How much damage does gasoline do in a diesel engine?? - Page 3 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Caseyjones955 · #31 08-05-2009, 02:45 AM

Check and make sure alt/Water pump/PS pump or something didnt seize up and cause the belt to heat and shread as it was dragging across a stationary pulley. Maybe the water pump seized, causing the coolant to boil out and shread the belt all at the same convenient time.

My son is 14 now and he wants a 72 Ford Maverick Grabber quite badly (most kids want Hondas so Im happy) its pretty damn hard to screw up a 302/351. I had planned on handing down my SDL to one of my kids because it needs some work and wont ever be worth what I have to put into it to make it right. I have to keep it in the family and use it often to get my $$ out of it.

At some point someone WILL top it off with gasoline, which ever child does will be made to perform the repairs under my very close supervision, up to but not excluding reringing the engine and paying for machine work. As for yours, I would not worry so much about an amount of gasoline run through it but the heat may very well be reason for concern. It sounds like your dealing with multiple seperate issues. Best of luck to you and may the beatings be conducted with swift and blinding violence

dannym · #32 08-05-2009, 08:27 AM

Thanks for all the replies. I'm just hoping for the best.
I was able to turn the water pump by hand so I don't think that's a problem. I didn't check the alternator.

I might be able to get to it tonight. The problem is since I got married in March I have been doing nothing but working on cars. The wife is getting a little annoyed. She's been really good about it but I can hardly blame her.

Her car needs a new timing belt but I haven't had time for it. I just put a new starter in the Volvo last night. That was supposed to be IT!!
Now I have to deal with the Mercedes.

Not to mention I'm supposed to finish remodeling the kitchen.

I have so much on my plate right now.
I need a vacation.

Danny

t walgamuth · #33 08-05-2009, 10:49 PM

I read most of the thread but missed where you said how long it ran with the gasoline in it.

If its a short distance its probably fine but my lovely #3 daughter ran one of my 240ds about 90 miles that way (it had about half gas and half diesel) and it really put the kebosh on it. Scored the cylinders and cracked the block I believe it was....and on a freshly rebuilt motor.....I replaced it with a good used 300d motor and tranny.

I am embarrassed to say I have put gasoline twice in my 03 dodge with cummins and drove home about a mile or two....no noticable damage after draining it out and filling with diesel.

Good luck!

dannym · #34 08-06-2009, 08:28 AM

Well, he lives in Clermont & I live in Deltona. The distance is roughly 55 miles. Then the genius missed the exit and went all the way to I-95 and turned around which added another 40 miles or so. Actualy 35 cause he never did make it all the way.

He said he put $10 of gas in. I don't know how much diesel was in it. Maybe 1/4 to 1/2 tank? Can't be sure cause he obviously doesn't pay attention to anything.

I changed the belts last night. Which was extra fun having to remove the ac & power stering belts to get the alternator/water pump belt on.

I put 10 gallons of diesel in it so far. I'm going to add another 5 gallons tonight with a little motor oil mixed in. Then I'll purge the gas out of the fuel lines and try to start it.

Wish me luck!

Danny

dannym · #35 08-06-2009, 12:32 PM

It started!!

I took off the spin on filter and pumped the primer pump about 200 times into a large cup. Flushed the filter with diesel fuel and put it back in. Pumped the primer about 100 more times and started it up.

It smoked a lot at first but it stopped after a while. I thought it was kind of loud but I haven't driven it in a couple of months so it may have been normal.
It quieted down after a while too. Sounded good after it warmed up.
I reved it up to 3500 rpm and it sounded great. Got the boost up to 4 or 5 pounds.
The temp gauge never got up to 80 the whole 10 minutes I had it idling.

I am so relieved. I may take the extra injectors I have and put them in anyway. Other than that I think it's good to go.

Danny

barry123400 · #36 08-06-2009, 03:21 PM

Well you can now compliment him on observing the temp gauge was going high and shutting down. I certainly would. If he had missed that for too long your temper in the rings would have probably been history. The belt disinigration was probably just coincidental.

