We continue to publish articles from the series "What will happen if ...". Today we will discuss what will happen if we mix up the type of fuel.
We will not go into details of how and how diesel replaced gasoline, but it is worth noting that there are not so few cases when diesel is poured into the tank of a car running on gasoline.
What is the difference
Both fuel and engines designed to work with a certain type of fuel have fundamental differences.
During the distillation of oil at different temperatures, fractions are obtained, which, after further processing, turn into:
- petrol,
- kerosene,
- diesel,
- fuel oil
Thus, gasoline and diesel fuel differ both in terms of chemical composition, and according to the characteristics of combustion: they have a different content of various impurities, different viscosity, density and ignition temperature.
Engines internal combustion for both types of fuel are also different: in gasoline engine air-fuel mixture is fed into the cylinders, where it is ignited by an electric spark. Fundamental difference diesel engine (along with a host of other differences) is that the heating and ignition of the air-fuel mixture occurs from compression inside the cylinder.
Diesel fuel instead of gasoline
In a gasoline engine, the pressure at which the air-fuel mixture enters the cylinders is much less than what is needed for ignition to occur. diesel fuel. Therefore, while there is some gasoline left in the fuel system, the combustion process itself will change dramatically: diesel fuel will not burn completely, it will form a large number of soot.
The ingress of diesel fuel into the fuel lines of a gasoline car will lead to clogging. There is also a high probability that diesel fuel will seep into the crankcase through the cylinders - i.e. engine oil will fall into disrepair.
And when the remaining gasoline is used up, the engine will stall.
As a result:
- flushing and repair of the engine, at least - the cylinder-piston system,
- flushing and repair of the fuel system, injectors,
- replacement fuel filter,
- Change of oil.
By the way, it should be noted that carbureted engines somewhat more loyal to diesel fuel than injector ones.
Gasoline instead of diesel fuel
Gasoline has much less lubricity (and parts fuel equipment lubricated with oils that are part of diesel fuel), a different thermal conductivity, a different combustion mode.
A diesel engine will run on an unusual fuel for a little longer than a gasoline engine. But the consequences can be much more serious: poor lubrication and a different combustion temperature will lead to overheating of the engine and may even cause its destruction.
As a result (if, of course, the engine is to be restored), half of the parts will have to be replaced.
What to do right away
After pouring fuel unusual for a car, it’s still in fuel line remains the "necessary" combustible. Therefore, the bay at the gas station diesel, on petrol car you can drive some more distance, during which the engine will be damaged, sometimes irreparably.
The same applies to a diesel engine with gasoline in the power system, with the only difference being that diesel engine most likely will continue to work until a critical overheating occurs or it is turned off.
Therefore, in case of an error at a gas station - under no circumstances should the engine be started.- this will save the engine itself, and fuel system.
It is better to call a tow truck or take the car to the service station in tow, where they will drain the fuel and wash the gas tank. Rinsing the gas tank is especially important for a gasoline car, a diesel engine is more tolerant of minor gasoline residues.
What then
The cost of repairs directly depends on the damage caused to the engine: from minimal damage (which will entail flushing the tank and fuel system) to replacing the engine.
Typically, the scope of work is as follows:
- draining fuel and flushing the gas tank,
- flushing fuel lines
- fuel filter replacement,
- flushing injectors, replacing spark plugs,
- changing oil and oil filter.
1 - fuel tank; 3 - expansion box; 4 - cork filler neck; 5 - fuel level sensor; 6 - fuel supply line; 7 - drain fuel line; 8 - fuel filter; 9 - fuel pump; 10 - mesh filter; 11 - fuel pump housing, 12 - pressure accumulator; 13 - protective tray; 14 - adsorber
Not everything is so scary
Diesel fuel in a gasoline car is a disaster for the engine, but with "diesel" it is a little simpler. The fact is that if a diesel engine is provided with necessary lubrication(for example, add oil to the tank) - for some time, without much loss, it is able to work on gasoline. Of course, after such a procedure, you should still flush the fuel line.
And for some diesel cars in cold weather even advise to add gasoline to the tank. The amount of gasoline added depends on the temperature environment and may be up to 5% and even up to 25% of the total.
Outcome
If full tank filled with "wrong" fuel - do not start the engine! If the engine is not started, everything can be done only by flushing the tank and fuel system.
A gasoline engine cannot run on fuel mixed with diesel fuel. Therefore, topping up the tank with gasoline "up to the neck" does not make sense.
A diesel engine, on the contrary, can run on fuel with an admixture of gasoline (preferably no more than 5%). Therefore, if a little gasoline was poured into the tank, it can be diluted with diesel, and this will not affect its performance too critically.
