Bad Diesel

[whiskywallah]

Jokes out of the way first...
BAD diesel ..... No such thing... Just diesel LOL

Put petrol in a diesel car and it would barely get off the forecourt.

And how did this topic suddenly switch to fuel economy? Did I miss a post?

I think we are going to see more and more of this sort of thing. We expect car manufacturers to squeeze every ounce of juice out of an ever smaller engine. That means they have to tighten fuel tolerances to only work with one very narrow grade of fuel. And fuel in Australia is very 'dirty' compared to Europe.
We need to keep hammering away at fuel companies to do better.

I don't think $900 is excessive so long as they do a thorough job. If it really is properly dirty fuel then bill could be much higher to replace all the contaminated and now broken parts.

[kaanage]

I wonder if this is a case where the CR HPFP piston has rotated in it's housing and then shredded itself with the swarf ending up all through the fuel lines (including the return back to the fuel tank)?
Some did report this happening here a few months ago.

[Transporter]

No, that would be to cheap, the $900 wouldn't cover the cost of the part.

[Umai Naa!!]

In the current commonrail diesel VWs, don't expect much change from $6,000 if you happen to put petrol in them, and try to drive them.

The only thing I can advise you, is if you're in doubt, check your recipt. If it turns out that you've put petrol in it DON'T DRIVE IT AT ALL!! You'll save yourself thousands.

There are two distinct procedures that VW has outlined for both scenarios. If you decide to start the car, things get very expensive very quickly. If you don't, it's only a matter of emptying the tank, and flushing the lines, and replacing the fuel filter. Remember, even turning the key to 'ON' will cycle the intank fuel pump.

[Umai Naa!!]

$900 to drain the fuel tank and replace the fuel filter seems outrageous to me.

Can you be absolutely certain that your wife filled with Caltex Vortex diesel and not Caltex Vortex petrol?

There's no drain plug on the tank. It's just an appropriately-shaped plastic container. There is a drain procedure in the diagnostic software that the dealer uses, which will operate the in-tank fuel pump. It's quicker than completely removing the tank, but it's still time-consuming. Also, you don't ever get everything out. So they may have removed the tank anyway to be sure.

[Frankenstrat]

Good points Umai Naa!!. In light of what's been said following my previous post, $900 to rectify the problem may well be the best outcome.

[Dr freedom]

My mate filled his diesel with petrol in March, youd think that after owning a diesel for 10 years he'd know better lol, but hes one of those guys..

In the end, he got a quote to fix it, it came back at 1800 because the petrol had gone right through the entire fuel system.. it was ugly.

He claimed it on his insurance & only paid the 500 excess. His insurance said it was a common thing, people make mistakes driving & crash, people make mistakes when filling their tanks, so it was all good.

The result is for $500, he got a new fuel pump, full injector & rail cleaning & other related stuff. The only downside to it was he didnt have a car for almost 2 weeks & that hes still the same dope he was prior to putting petrol in it

[flippin]

Ok, here is the latest. I contacted my insurance company and they have gone out to inspect the car but have heard nothing back about it yet. I'm hoping that i will not have to pay a thing as our reciept from the fuel def says diesel. I will let you all now what the final outcome will be when i know more.

Thanks for the comments!

[Dr freedom]

Im curious to know if they will cover the work.. Ill ask my mate who his insurance is with & post back

[Diesel_vert]

I would've gone straight to Caltex for a claim, and only get the insurance company involved if they didn't play ball.

So I hope that the insurance company does not charge you an excess, since Caltex are the party at fault. In which case, they'd send the repair bill to them.

However, if the insurance company is paying for the repairs out of their own pocket, then I would expect to pay an excess - assuming your insurance policy covers mechanical damage, that is.


EDIT... that is to say, mechanical damage not arising from a collision, flood, fire, theft, malicious act, etc.

But obviously, this will depend on your insurance policy.