Putting diesel in a gas engine can cause significant damage to the engine and interconnected parts that work together to make your car go. Diesel fuel has an octane rating of 25-30, which is lower than the rating required for gasoline engines. Pumping diesel fuel into a gas tank can lower the octane level needed and cause damage to the gas engine. The more diesel fuel pumped into the gas tank, the higher the level of diesel contamination, which can clog up the fuel filter and fuel injectors. Attempting to drive a vehicle with diesel in a gas engine will cause it to stall as soon as diesel reaches the intake system, potentially clogging the fuel lines and damaging the engine. If you accidentally fill your gas tank up with diesel, it’s best not to operate the vehicle to minimize the risk of costly repairs. Heres what you should do:
- Do not attempt to operate the vehicle. By not running the vehicle, you are avoiding the possibility of sucking up diesel into the fuel line.
- Have the tank drained. If you accidentally fill your gas tank up with diesel, it’s quite possible your car will not start, and you will have to have the tank drained.