This happens: despite the presence of warning labels on the gas tank flap about what fuel is used in your car, and different diameters of the "barrels" in filling nozzles for gasoline and diesel, every month dozens of cars freeze in services with a diagnosis of “use of fuel not provided by the manufacturer”. Anyway. What is done is done. First, let's look at the chemistry of the process. When the "diesel fuel" enters the gas tank, it immediately sinks down to the very bottom. Since the density of diesel fuel is noticeably higher than gasoline. This means that it almost immediately enters the line, then into the fuel pump and injection nozzles. That is, the driver will immediately feel the first signs of something wrong - interruptions and knocks in the operation of the engine, loss of dynamics and jerks in motion, and outside this is accompanied by black smoke from exhaust pipe. In this situation, the main thing is to identify the error as soon as possible. If you catch yourself at the gas station, then you can say, get off little blood: order a tow truck and take your swallow to the service. There they will remove the fuel tank, wash it and put it in its place. Actually, that's all. In no case do not agree to flush the entire fuel line, filters and injectors. This clean water divorce - diesel fuel in such a situation has not yet managed to get even to the fuel pump. It is worse when the driver suspects something is wrong, when the engine has already managed to pretty much take a sip of diesel fuel. Then the car must be evacuated to the technical center for resuscitation. In this case, restoration of performance may require decent money. Since, in addition to flushing the tank and the fuel pump located in it, filters and injection nozzles may be at risk. Although there is a high probability that unscrupulous servicemen can charge you money for replacing parts that are actually still quite functional. It is also very important to know how much gasoline was before the ill-fated refueling. If you arrive at a gas station with a warning light on, the engine will stall immediately after the ignition is turned on. Therefore, there will be no serious consequences for him. The compression ratio of the engine and the spark plug will not be enough to ignite diesel fuel.
But when you dilute half a tank of gasoline with a dozen liters of diesel fuel, the engine will still start. In the meantime, the car is lucky, all the elements of the power system will become clogged with this hellish mixture. And long service life on a gasoline-solar cocktail will inevitably lead to engine breakdown. The fact is that Russian diesel fuel contains a lot of paraffin, which clogs not only the main line and the fuel pump, but also filter membranes and injector nozzles. It is not uncommon for the owner to realize the “substitution” at the beginning of the refueling process, and there was a lot of fuel in the tank - say, for 40 liters of gasoline there were several liters of diesel fuel. It is likely that with this alignment, the motor will feel almost nothing. However, as the resulting mixture develops, fill the tank to the maximum with gasoline, preferably with a higher octane rating. And so you do until you feel that all the "diesel fuel" has already been worked out. As you can see, the devil is not as terrible as he is painted - an error during refueling is not as tragic as it might seem. And if you recognize it in time, then the damage from the wrong step will be minimal. Most importantly, listen to your car. And further. It will not be good for the motor even if in diesel car you fill up with petrol. We will talk about what to do in such cases next time.
Before considering the question of what will happen if gasoline is poured into a diesel, let's look at the key differences between these fluids. Diesel and gasoline are products of the distillation of petroleum, but they are obtained at different temperature conditions. Because of this, they differ in their composition, viscosity and density, and also have different temperature ignition.
Based on this, the engines also have many design differences. The main thing is that gasoline engine to ignite the mixture occurs due to the spark of a candle. In diesel units, heating and ignition of the fuel occurs due to compression inside the cylinder. These features do not allow the use of one type of fuel in an engine designed for another without consequences.
What to do if gasoline is poured instead of diesel
This situation is more common. Many drivers buy a second car, for example, diesel SUV, therefore, out of habit, gasoline is used at the gas station. In some cases, the source of the problem may be a gas station employee who fills the wrong fuel, so you will have two scenarios in front of you:
- The driver did not notice the use of the wrong fuel.
- The error was immediately noticed.
In the first case, the car will start, as there will still be a certain amount of fuel in the line. Here you get a kind of mixture that does not match at all. necessary characteristics. Key signs of the use of gasoline in diesel engine are loud sounds from the engine, like hitting metal, a drop in power and sharp rise temperature. After a short drive, of course, the motor may fail.
Many cars with diesel unit using an injection system common rail. Its lubrication is carried out due to the specific properties of diesel fuel. However, there is no longer diesel fuel in the system, so there is accelerated wear fuel pump high pressure. If you find the above symptoms, it is recommended to stop immediately and check the fuel. If gasoline is used, call a tow truck and go to a service station.
If you filled up with gasoline instead of diesel, and found it in a timely manner, then Under no circumstances should the engine be started.. The mixture in this case will remain in the tank. In the auto repair shop, it will be enough just to drain the gasoline and dry the tank. Replacement of filters and cleaning of pumps in this case is not required.
