Diesel In my CTi ... what to do?!

[lagonda 42]

Previous topic refers, doh! In my defence I'd had little sleep two nights running and driven hundreds of miles, so pretty tired. Even so, the blinking pump should have been a darn sight clearer as to which fuel! Annoyingly I filled the tank, so I have a full tank of fuel, of which 34 litres is now diesel.

 

Been reading up ... some comment states the fuel filter will need to be changed. Is that likely? The car drove 50 yards at most so not much more of an egg cup ful of diesel would have gone through the filter. Perhaps a tad more whilst attempting starting. Don't mind changing the filter, but getting one will take time I don't have ... just hoping to drive again once drained and filled with real petrol.

 

Also some advice is flush the tank ... surely not necessary given a tank full of petrol diluting the slight residue of diesel remaining to a tiny percentage?

 

Edited October 2 by lagonda

[petert 588]

Much better than the other way around. ie filling your diesel car with petrol.

 

It’s an easy fix. Disconnect the hose off the fuel rail and plumb a hose into a drum. Hot wire the fuel pump by applying +12V to the fuse or relay on wire 76. 
 

You won’t get all of it out but don’t stress. When you think it’s done, add another 10L of 98 and do it again. 
 

Then fill and drive it. It will be fine. If I recall, the CTi is a low compression DFZ anyway?

Edited October 2 by petert

[lagonda 42]

Hi Peter,

 Thanks, that's reassuring. I thought of disconnecting there and pondered if it might syphon. If not, would pulling the coil terminals not be a better alternative? Possibly clamping the tachy relay points closed?

[petert 588]

I'd pull the plug off the tachy relay and jump +12V and wire 76 there.

[lagonda 42]

The petrol station didn't have a suitable container for a tank full of "contaminated" fuel, furthermore they stated I couldn't dispose of it if I did drain it myself. So ended up calling out a specialist company,"Fuel Fixers" to do it. Waited 4 hours for the guy to arrive, by which time the petrol station closed, denying me a fill-up once drained. They agreed a substantial reduction, but even so, still £240, but did include £20 worth of petrol free of charge. Despite assurances, I doubt this is 98 octane,

 

Their service included flushing the system, but I'm not sure how thorough this was, as the guy insisted I sat in his nice warm van! Starting was very reluctant and gradual, using an easy start spray quite a lot. In the end it only ran on all four once he'd cleaned the plugs. Much white smoke for some time, as well, so despite the "flushing" I'm suspicious there was more diesel than ideal left in the tank. Drove it some 10 miles, to my destination, annoyingly with it running worse and worse rather than better and better. I'm hoping filling with V Power PETROL in the morning will help, and I have fair drive to Salisbury and back after that, which hopefully will clear the system thoroughly.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[petert 588]

oh wow, that is epic, sorry to hear. I'd wrongly assumed you'd tow it home and do it there.

[Tom Fenton 1,542]

Bugger

 

I'd say top it off with fresh fuel and it should improve things as you dilute the percentage of diesel still in there. I'd change the filter when you can but otherwise I wouldn't worry too much about it.

[Leslie green 111]

Is you cti a later model with a catalst it may be more of an issue

If it was an earlier car it would have been fine very soon after once the fresh fuel started getting to the engine rather than a mix.The plugs may need cleaning again till it starting running better and replace after say 100 miles once its all clear or next tank 

Edited October 4 by Leslie green

[lagonda 42]

No, it's 1989, no catalyst to worry about, thank goodness. Didn't get very far this morning. Got worse until it stalled and wouldn't restart. After waiting 10 minutes, I did coax it to start, but it obviously wouldn't be driveable. For example, hold the pedal at 4000rpm ... and the needle just drops down until stall. Could smell diesel, which indicates there is still too much in the system despite the drain and flush. Called FuelFixers under their guarantee, and really hope they flush it fully ... so frustrating as the car has been driving very well recently.

[Leslie green 111]

Well at least you know whats wrong , tank must still have quite a bit of diesel in it , if the fuel pump is lifted out they should be able to remove most of it ,add say 5 litres of petrol then drain it again and it should be much better .

[lagonda 42]

Yes, no way did the guy flush the system fully. Turned up today and went with him to the car. Took the plugs out ... all black, wet and oily. Surprised it ran at all. Sucked the petrol out he put in last time, and ran the pump with the injector rail feed removed, cleaned plugs, fresh petrol ... noting this time he listened and used 98 octane. Car started after a little reluctance, soon settled down to a nice even idle ... great, all good!