Have you ever wondered what would happen if you refuel a gasoline engine car with diesel? If you know what happens… I’m sorry to hear that. Putting diesel on a gasoline engine car by mistake is more common than you might think, because it’s an automatic action we do without thinking too much about it. What’s more, if we are using a different car than the one we normally use, the risk of making a mistake like this is even higher. So, let’s learn more about what happens in this situation.
Basic differences between diesel and gasoline
Although both are fuels, gasoline and diesel are not the same. Gasoline is a thinner and lighter liquid, whereas diesel is more dense and thicker. Gasoline cars are exclusively designed to work with gasoline, and all of its inner pieces depend on this type of fuel.
Diesel doesn’t burn the same way as gasoline. This is why issues start when it enters a system that’s not prepared for it. This difference is the main cause of the damages provoked when we refuel our car with the wrong fuel.
What happens in a gasoline engine car
When we put diesel in a gasoline engine car and we try to get the engine started, the car system moves that fuel through the fuel lines. Because diesel is thicker, it can cause blockages inside the system and parts such as the fuel injectors, fuel pump, and spark plugs are especially at risk.
If the engine manages to start, diesel can also damage the catalytic converter, which is responsible for reducing harmful emissions. This part is very expensive to replace. In many cases, the fuel system must be completely cleaned, and some parts may need to be replaced entirely.
This can make it worse
The most important rule to follow in this situation is very clear: not to start the engine. By starting the engine diesel moves through the entire system and causes serious damages.
If you realize you made a mistake before the car is started, the damage tends to be easier to solve. In this case, you only need to empty the tank, clean the system, and refuel the car again with gasoline this time. Even though it’s still expensive, it’s way cheaper when it comes to fixing the engine.
However, if you start the engine, the diesel reaches more delicate parts of the engine, which means replacing injectors, fuel pumps, fuel filters, and the catalytic converter. As you can imagine, this can cost thousands of dollars…
Gas stations
Gas stations know that this mistake is very common, which is why they use several methods to prevent it. For example, diesel pumps tend to be of different colors, like green, while gasoline ones are normally black.
The smell is also an important sign. Gasoline smells different and diesel has a stronger smell, similar to kerosene. So, if you go to a gas station to refuel your car and you notice a strange smell, you’d better stop and check the fuel.
What’s more, the size of the diesel nozzles are bigger than gasoline ones, which makes it difficult to introduce them into a gasoline engine car. It’s kind of like a warning for the driver.
How much does it cost to fix it?
If you didn’t start the engine, you would have to pay for towing the car and draining the fuel tank. This can cost several hundred dollars, depending on the work needed.
On the contrary, if you did start the engine, you would have to pay more: fuel pumps and catalytic converters alone can cost around $1,000 each, and iInjectors, filters, and cleaning or replacing fuel lines add even more to the total bill. The longer the engine runs, the more damage is done.
What if you put gasoline on a diesel car?
This is also dangerous. Even though diesel engines are resistant, they are not designed to use gasoline, which can cause similar damages in the fuel system. The first signs you may notice are that the engine may run poorly, make strange noises, or produce smoke. So, the best thing to do here is to also turn off the engine immediately and have the vehicle towed to a mechanic.
Now you know what to do if you happen to experience this situation, but remember to pay attention before refueling your car.