Filled with diesel instead of gasoline: what to do?
The opposite cases are also possible, but here the situation is radically different. Since the density of the diesel is higher, the fuel sinks to the very bottom, respectively, partially enters the fuel system. The symptoms are identical to those described above: a rumble in the motor, loss of dynamics, and the appearance of black smoke from the exhaust pipe is also added.
If the driver or tanker filled diesel instead of gasoline, the consequences will not be as significant as in the previous case. If the tank was almost empty, then the car will simply stall and will not start. The compression ratio and spark will not be enough to ignite the diesel. When refueling several liters of diesel fuel and with an almost full tank of gasoline, the car may not even feel it.
The consequences of refueling diesel instead of gasoline can be different. IN best case only the filters and injectors of the engine will become clogged. With prolonged use, of course, damage to the motor is possible. In any situation, you should stop and call the evacuation service.
A set of necessary measures
Once you get to the station Maintenance, it is necessary to completely clean the system of unnecessary fuel. Usually the list of works includes the following items:
- Fuel drain and full flush gas tank.
- Flushing of fuel lines and injectors.
- Replace fuel filter and spark plugs if necessary.
- Changing oil and oil filter.
If they were inflicted serious damage may need overhaul engine.
To prevent such situations, every driver must be able to distinguish diesel from gasoline. If you have a special device called a hydrometer, then you can measure the density of a liquid. For gasoline, this indicator ranges from 0.690 to 0.780. For diesel fuel - from 0.820 to 0.850 (depending on temperature). In most cases, everything is determined by sight and smell.
Diesel fuel is large oily and greasy to the touch. If you put a drop on a rag, it won't evaporate (unlike gasoline). Diesel is a highly flammable liquid, while gasoline is easy to ignite. Visually, gasoline has more light color and a strong odour. These tips will help you fill desired liquid into the tank.
Now you know what to do if you or someone else filled up with diesel instead of gasoline or gasoline instead of diesel fuel. Early detection saves money cash. Otherwise, always pay attention to the behavior of the car, and do not be too lazy to check the fuel used.
Never make mistakes - the lot of mythical characters and robots, for which the programmer makes mistakes. Wherever something depends on a person, there is a place for a corresponding factor. You can find out as much as you like who is to blame; you can even find out in the end, but what will it give? The fact that you assign the status of “guilty” to someone will not return what was done. So without further ado, let's move on to the next part right away: This will save precious cells, and at the same time help eliminate the consequences before things go too far. It may be possible to get by with a little blood.
The essence of the problem
Sometimes things just happen. Somehow you filled up with gasoline instead of diesel, or, conversely, diesel instead of gasoline. Your carelessness in the end can cost you quite a lot if you managed to start up and drive at least a little on fuel not intended for your car. - to avoid similar situation in general, but you can level the consequences of what has already happened if you notice an error in time. In this case, the best solution would be to immediately call a tow truck and take the car to the service on it.
Before you start the car, the fuel is in the tank. If we are talking about the fact that you filled in gasoline instead of diesel, then you can’t even turn on the ignition. Design feature in that it drives fuel into the system before starting the engine. Modern injection pumps, unlike the old ones, are lubricated by the fuel itself. Since gasoline, of course, does not have lubricating properties, lubrication does not occur, respectively, wear increases significantly. Symptoms are immediately noticeable. This blue smoke, falling out of the exhaust pipe, traction failure ... It will end with the car simply stalling. If you do not turn on the ignition, the fuel pump will not start to drive fuel from the tank, which will greatly simplify your life and reduce the cost of the issue.
In the reverse situation, when a diesel engine is in a gasoline engine, the recommendation is the same: do not start the car. Diesel fuel is heavier than gasoline, it immediately settles to the bottom of the tank and enters the fuel line. If there was gasoline in the tank before, then the car will even work for a while. In fact, you will immediately notice it. The smell, noises in the engine and all the same traction failures will not let you ignore it. If there was no gasoline or there was very little, then the car would not even start: the ignition temperature of a diesel engine is higher, so it, due to non-combustion and lubricating properties, which we mentioned above, will clog the nozzles. You don't need to be told what it will lead to.
Further actions
If you are lucky enough to notice the fuel mismatch in time and you are, then the only thing to do is to drain the wrong fuel from the tank. But this is ideal. Usually, after all, the situation is more prosaic: they poured gasoline instead of diesel fuel, started up, drove some distance, “caught” the symptoms. At this point, the most important thing is not to panic. It is best, if possible, to call a tow truck and take the car to the service. There they will remove and drain the tank for you, replace the filters and check the injection pump, which theoretically can fail.
