Dad Put Diesel fuel into his 2001 altima. What do I do???

[Tampa G35 Sedan 6MT]

My dad ran out of gas earlier today and walked to a gas station and got a can from the man and then filled it with Diesel and not Gas.

It was about 1 gallon of Diesel. He is an Alcholic and was drunk at the time! He said the car started and ran for about 2 blocks and then shut off.

The car wont start now. What should I do? He was only about a half mile from the house and I just go back from pushing his car home.

I did some reading and it said to fill the tank with Premium gas and drive it out... I just don't want to fill the tank with gas if i can't get it to start..

I assume i can (bleed the fuel lines) until I get all the Diesel out of the tank and then put gas in it and start it up...

Any Ideas would be a great help.

[lomita]

Just do it, fill the car with premium fuel.

[oldandslow]

I would drain the diesel out of the tank,Fill it with premium, and flush the entire fuel system till premium comes through.Then remove and clean all the plugs,and change fuel filters.   Then start it up. It might take a while to start,so have a fully charged battery. It will probably smoke for a while.

[mbritt80]

I have had this happen to a couple of friends, when they were sober. They had to drain the tank and then have the injectors and lines cleaned. Don't just ride it out. If diesel was meant to burn in a gas engine then the nozzle's wouldn't be the same. It has a different flash point rating, that is why it cut off and will not start back. this will cost about a grand if you pay someone.

[zozoka1212]

Drain is the way to go. Although if he did not put much in there it should be ok to fill it with premium and run it but I like to stay on the safe side.

zozo

[rn79870]

I would drain the diesel out of the tank,Fill it with premium, and flush the entire fuel system till premium comes through.Then remove and clean all the plugs,and change fuel filters.   Then start it up. It might take a while to start,so have a fully charged battery. It will probably smoke for a while.

^^^This is the only real option.

Or, Option 2. Finish the gas to diesel conversion your father started.

[Beancooker]

You can drain and refill, or you can just fill it. Diesel fuel is lees of a solvent, and more of a lubricant than gasoline. It will smoke until all the diesel burns out, but it shouldn't hurt anything.

FWIW, I know this because I FILLLED the tank of my truck with diesel back in the day. Too tired, wrong pump...

Drained out about 16 of the 20 gallons, and topped it off with premium. Smoked like James Bond thru that tank, but after that all was good.

[G_whizz]

OUCH!! Sorry to hear

Well...I can honestly say I don't know anyone who has done this. So I have no advice to give you. Looks like you got alot of replies to start with.

Let us know what was decided and how things are working out.

Good luck!

[Tampa G35 Sedan 6MT]

I havn't had a chance to get work on the car yet... I will be doing so this afternoon when i get off of work. I am going to try to drain and flush the diesel out of the system. then i will put premium in it and drive it.

Do i need to reset the electrical system to get it to try to start?

My parents can't afford to spend big money on the car right now so i hope it works... It was only about a gallon of diesel or less. if i fill the car and then try to make it run that is about a 1/14th ratio of diesel to gas.

Thanks for all your help.

DJ

[Jacko3]

If it is one gallon of diesel only, then you are fine. Top off the tank to the brim and drive it until the diesel is completely burnt off in your fuel tank. You will be fine. Then, take your car to the dealership and ask them to do an injector and fuel intake flushing (they do this by connecting some lines with some chemicals under pressure---takes less than an hour---and injectors are thoroughly cleaned). This costs about $150 - $180. Finally, make sure you find a non-slvent injector cleaner to pour into your tank at least for three fill ups---this should reasonably clean your fuel line---I would recommend Lucas injector cleaner---you can get at autozone---it is in a plastic unassuming bottle with yellow fluid---costs about $4.99---buy three bottles and use with each tank fill up---you should be fine.

The only other part of the deal I am unsure about how it would be affected is the fuel filter. The G-35 fuel filter resides iin the tank--at least for the coupe, and it wasn't meant to be replaced for a very long, long time, or not all. So, I don't know how the diesel will affect the fuel filter in the G. Just my 2 cents.

[Tampa G35 Sedan 6MT]

Well this is why i don't let anyone drive my G

I hope I can fix it with out any major problems..

DJ

[pits200]

Final step after you fix the fuel problem with the Alti.

Make sure your dad doesn't drive drunk anymore. Lucky that this is the worst thing that happened. Could have been a blessing that he ran out of gas and wasn't on the road.

[joe603]

Worst case scenario is a hydro-lock condition that caused damage to the rotating assembly. However, it's unlikely. Do what the others mentioned (drain tank, clean injectors/fuel lines).

[Sentientbydesign]

If it is one gallon of diesel only, then you are fine. Top off the tank to the brim and drive it until the diesel is completely burnt off in your fuel tank. You will be fine. Then, take your car to the dealership and ask them to do an injector and fuel intake flushing (they do this by connecting some lines with some chemicals under pressure---takes less than an hour---and injectors are thoroughly cleaned). This costs about $150 - $180. Finally, make sure you find a non-slvent injector cleaner to pour into your tank at least for three fill ups---this should reasonably clean your fuel line---I would recommend Lucas injector cleaner---you can get at autozone---it is in a plastic unassuming bottle with yellow fluid---costs about $4.99---buy three bottles and use with each tank fill up---you should be fine.

