My wife turned my Scag mower into a diesel..... - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

suburbanviking · #1 04-21-2007, 02:13 PM

I thought I'd share a funny story with you guys.

My wife enjoys mowing as much as I do. I taught her last year how to use the Scag zero turn mower and we usually split up the mowing of our 6 grassy acres during the week (it leaves the weekend open).

Wednesday she told me that it was running rough and had "a funny smell" right before she put it back in the shed. I went out there yesterday afternoon to start it and it would turn over but never started. In my troubleshooting efforts, after about a half hour I asked her exactly what she did before she put it away. Come to find out she had filled it with gas. Knowing that I just got gas Thursday I asked her to show me the gas can. Sure enough, it was an unmarked gas can that had diesel in it (I know, I know - my fault) on the side of the house. I didn't even know she knew it was back there since it wasn't with the "normal" gas.

Anyway, today I drained the tank, flushed the fuel system and got the mower started. It smoked for a while but is now running fine.

Lesson #1 - mark your gas cans
Lesson #2 - teach your wife the difference between gas and diesel
Lesson #3 - make sure to not make the wife feel bad so she wants to keep mowing

.....Dan

mike0000 · #2 04-21-2007, 03:52 PM

Wait a minute, did you just say your wife helps you cut the grass and she actually knows where the fuel goes? You did well to over look the wrong fuel, lucky man !!!

Mike

JimmyL · #3 04-21-2007, 04:21 PM

Much better scenario than putting gas in your diesel.....

300SD81 · #4 04-21-2007, 04:25 PM

Always smell your fuel before adding

Matt L · #5 04-21-2007, 04:33 PM

A few minutes ago, I purchased another yellow diesel can so each car can keep one in the trunk. I also have one blue one full of K-1, and a number of red gasoline cans.

bustedbenz · #6 04-21-2007, 04:47 PM

For the last I don't know how many years, we've stored fuel in the basement in 2.5 gallon chemical containers (living on a farm, there's plenty of Roundup, oil spray, etc that comes through) - and the lid color is the code system. Blue lid is diesel, white or anything else is regular gas, red lid is mixed high-test for chainsaws.

Works for us

BodhiBenz1987 · #7 04-21-2007, 09:01 PM

Now, what kind of a woman can't discern between the fine scent of diesel and the lowly, pugnant odor of gasoline? I know a good diesel fuel when I smell one ... like a wine connossieur ... get a couple good whiffs, let the aroma hit your soft palatte.

On a side note, does anyone else always sniff the pump spout before filling up to make sure it smells right? I do, and I'm not really sure why. It's not like they'd fill it up with gasoline, seeing as, at the station I use, it's set away from the gasoline pumps. You never know, though. I do find that the ULSD smells a little different from the old stuff, although maybe it's just in my head.

Matt L · #8 04-21-2007, 09:57 PM

Sniff it enough, and it will proceed beyond your head and into the rest of your body.

rudolfgreen · #9 04-21-2007, 10:09 PM

forget the fact about diesel vs gas, or even refilling.. she willingly mows the lawn?? simply in awe.

suburbanviking · #10 04-21-2007, 10:18 PM

Yep.....I'm definitely a lucky guy. Celebrated 10 years on Thursday. I upgraded her ring and she let me pick up an 84 300SD (to add to the 85 300TDT euro).

However, I am still impressed by the jiggling boog post earlier this week. That was probably one of the classics from here.

.....Dan

patbob · #11 04-23-2007, 08:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by suburbanviking

Lesson #1 - mark your gas cans
Lesson #2 - teach your wife the difference between gas and diesel

I guess that's why they make the diesel cans yellow with the word diesel molded into them. Red's for gas, yellow's for diesel, blue's for water, and I have no idea what the rest of the gas-can-rainbow at my local NAPA store is for

.

MS Fowler · #12 04-23-2007, 08:16 PM

I have a friend with a similar wife. First off she is simply a very nice person, add to that that she is stunningly beautiful, AND she mows the grass, all the time. Husband is not allowed to mow.
A beautiful wife.

2.5Turbo · #13 04-23-2007, 08:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by patbob

I guess that's why they make the diesel cans yellow with the word diesel molded into them. Red's for gas, yellow's for diesel, blue's for water, and I have no idea what the rest of the gas-can-rainbow at my local NAPA store is for

.

I thought blue was for kerosene. We have a 5-gallon blue kerosene can at home that we use for gas for the generator, because it was the only fuel can Home Depot had during a big storm a couple years back.

If I remember correctly, water cans are green.

pawoSD · #14 04-23-2007, 08:30 PM

I think you need to stop sniffing the fuel spout!!

Talk about buying cancer lottery tickets...

. Sniffing fuel = bad

Quote:

Originally Posted by BodhiBenz1987

Now, what kind of a woman can't discern between the fine scent of diesel and the lowly, pugnant odor of gasoline? I know a good diesel fuel when I smell one ... like a wine connossieur ... get a couple good whiffs, let the aroma hit your soft palatte.

On a side note, does anyone else always sniff the pump spout before filling up to make sure it smells right? I do, and I'm not really sure why. It's not like they'd fill it up with gasoline, seeing as, at the station I use, it's set away from the gasoline pumps. You never know, though. I do find that the ULSD smells a little different from the old stuff, although maybe it's just in my head.

300SD81 · #15 04-23-2007, 08:35 PM

I've never seen a diesel can myself.. Used the gas can the few times I needed to fill up.. Figure a little residue of the other fuel won't hurt either engine.. Wouldn't a diesel can be green? Like all the handles on the diesel pumps..