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  #1  
Old 08-12-2012, 01:12 AM
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What happens to a diesel when you try to use gas?

Hello,

I have found an 87 300SDL that the ad says was running well until the fuel tank was filled with gasoline.

Assuming that this statement is true (I know about assumptions), what happens to a diesel when you try to use gasoline? Is the engine ruined? Are any components ruined? Is there any economic way to correct the situation and bring the car back to life?

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1986 300SDL, 240K+ miles
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  #2  
Old 08-12-2012, 01:23 AM
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All depends on how long it was driven, and on what mixture.
Worst case scenario, all pistons are melted.
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  #3  
Old 08-12-2012, 02:03 AM
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Did the owner simply give up on the car? Any shop can drain the tank.

Hypothetically you'd prefer that the tank was empty, filled with gasoline and the engine died within a block or two. If the tank still had a fair amount of Diesel, it might have run longer on diluted fuel leading to more severe damage.

Bring a gallon of Diesel, some fuel line and a new spin-on filter - heck even an old spin-on filter. Fill the filter with Diesel and install. Have the lift pump draw directly from the gallon container while you attempt to start the engine. If the engine runs smoothly after self-bleeding, I'd say you have a winner. Have the car towed to a shop that will drain the tank.

Sixto
87 300D^2

Last edited by sixto; 08-12-2012 at 02:45 AM.
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  #4  
Old 08-12-2012, 02:26 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 1960mog View Post
All depends on how long it was driven, and on what mixture.
Worst case scenario, all pistons are melted.
Yes.
This was back between 1975-1980; so these were Mercedes without Turbo chargers.
In the first case about 1/2 Tank of Gas was pumped into the Diesel Fuel. The Mans Wife who put the Gas into the Fuel tank drove the Car until it was having serious Trouble moving forward.

The Car was towed to our shop.

We found all of the Injector Pintle tips were burned off.
The Injectors were rebuilt and the Fuel Tank Drained and filled with Diesel.
After that the Car drove normally with no obvious problems. No doubt the overall life of the Fuel Injection Pump was shortened but the Pump did not seize up as would have happened with a Standyne (RoosaMaster) Fuel Injection Pump.

In the 2nd case the Man pumped an unknown amount of Gasoline into the Tank and realized He had made a mistake.
He bought 4 quarts of ATF and dumped it into the Fuel Tank and drove the Car about 3 miles to our Shop.
The Fuel Tank was Drained and refilled with Diesel Fuel and the Injectors were pulled and found to be OK.
We reset the opening pressure on the Injectors and when the Car was back together there ware no issues.

From my Experience:
The Inline Fuel Injection Pumps can take the most abuse abuse.

Next best are the single Plunger distributor Fuel Injection Pumps like the Bosch VP or American Bosch PSJ and PSB Pumps (used to be used mostly on Military Trucks).

In the above Fuel Injection Pumps the Camshafts and Governors are lubed by Oil not Diesel Fuel.

Rotary Distributor Pumps are entirely lubed by Diesel Fuel and can suffer head seizures way more easily than the inline pumps do.

CAV Pumps are a little tougher than the Stanadyne (Roosamaster) Fuel Injection Pumps.

Gasoline has the worst effect on the Injectors mosly due to the detination and heat.
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  #5  
Old 08-12-2012, 06:53 AM
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Could be an opportunity to get a good deal. When my daughter was in possession of my 92 300D, she filled an almost empty tank with gasoline. Car ran for ten minutes or so then died. Indie drained tank, replaced filters, etc. and it's run perfectly ever since....that was about 25,000 miles ago.
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  #6  
Old 08-12-2012, 04:50 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by sixto View Post
Did the owner simply give up on the car? . . . .

Bring a gallon of Diesel, some fuel line . . . . If the engine runs smoothly after self-bleeding, I'd say you have a winner. Have the car towed to a shop that will drain the tank.

Sixto
87 300D^2

Fixing a non running car prior to purchase is dangerous, the owner might decide to keep it once it runs. ( If they have ethics they will pay you a reasonable home mechanic wage. )

There must be some negotiations before any repairs are attempted. ( If I make the car run, will you still sell at a preset price. )

On the open market a 20 year old generic car with a bad motor is worth it's weight in steel scrap. If you can purchase it for that, assume the motor ( and trans ) are bad that way if it can be made to run you made out, if not, the car still has salvage value.
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  #7  
Old 08-13-2012, 12:31 PM
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Last time I saw an MB diesel run on premium it blew out the prechamber ends which didn't play well with the pistons or valves.
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  #8  
Old 08-13-2012, 01:12 PM
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Someone at my dads work filled a duramax truck with gas twice in one week and both times drove it until it stopped, and its still running now.
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  #9  
Old 08-13-2012, 10:46 PM
A work in process...
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Travis_k View Post
Someone at my dads work filled a duramax truck with gas twice in one week and both times drove it until it stopped, and its still running now.
That's good. Nice to hear that the aluminum heads didn't melt.
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  #10  
Old 08-14-2012, 11:36 AM
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I do not feel there are any fixed rules when replacing the normal fuel with gasoline. If the car ran a short distance and stopped itself may be the most promising senario. Most of the time it is gotten away with but not always it seems.

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