Accidently put gas in TDI

[jettaboy]

So after 10 years of owning my TDI, I accidently put approximately 7.35 L (1.94 US Gallons) of gas in my car. This was the first time that I had filled it up in months as I had been driving our other gas vehicle while the wife was driving the TDI. I don't know where my head was but I didn't realize that I had put in gas until today.

The low fuel indicator had come on shortly before I filled up with gas. The car started up and I drove it home for about 46 kms (28.58 miles) with no issues. The engine sounded fine during the entire trip. Only when I got into the car today and had trouble starting it did I realize that I had put gas into it. I can't believe it. Anyways, I immediately turned the engine off.

What I'd like to know is what is my best course of action? I'm not that mechanically inclined so there's only so much I could do. I'm guessing that I'm going to have to get it towed to the shop to get the fuel drained and lines flushed along with the fuel filter replaced.

I'm proof that even after owning a diesel for this long that you can still screw up and put gas in it.

[slamhouse]

That is correct, just drain the tank and refill with diesel, flush the lines with diesel and replace the fuel filter and drain canister and fill with diesel and drive happy!

The older diesels aren't as prone to failure as the newer ones by being contaminated with gasoline. Pre Pumpe-Duse models were actually quite resilient and robust motors with high tolerances to mis-fueling.

Don't beat yourself up, it happens...

[car54]

With such a low quantity of gas, you are going to have an easy time fixing this. I like to use a vacuum device commonly used to change oil via dipstick to suck the tank dry from the fuel lines at the filter. It's easy to suck it dry and then re-fill the lines and filter with diesel after refilling the tank using this method. once refilled, just suck from the fuel pump return line while cranking until you get diesel back into the pump and the car restarts. be sure to add lots of your favorite lubricity additive to protect the pump from any more damage, but you should be fine. Ive fixed cars with this problem dozens of times and never had any problems down the road.

[jettaboy]

Thanks for the info guys. Unfortunately I'm not too mechanically inclined so I don't know if I'd be able to do the draining myself. I'll probably end up getting it towed to my mechanic's shop. The car is currently parked forward in my garage. Will it be ok if I just start the car so that I can move it out of the garage so that I can get it towed?

[slamhouse]

gasoline will float on top of diesel, so if you have a full tank with only 1.9 gallons of diesel in it, then you could drive 300 miles without issue, but the risk isn't worth it...

you should be fine starting it for a few minutes.

[tdiatlast]

Originally Posted by jettaboy

...I accidently put approximately 7.35 L (1.94 US Gallons) of gas in my car.
The low fuel indicator had come on shortly before I filled up with gas.. .

I'm confused...did you in fact FILL your vehicle, or just put in 1.94 gallons of gas? If you've got a FULL tank of gas, that's a lot of fuel to attempt to drain on your own, and would require a shop to do it. If it's only a gallon or 2, you could do it yourself...if you want to go for it.
Good luck. Sorry about your confusion. I think all of us, at some level, are concerned about doing exactly the same thing!

[mohawk69]

I'm not sure what others think but I would be inclined to fill it to the brim with diesel and a gallon or 2 of b100 if you can get it. You've already burned more then half of a gallon of the mixture. By diluting the remainder with 15 or more gallons of diesel, I think no further harm would be done.

[vlad0401]

just fill with diesel and additives and dont get it drained. in the old days my dad ran 60% diesel and 40% gasoline to prevent gelling. never a prob in car, just less performance

[jettaboy]

Originally Posted by tdiatlast

I'm confused...did you in fact FILL your vehicle, or just put in 1.94 gallons of gas? If you've got a FULL tank of gas, that's a lot of fuel to attempt to drain on your own, and would require a shop to do it. If it's only a gallon or 2, you could do it yourself...if you want to go for it.
Good luck. Sorry about your confusion. I think all of us, at some level, are concerned about doing exactly the same thing!

After the low fuel indicator came on, I added 1.94 gallons of gas and then drove home on that. So there isn't much fuel in the car at all.

[jettaboy]

Originally Posted by vlad0401

just fill with diesel and additives and dont get it drained. in the old days my dad ran 60% diesel and 40% gasoline to prevent gelling. never a prob in car, just less performance

Are there any additives that you can recommend that I use?

[jettaboy]

What is the consensus here? Should I just get the thing drained or since it is a low amount of gas, top it up with diesel and throw in some additives?

Obviously topping it up with diesel and additives is a lot cheaper than draining tank, purging the lines, and replacing the fuel filter. I just want to be assured that if I top it up that I should be ok with no further damage. My plan would be to have CAA (Canadian equivalent of AAA) tow the car to a gas station and have the car filled up.

[tditom]

I would drain the tank and replace the filter.

[BarnyardsTDI]

At least your not driving a CR. Fuel pump goes kaboom!

[VWBeamer]

I would add a pint of 2 stroke oil or some other additive to help lube the pump and injectors. That's the greatest risk. Then I would fill with diesel, change the filter and fill it with diesel.

[jgeorge]

If you can hang on til friday, i've got a 20L fuel can, Make several trips to get fuel- Would help swap the fuel filter, or at least drain and fill it - let me know