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Question by kerby
Submitted on 11/22/2003
Related FAQ: Gasoline FAQ - Part 4 of 4
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What happens if you pit diesel in an unleaded car, will it damage the engine?

 
 

Answer by Richards.good.stuff
Submitted on 11/24/2003
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I have tried this at various times, so i believe i have a practical answer.  Will it damage the engine? That depends on the amount added and the engine.  There are two immediate impacts of diesel fuel mixed with gasoline: the octane is lowered and the fuel vaporization is reduced.  The lowered octane may cause the engine to knock.  Some engines have knock sensors and the electronic controls will adjust the timing and other engine conditions to try to control the knock.  If the knock remains significant it can damage the engine by causing metal fatigue eventually leading to failure of critical parts like pistons, connecting rods, heads.  Some very old engines (e.g. 1950's tractors) can accomodate lower octane, but the ones found in recent autos are normally running close to the knock threashold. The reduced volotitility caused by the added diesel will cause hard starting and will probably result in some unburnt hydrocarbons remaining in the exhaust gas from the engine; these may be reacted in the catalytic convertor causing it to overheat.  A modern electronic controlled emission system controls the oxygen level in the exhaust gas going to the convertor so the significant increase in hydrocarbons with controlled oxygen may save the convertor, but will likely result in unburnt hydrocarbons exiting the exhaust.  This will result in a smell and air pollution.

So if enough diesel is added to produce any of these problems it is a not a good situation.  I would consider draining and replacing the fuel or if practical diluting it with fresh gasoline to eleminate the symptons.

 

Answer by @richards
Submitted on 2/10/2004
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how much diesel would cause engine damage?

what would happen if i put 1/6 of diesel and 5/6 of unleaded?

 

Answer by alibaba
Submitted on 6/20/2004
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what about the opposite? What happens if you put unleaded in a diesel engine? whoops.

 

Answer by Hidden
Submitted on 7/11/2004
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I dont think you can put unleaded fuel into a diesel engine.  The nossle is different from what I've seen, and it will not fit into the car (at least newer ones).  But that's just from personal experience.

 

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