Around here diesel nozzles will fit gasoline tanks just fine as far as I know... I haven't tried lately but they definitely look just as small as the gasoline nozzles.

I'm actually driving my grandparents Mercury again for the moment, my window regulator just went out and forced me to park the mercedes for at least the third time for that same reason... grrrr.... so next time I fill up I'll try to quietly (without looking like a nut) test the diesel nozzle to see if it fits. Without fueling, obviously.

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~Michael S.~
Past cars:

1986 300SDL
1987 300SDL
1982 240D
1982 300SD


Current:

1987 300SDL

Drivers of government vehicles don't typically come in contact with dealers.

The aviation world had a similar problem with the word "turbo." As a result, "turbo" markings have been removed from thousands of airplanes. To many line boys thought "turbo" meant "turbine" (instead of turbocharged) and pumped jet fuel into gasoline-powered airplanes, sometimes with disasterous results.

But it makes us feel so good when we can point and laugh at others!

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1984 300TD

I am glad you stopped him, I do not want anymore of our tax money being wasted than needed; and that guy killing a car is what I would qualify as an unnecessary expense.

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'81 300D - swapped to a 617.951 turbo motor with a 150 amp alt.

Is the auto diesel and gas nozzles not same size?

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2004 Infiniti G35 3.5L 6mt Coupe 73K miles 25.6mpg ytd
2001 Green Audi TT 225 AWD Roadster 71K 6sp 30.9mpg >>STOLEN<<
1982 300D Turbo 231K 120hp? 28.1mpg YTD

No, diesel nozzles are bigger and won't fit into a gas car.

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-diesel is not just a fuel, its a way of life-
'15 GLK250 Bluetec 118k - mine - (OC-123,800)
'17 Metris(VITO!) - 37k - wifes (OC-41k)
'09 Sprinter 3500 Winnebago View - 62k (OC - 67k)
'13 ML350 Bluetec - 95k - dad's (OC-98k)
'01 SL500 - 103k(km) - dad's (OC-110,000km)
'16 E400 4matic Sedan - 148k - Brothers (OC-155k)

I suspect but can't say for 100% certain that this is probably state-for-state instead of federal.

I've done some checking online. Passenger diesel pumps are "supposed" to have 15/16" nozzles while gasoline is dispensed from 13/16" nozzles. However, enforcement seems pretty slack and the stations seem to have the option to cheap out at least until they get caught and use the same nozzles for both. I've definitely seen this done on the pumps where diesel and gasoline come from the same machine. Less when the diesel is its own little island.

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~Michael S.~
Past cars:

1986 300SDL
1987 300SDL
1982 240D
1982 300SD


Current:

1987 300SDL

When unleaded gasoline came out as required for catalytic converters, unleaded pump nozzles were made smaller than leaded nozzles and a matching diameter restrictor was placed in the car's filler neck. Some state inspection criteria included checking that the restrictor was still intact as part of an effort to keep people from removing the cat and using leaded gas. I guess this is ancient history... probably before some of you were born. Makes me feel old!

Anyway, leaded gas and diesel nozzles would normally be larger than unleaded so they can flow a bit faster. Nozzles at truck stops are really big.

It's possible (but I don't know) that the unleaded nozzles are so common that on occasion a gas station might put one on the diesel pump if they don't have the right diesel nozzle on hand. I'm guessing (but I don't know) that this is against the law, as the smaller diameter unleaded nozzle was introduced for the specific purpose of keeping the right fuel in a catalytic converter equipped car.

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1987 W201 190D

I work for this state's DOT/DMV and our IT department Taurus wagon (sigh ) has E85 stickers in a few places but nobody around here has put diesel into the state vehicles. We haven't run E85 since it stinks (allegedly) and nobody carries it.

Although I did notice here that pumps are not color coded some are green diesel and some are yellow?? Some are color coded the same next to the gasoline pumps.

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1974 240D 3.0L 4(M) - 250K -OM617.910 + 300D FW + Rajay turbo power!
1977 6.9 3(A) - 84k

Most of ours are universally black, except for SOME green diesels. Never saw a yellow nozzle. And some color-advertising stations like Sheetz will use red and things just to be different. But the local standard is black can be anything and everything, once in a while diesel is green, once in a while a special station will use red or blue for gasoline.

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~Michael S.~
Past cars:

1986 300SDL
1987 300SDL
1982 240D
1982 300SD


Current:

1987 300SDL

Shell, I think, and maybe Exxon use yellow (or maybe green?) on the diesel handles, but other than that I never thought there being any universal color coding around here. I'll keep an eye open and see.

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1987 W201 190D

Please explain the "ruining" of the car . . .

I understand it would not run well or maybe at all, depending on how much gas was already in the tank . . . not sure anything would be permenantly "ruined" . . . yes one would need to drain and flush the fuel system, fill it up with gasoline, and off you go! Yes it would be an expense that you and I should not have to bear, but it would not "ruin" the car so it would need to be replaced!

I would have just let the guy go on his way.

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http://superturbodiesel.com/images/sig.04.10.jpg
1995 E420 Schwarz
1995 E300 Weiss
#1987 300D Sturmmachine
#1991 300D Nearly Perfect
#1994 E320 Cabriolet
#1995 E320 Touring
#1985 300D Sedan
OBK #42

Here's how you ruin the car.

You top up a partially-full tank of gasoline, adding just enough diesel so that it will still burn in the engine. Then you drive.

While driving, diesel fuel will leak past the rings, since it doesn't burn as easily. It dilutes the oil, both raising the level and lowering the viscosity. Too much oil or too thin oil is eventual engine death. In extreme cases, this "eventuality" happens in a few hundred miles.

The diesel fuel will lower the octane rating of the gasoline. If the car runs, it will knock like crazy. That knocking is hard on pistons and bearings.

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1987 W201 190D