Gas In A Diesel

[Edward]

There seem to be a lot of "car guys" here so figure this would be a good place to ask.
Last night at work, I wound up getting into a different truck then normal and fueled up because it was at a quarter tank. Guess what, unlike my normal truck this one was a diesel... And very poorly marked as such. I filled it with 16 gallons of regular unleaded gasoline.
It ran done for 3 hrs (half hr actual driving and rest just idling) until I shut it down. In that time, I used about a quarter tank. 45 minutes later, I tried to start it again and it wouldn't. Engine would turn but it sounded like it wasn't getting fuel. THAT is when I found out it was a diesel.
Doing a search online, most people talking about engine damage also mention it running rough and/or stalling out. That didn't happen. It ran fine until I turned it off and then just wouldn't start.
Is it likely that I destroyed the engine or is it possible that it only needs minor repairs? How much work it needs will probably determine my future with the company. As in, not much of one if I destroyed a $50,000 piece of equipment.
It's a mid-2000's GMC pickup with dual tanks.

 

[Ty]

There seem to be a lot of "car guys" here so figure this would be a good place to ask.
Last night at work, I wound up getting into a different truck then normal and fueled up because it was at a quarter tank. Guess what, unlike my normal truck this one was a diesel... And very poorly marked as such. I filled it with 16 gallons of regular unleaded gasoline.
It ran done for 3 hrs (half hr actual driving and rest just idling) until I shut it down. In that time, I used about a quarter tank. 45 minutes later, I tried to start it again and it wouldn't. Engine would turn but it sounded like it wasn't getting fuel. THAT is when I found out it was a diesel.
Doing a search online, most people talking about engine damage also mention it running rough and/or stalling out. That didn't happen. It ran fine until I turned it off and then just wouldn't start.
Is it likely that I destroyed the engine or is it possible that it only needs minor repairs? How much work it needs will probably determine my future with the company. As in, not much of one if I destroyed a $50,000 piece of equipment.
It's a mid-2000's GMC pickup with dual tanks.

Prognosis? Grim. At the least, tanks would have to be drained and the oil changed. My brother did the same thing just last month but caught it as he paid for the gas so he didn't run any through the motor. You can run some gas through a diesel without issue and some people swear by adding a gallon per tank. Gas tends to ignite under lower pressure than diesel which limits how much compression you can give it. Diesels get their power from being able to really squeeze the fuel. Anyway, if the thing still turns over and just won't start, you are probably in for less than $1,000 worth of cleaning out the gasoline. Good luck with the job.

 

[Craig]

There seem to be a lot of "car guys" here so figure this would be a good place to ask.
Last night at work, I wound up getting into a different truck then normal and fueled up because it was at a quarter tank. Guess what, unlike my normal truck this one was a diesel... And very poorly marked as such. I filled it with 16 gallons of regular unleaded gasoline.
It ran done for 3 hrs (half hr actual driving and rest just idling) until I shut it down. In that time, I used about a quarter tank. 45 minutes later, I tried to start it again and it wouldn't. Engine would turn but it sounded like it wasn't getting fuel. THAT is when I found out it was a diesel.
Doing a search online, most people talking about engine damage also mention it running rough and/or stalling out. That didn't happen. It ran fine until I turned it off and then just wouldn't start.
Is it likely that I destroyed the engine or is it possible that it only needs minor repairs? How much work it needs will probably determine my future with the company. As in, not much of one if I destroyed a $50,000 piece of equipment.
It's a mid-2000's GMC pickup with dual tanks.

Taken off a different forum
I have worked at a ford dealership and have done quite a few of these problems.
Local station had there diesel tanks filled with unleaded. Needless to say they where coming in like flies. We drained the tanks and lines, replaced the filters, filling them with fords fuel lubricity additive, and installed the additive in the tank as well. It will run rough for a bit, then smooth out. I do not see any need to replace the pump or injectors. What does concern me would be the DPF filter. I'm not sure what damage,if any could result from the gasoline. I don't think it would be damaged by the gas itself, but maybe the additives. The fuel pump is a very durable unit, a little gas won't hurt it a bit. They are probably concerned about injector scuffing from the gas not lubricating the injectors, but if you don't continue to drive it, and get the lubricity additive in there, it should be alright. I would use at least 3 bottles of lubricity additive, and fill the filter with just the additive. That way the engine will get a good shot of the additive to the injectors. I would not worry about anything else until this is done, then see how it runs.

http://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/640320-my-son-put-gas-in-my-diesel-truck.html

 

[Edward]

Anyway, if the thing still turns over and just won't start, you are probably in for less than $1,000 worth of cleaning out the gasoline. Good luck with the job.

