Advice after I put petrol in my TDI by accident!!

[Transporter]

Buying always from the same servo can help. Also keep the receipts, just in case that contaminated fuel cause some troubles to your engine.

[gldgti]

Does petrol actually damage or upset the injector pump and injectors? (question for the experts here)
If not, could you then simply drain the tank, refill with diesel, remove glow plugs and turn the engine over untill all the petrol is 'blown' out?
Just a suggestion/question to anyone who knows more than me

you could do that on an older diesel for sure... but these modern diesels are sensitive to fuel mainly because there are some very high pressure parts in the system using the fuel as a lubricant. petrol is a terrible lubricant.

[gldgti]

Good to hear that is going fine OP.

as an aside, I used to add some petrol to my tank on purpose every now and then to keep the injectors clean on my old 1.5D (about 10%).

Also, I was convoying on a holiday with my Dad a couple of years back. He has a 1974 Merc 240D. I'm not sure how big the tank is (maybe 55L) but he put about 20L of unleaded in before he realised. He just filled the rest with diesel and kept driving - also fine!

[Greg Roles]

Mate that's BAD to even mention to the PD folk let alone the ultra precarious comon railers!

[NiekSavio]

Great news, good to hear a positive outcome. Hope it continues running well. I too always fear that I might have grabbed the wrong nozzle at the servo, being my first diesel after many petrol cars.

I am so paranoid that I always check 15 times before getting the diesel nozzle out and then check another 10 times before actually putting it in the tank. Glad it all worked out for you so far jettadsg

[The_Hawk]

I am so paranoid that I always check 15 times before getting the diesel nozzle out and then check another 10 times before actually putting it in the tank. Glad it all worked out for you so far jettadsg

Oh yeah. I'm always very careful to be using the right pump. When we first got the Van I was checking the pump *while* filling it half a dozen times

Funny thing is that when I had the Mk1 GLD I don't know that I ever paid much attention... I'm sure it's something to do with the 50x increase in price

I'm very glad to hear that it worked out so well for you. Here's hoping it continues without problems.

[Greg Roles]

How can you miss that smell, the oily patch you stand in, or even the slimy nozzle you have to hold??

[Corey_R]

How can you miss that smell, the oily patch you stand in, or even the slimy nozzle you have to hold??

When I put my Polo GTI on the market, and whilst I was waiting for my R to arrive, I started using my ex-flat-mate's Ford Focus TDI (I've been car sitting for him since he's been living overseas). After the first time I filled up with diesel, and not enjoying the experience AT ALL (could still smell the diesel on my hands that evening), I grabbed a "Glad sealable sandwich bag" from the kitchen, grabbed a handful of latex gloves from the laundry, put them in the bag and put them in the glove box!

Filling up with diesel wearing one of the latex gloves has made the experience so much easier and nicer!

[Frankenstrat]

At my local BP Manning servo, the diesel pumps all have a metal shields over the nozzle, that's how you know they're diesel. However, since BP Ultimate is now available, I go to BP Applecross, and the only pump with Ultimate is pump No9, which is diesel only, ergo, I'll never suffer the same fate as the OP. I'm glad everything worked out OK, but the OP's not the first to do that kind of thing, and certainly won't be the last.

I've noticed that the Ultimate pumps at BP South Perth and BP Applecross both have nice wet and wipe dispensers by them, so I don't have to carry a latex glove with me.

[Greg Roles]

I wipe the diesel from the nozzle on my business suit pants, smile and thank god I'm not a cry baby.