The main thing is to know that everything is not so terrible. A diesel engine, according to the manufacturer's specifications, is capable of driving on a mixture of gasoline and diesel in a ratio of 2 to 1 up to several thousand kilometers without significant harm to it. But you need to understand that this does not apply to filters and fuel lines. In any case, the first ones must be changed after working on the wrong type of fuel, since they are guaranteed to fail. The second one is a little more difficult.
Since diesel is heavier than gasoline and also has a lubricating property, the high-pressure fuel pump makes more than a gasoline pump to pump it. Accordingly, it will pump more gasoline into the highway than diesel. And since the candles on a diesel engine are more powerful, the charge will also be greater. Excess gasoline will be burned in the engine, reverse thrust will drive cinder into the system. Cleaning will be the most optimistic outcome. If you made the classic mistake in this case, thinking that you got a low-quality diesel instead of gasoline, which is now in the system, and put pressure on the gas, trying to burn it out quickly, then the consequences can be more tangible.
Electronics modern car reduce damage as much as possible, but it is far from omnipotent. Much depends on you. The first thing to do if the car behaves strangely and unusually is to stop and think. Most of the breakdowns of the car, with the exception of frivolous ones, which can’t even be called breakdowns, cannot be fixed on the spot. You need a garage if you yourself are used to being repaired, or a service. Therefore, if after a couple of kilometers you realize that you filled in the wrong fuel, in no case try to get to the service yourself. You will only make the situation worse. Your best bet is to call a tow truck.
Endgame
The most relevant and at the same time the most useless recommendation, of course, is to avoid mistakes. But when it has already been done, it is necessary to eliminate the consequences without panic and haste. In the service, the wrong fuel will be drained from the tank, the line will be cleaned and the filters will be changed. If you contacted the service on time and did not have time to make mistakes, then everything is not as scary as it seems.
The question should immediately be divided into two parts. The first is when a solarium got into the gas tank and the driver found out about it immediately, before starting the engine. In the second case - a much more dramatic scenario, when the "substitution" makes itself felt only in motion.
The engine has not started yet
If the driver refuels petrol car, then he must be completely “out of his mind” in order to take a pistol from the holder with the inscription “DT” and pour diesel fuel into the tank. But the employees of the gas station are either poorly versed in the nuances of the Russian language, and therefore may well be mistaken. If you find this at the checkout according to the check or the words of the operator, then, of course, all responsibility must be placed on the employees filling station. The engine should not be started even in order to drive a little away from the fuel station - require the management of the gas station to call a tow truck to deliver the car to service station where you will need to remove the fuel tank, flush it and replace the fuel with the correct one.
"Substitution" of fuel was found on the way
It is much worse if you did not notice anything special at first after refueling. This happens if there is little diesel fuel and its ratio with gasoline is 1: 2 or more in favor of light fuel. The engine will gradually lose power, twitch, smoke. But you have already moved away from the gas station for some distance. In almost any situation, except for the one where people's lives depend on the advancement of the car for a few hundred meters, the engine should be immediately stopped, returned to the gas station in tow or a tow truck and an examination of the fuel poured into the tank should be demanded. At the same time, it is better to keep receipts - at least from the last refueling.
Upcoming renovation
And now I’ll tell you what I did to save the car: I remember it was a Kia cee "d, which was still refueled with a solarium. The owner did not understand the situation, and the car in tow fell into my hands. What happened to the car and how I had to fix it Problems?
In any case, you should remove the fuel tank, drain its contents, rinse and fill with clean gasoline. Apart from this mandatory procedure I took out the spark plugs. They were covered with a thick layer of black soot. In this case, cleaning will help. But better candles replace. The compression test showed that in three cylinders its value did not exceed 4–6 bar. Either the rings are broken, or they are coked - they have lost their mobility and “lie down”. Bay for the night decoking composition, in the morning I measured the compression of more than 11 bar - this is how much it should be on a serviceable motor. Means, piston rings survived. Dismantled just in case. fuel injectors and washed them. Learn more about this procedure.
I flushed the cylinders again through the spark plug holes. After that I changed the oil. This is necessary because flushing liquid inevitably gets into the oil. Still missing badass liners crankshaft! Wherein oil filter not necessary to change. After starting the engine ran smoothly. I changed the oil and filter again. Giving the car to the owner, he warned that after such an adventure, the car, perhaps, "is not a tenant." But that's a completely different story.
Needless to say, the situation with an error at a gas station is almost anecdotal, but everything happens. Be careful at the gas station, and if this happens, do not expect to get there by chance. Share in the comments if this has happened to you.