That should be liveable, although I should probably have someone else take my truck in for oil changes for the next year or so if I want them done within a week of bringing it in.
So "probably destroyed" sounds like it may be a bit of an overstatement. Fingers crossed.

 

[vtx04]

I did just the opposite about 10 years ago. Was heading to N Carolina from the midwest in my '72 ElCamino. Wasn't feeling real well...had a nasty cold. Long story short, put about 10 gals of diesel in without realizing it on last fuel stop. (large filler neck allowed diesel nozzle right in) After a few miles, it ran bad and clattered like crazy. When I decellerated, smoke poured out of the tailpipes. Got to where I was going and had it towed to a local station. It would start, but smoke just billowed out the pipes. I was thinking I blew a head gasket although guages all looked fine. Mechanic called and told me there was diesel in it. He dropped and cleaned the tank and fuel lines, and changed the filter. Ran fine and never had another problem. Lucky for me, it was carberated, not injected. I watched the pumps a lot closer after that. :O

 

[Keith Stone]

There seem to be a lot of "car guys" here so figure this would be a good place to ask.
Last night at work, I wound up getting into a different truck then normal and fueled up because it was at a quarter tank. Guess what, unlike my normal truck this one was a diesel... And very poorly marked as such. I filled it with 16 gallons of regular unleaded gasoline.
It ran done for 3 hrs (half hr actual driving and rest just idling) until I shut it down. In that time, I used about a quarter tank. 45 minutes later, I tried to start it again and it wouldn't. Engine would turn but it sounded like it wasn't getting fuel. THAT is when I found out it was a diesel.
Doing a search online, most people talking about engine damage also mention it running rough and/or stalling out. That didn't happen. It ran fine until I turned it off and then just wouldn't start.
Is it likely that I destroyed the engine or is it possible that it only needs minor repairs? How much work it needs will probably determine my future with the company. As in, not much of one if I destroyed a $50,000 piece of equipment.
It's a mid-2000's GMC pickup with dual tanks.

Oops...shit chose the wrong one!

Just checked my diesel forum 9/10 Are ok with a tank drain and refuel I would change filter and dump some kind fuel lubricity additive in tank and a little in filter(like Craig said), I don't think it had a dpf filter if it's mid 2000's depending On year I am sure 2008 and up do have dpf.

 

[Snick]

diesel in a gas car = no biggie.

gas in a diesel older than 2007 = $1500-$2500 repairs
gas in a diesel newer than 2007 = $7,000-$14,500 repairs.

 

[Ty]

My brother was out one tank of gas which he drained into a barrel and uses it for stumps he can't pull or something on his farm. That and time were his only expenses... 2005 Dodge.

 

[Ty]

There seem to be a lot of "car guys" here so figure this would be a good place to ask.
Last night at work, I wound up getting into a different truck then normal and fueled up because it was at a quarter tank. Guess what, unlike my normal truck this one was a diesel... And very poorly marked as such. I filled it with 16 gallons of regular unleaded gasoline.
It ran done for 3 hrs (half hr actual driving and rest just idling) until I shut it down. In that time, I used about a quarter tank. 45 minutes later, I tried to start it again and it wouldn't. Engine would turn but it sounded like it wasn't getting fuel. THAT is when I found out it was a diesel.
Doing a search online, most people talking about engine damage also mention it running rough and/or stalling out. That didn't happen. It ran fine until I turned it off and then just wouldn't start.
Is it likely that I destroyed the engine or is it possible that it only needs minor repairs? How much work it needs will probably determine my future with the company. As in, not much of one if I destroyed a $50,000 piece of equipment.
It's a mid-2000's GMC pickup with dual tanks.

Let us know how it comes out. Good luck

 

[Edward]

Well, the truck went back into service yesterday. Given the speed (or lack there of) our mechanic gets things done, I'd say it needed very little work to be back on the road in a week. It was a 2006, so I guess it didn't have the dfp to get messed up.