The only other part of the deal I am unsure about how it would be affected is the fuel filter. The G-35 fuel filter resides iin the tank--at least for the coupe, and it wasn't meant to be replaced for a very long, long time, or not all. So, I don't know how the diesel will affect the fuel filter in the G. Just my 2 cents.

Never saw any real benefits from using Lucas. Did it for like 2 years. Maybe it did do a good job and it was in the form of maintenance, not sure.

My input is that if you go with the Lucas, to buy the larger 1 liter bottle. It can be had on sale for $10.

I've only seen a benefit from gumout one time and the benefit could have actually been because of a change in driving habits, not the cleaner.

[telcoman]

I would drain the diesel out of the tank,Fill it with premium, and flush the entire fuel system till premium comes through.Then remove and clean all the plugs,and change fuel filters.   Then start it up. It might take a while to start,so have a fully charged battery. It will probably smoke for a while.

Except I'd use regular

I had a similar experience back in 74 with my Mazda RX4. It was my first vehicle with a catalitic convertor and required unleaded regular. Leaded gas was still being sold & the $sshole gas station attendant filled my tank with leaded gas. Fortunately the Mazda had a drain plug in the bottom of the tank. After much @#%$$$ to the station manager, I drained the tank on the spot & they refilled it for free. I still use Hess to this day. Sometimes!

Good luck

Telcoman

[mbritt80]

Well this is why i don't let anyone drive my G

I hope I can fix it with out any major problems..

DJ

yea, same here, I let my girl drive mine once and found out that she put 87 octane instead of 93, lets just say she doesn't drive it anymore.

[Jacko3]

Never saw any real benefits from using Lucas. Did it for like 2 years. Maybe it did do a good job and it was in the form of maintenance, not sure.

My input is that if you go with the Lucas, to buy the larger 1 liter bottle. It can be had on sale for $10.

I've only seen a benefit from gumout one time and the benefit could have actually been because of a change in driving habits, not the cleaner.

I tried Gumout for many years, and I started to think its concentration was gradually being watered down once they got more market share. Only reason why I like Lucas is that it is non-solvent. Our cars don't like the solvent type---the manual discourages it. My little Nissan can handle both---solvent and non-solvent--ain't she a doll?. I would agree that the 1 litre bottle would be best. If your car runs great, I think either Lucas or Gumout would not make a difference. In this case, Lucas would be great in clearing out the last vestiges of the diesel in the fuel tank since it is non-solvent. I am sure Tampa's G runs great once the desiel in his tank is expelled.

I have also heard some good stuff about Z-Max. However, I heard they had a law suit a few years ago about the claims they made about their product. Probably one of those snake oil claims.

[Tampa G35 Sedan 6MT]

I FIXED IT AND IT STILL RUNS STRONG!!!!

Thanks Everyone for your help and inputs.

I added 10 gallons of premium gas and it took about 2 min of Floging the gas it started and had black smoke for about 2 min and then it was fine. I think he put like a dollar worth of diesel in the tank to be honest. He didn't have any money so i bet it wasn't more than that...

I drove it around a while and it was fine and starts with no problem... It don't even have anymore black smoke.

I will run some lucas cleaner later after the tank is empty!

Thanks again and you guys really saved me a lot of money!

Sincerely DJ

[oldandslow]

Glad it worked out for You!  To clean the fuel system,get a bottle of techron,or just run chevron gas(has techron in it).

[Tampa G35 Sedan 6MT]

Glad it worked out for You!  To clean the fuel system,get a bottle of techron,or just run chevron gas(has techron in it).

Does that gas really help any.. I know they charge more for it but i thought that was all marketing!

DJ

[heliochrome85]

HAHAHA. I JUST heard an episode of CARTALK talking about this very issue. They said to drain the tank. There will always be a bit of diesel left in it, but it MAY just actually increase the gas milage of the car for those few tanks until the diesel is sufficiently flushed. Who knew?

[oldandslow]

Does that gas really help any.. I know they charge more for it but i thought that was all marketing!DJ

     The bottles of techron work.  I just buy the gas ,because all the better fuels are the same price anyway,so might as well get it with the techron.

[Jacko3]

Well done! I am glad it worked out for you.

[G_whizz]

Glad it's ok!!

[Tampa G35 Sedan 6MT]

HAHAHA. I JUST heard an episode of CARTALK talking about this very issue. They said to drain the tank. There will always be a bit of diesel left in it, but it MAY just actually increase the gas milage of the car for those few tanks until the diesel is sufficiently flushed. Who knew?

LOL do you think adding Diesel will give you more MPG... What would make it give you more MPG in the Diesel???

DJ

[heliochrome85]

it changes the mix of gas to air. you end up using less gas while maintaining that ratio. the changes are temporary, but apparently they are real. who knew?

[heliochrome85]

the cartalk guys did quickly say to NOT ever do this because it can ruin an engine. I suspect your dads car will be fine.

[joe603]

Glad it worked out for ya!!

This is why nobody drives my G....