Diesel in gas engine 1

[meskan]

help
I came to the pros to find out what todo about a mess up on my part today.. I inadvertenly put 4 gallons of diesel fuel in my Ford f-150... I got me home approx. 8 miles with poor perfomance. I then discovered my mistake.. There was approx. 6 gallons of gasoline in the tank at the fueling time.. Will this hurt my engine just to burn it out by driving or should I have it towed and pumped out..

Thanks in advance
meskan

 

[kcj]

diesel fuel by definition is very low octane, (or high cetane number). It is designed to ignite easily under compression, ie it could knock seriously under heavy loads, high pressure and temperature.

Since it is 50/50 mix, its probably not a big deal, but may have messed up the pollution control and engine mangement feedback devices, or catcon.

to be safe, you should drain it all out and refill. In reality, I think what ever damage youmight do is already done.

Personally, I would fill it the rest of the way up with fresh gas (bring fuel in without starting or driving it to the gas station) start it up and drive it easy on that tank of fuel.

Diesel is a heeavier partof the crude oil, so is thicker and more lubrication. If you had gone the other way, gas in a diesel, the lack of lubricity could have seized up the injectors and fuel pump parts.

k

 

[meskan]

Thank you so much for your answer.. I did as you suggested and she is running like a dream.. Just a check engine lite on which is a sensor I think.. Hopefully it will correct itself.. If not,its not to bad for what I thought was a major exspense heading my way

Meskan