This approach will motivate and encourage him to think more. Possibly getting past what may have occured earlier. In otherwords a learning experience and proving dad can be flexable enough to change his mind.

Kurt Smith · #37 08-06-2009, 06:39 PM

Good deal. I think the IP is pretty stout and you will be okay for a long time.

chetwesley · #38 08-06-2009, 06:59 PM

I know it is obnoxious to have advice about your own kids, but I wouldn't be too hard on the kid, just try to put the point across to him of the results of his negligence.

My dad always has done a lot for me and never asked for anything in return, but what has come in return is that in a lot of ways I have become handy like he is. Not to his level when it comes to cars, sadly, but a lot of it did rub off on me there and in other areas.

If your son is college age, he is really just starting his development as an adult. Sometimes it can take a few years to develop more responsibility and appreciation for things. It did for me. I was a totally self-involved screwup for my first four or so years of adulthood.

piccolovic · #39 08-06-2009, 09:05 PM

Well, I have a confession to make. One night after pulling many hours of overtime, I left the unit on my way home and realized I was almost out of fuel. After pondering about how early I would be getting up for my reserve drill, I decided, that no matter how tired I was, I had to fill up before the morning, rather than space out at "O-dark-thirty" and run out of fuel on the freeway, making me late for formation. So, I pulled into the usual gas station for my fuel, and went to the other side of the station, as the pumps I usually used were closed off. I started pumping fuel, and in my fog I noticed the numbers "87"!!!

About that time, my engine (which was running) started to knock really bad and died. I had to push it off to the side. Used roomie's car in the a.m. to get to reserve drill. I called a couple of places (was referred to only Mercedes mechanics) and just about choked when the buzzards started quoting me upwards of $800 to get it started. So figuring they deserved my next set of questions, I explained that in order to get my "husband" (I don't have on anymore) to pay for it, he would have to know exactly what they had to do for the $800. And I got an explanation of how to purge the system and replace the filters.

Since I had to go to reserve drill that weekend, and was short on time, I called the folks who took over my old mechanics shop (they earnestly were trying to keep the customers and I was the only Mercedes Diesel customer), and they towed me, purged the system, changed filters according to the instructions from the buzzard's shop and started my 190D up. We put four oz. of ATF in and it quieted down. I never had any problems after that. And the entire bill, including the tow was only $200.

Since I had been the transportation officer with a fleet of "multi-fuel" trucks in my unit, everyone was stunned that I, of all ppl had made that mistake. . . . well, LOL . . . we're all human. I might suggest that you enjoy teasing your son about his error, and thank him for shutting down after noticing the heat gauge.

Also, Did you check the tensioner pulley for the shredded fan belt? I am glad that you got it running without much trouble.

Torie

300D85 · #40 08-07-2009, 11:49 AM

Teens live in another world..

The odd time I brought my teens' beefs to work, fellow workers with more experience would end up saying .."what.. you were an angel!" ..sorta put that to rest..

As far as household duties go, gave up on my son staying on top of cat litter duties..

He's in 4th year University to be a high school history teacher..

I never figured that part out & ended up a truck driver..

He loves benzes, daughter hates them..

Cest la vie .. :-)

dannym · #41 08-10-2009, 11:50 AM

I gave it an Italian tune up & got it up to 95mph on the highway. Stupid cars riding the left lane wouldn't get out of my way!

I think I dodged a bullet with this episode.

Danny

rumandcoke · #42 08-10-2009, 03:21 PM

I did a recent trip from Arizona to Alaska and late at night when driving through the Yukon, I stopped in at a gas station to refuel. Here in the States, diesel is on a green colored pump handle and apparently in Canada, green is for the Premium gasoline and yellow is diesel. Anyway, after 8 hours of driving in the middle of freaking nowhere, I wasn't paying attention and put about $15 of the gas in my tank before I realized my mistake. I had about a quarter tank in there prior, filled up the rest with No. 2 and was off. Didn't notice any issues at all, car seemed to run normal. I'd say as long as you dilute it, it should be fine. These engines are crazy on what they will run on. They may not like it, but they will do it.