change the filter and forget it. Keep diluteing - fill at 1/2 tank.

davidjrtx · June 24th, 2008, 19:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by wjdell

I would have put a quart of ashless 2 cycle In. Then in two more tanks change the filter and forget it. Keep diluteing - fill at 1/2 tank.

I still can if you think that will help...

SUNRG · June 24th, 2008, 20:09

3 winters ago i think i had B50 in my tank, it got cold and i got stuck.

i added 2.5 gallons of RUG and 2.5 gallons of kerosene, shook the whole car back and forth a bit, went inside (car died in front of a friends house), drank a couple beers.

AndyBees · June 24th, 2008, 20:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nocky

In the old 80’s non TDI’s the owner manual says you can put up to 1/3 gas

.

You should be ok good that you added 10 gal of diesel.

Yeah, in those early generation diesels, I have put as much as 25% gasoline without any problems. It was pretty common to add a little gasoline in anticipation of sub-freezing tempatures, especially when it was expected to drop below 15 degree F and stay that cold for several days.

As many have suggested, just keep diluting the gas by adding more diesel.

Everything will be fine!

whitedog · June 24th, 2008, 20:41

Biodiesel has very good lubricating properties and in a low dosage, it won't suddenly plug the fuel filter. Add a gallon of B99 and be happy.

mrGutWrench · June 24th, 2008, 20:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by davidjrtx

I think the additive I put in there must have finally got up to the injectors, I went out a few minutes ago and it cranked right up with out having to crank on it for a little bit. (snip)

__. In that case, and since you're already di-diluting it with more diesel, you're probably OK. My advice earlier was probably overkill. Just drive it out.