XSeries-forum

I have often thought how do people foolishly put the wrong fuel in their cars. Well I now know!! the pump suppliers fix the silly petrol car owners by changing the size of the fuel pump gun and the cars fuel tank necks. But us diesel vehicle owners are on our own, we just get a black handle (no I'm not colour blind), about  6 weeks ago I did the unforgivable. I added 35 litres of petrol in my lovely X5 I become the proud owner of a few months back, as quick as a flash I panicked remembering what frightening stories about failed engines, fuel system and or the world will come to an end. Well this is my experience, I continued to fill the tank with Diesel right to the top, then added a  few cap full's of two stroke oil, drove with a very light right foot for half a tank then topped up again, continued with the light foot. I have now fill up twice more and all is well(touching wood is difficult whilst typing this) BUT a strange side effect of this is the fuel consumption has now improved from 24 to 27 mpg to now 27 to 34 on very similar conditions and driving styles.
Am I a lucky X5 owner or what?

Lucky for now.  It's probably cleaned some of the accumulated crud out, but you need to monitor things carefully as petrol damages the seals in the fuel pump components - particularly the high pressure side.

If no issues arise then we need lottery numbers off you with that kind of luck..... )

You can now get anti-mis fuelling devices that don't work if you put a petrol nozzle in a diesel filler neck.  I have to admit I check it every time and now were a diesel only family it's safer, but given the tangle of hoses at some filling stations very easy to grab the wrong one when not 100% paying attention.....

Richard

You do sound lucky but you certainly did your best to rectify a difficult situation, hope it continues to run well for you & the added mpg is a real bonus. 

Must admit I take a second third and fourth glance now; given this is my first petrol car following a run of 4 consecutive diesels.


Sent from my iPhone 5 using Tapatalk 2

[quote="snipez999"]
Must admit I take a second third and fourth glance now; given this is my first petrol car following a run of 4 consecutive diesels.


Sent from my iPhone 5 using Tapatalk 2
[/quote]

Me too although my cars are now all petrol I still take a good look.....

Many years back Diesel pumps were on a separate island and all pumps were individual, so mistakes just didn't happen. The worst was did I put 3* or 4* in? Then in the late 70's they started putting in multi-service pumps and problems began.
It would most probably be reversed today with petrol getting its own island but it could save a lot of errors.

[quote="Greydog"]
Many years back Diesel pumps were on a separate island and all pumps were individual, so mistakes just didn't happen. The worst was did I put 3* or 4* in? Then in the late 70's they started putting in multi-service pumps and problems began.
It would most probably be reversed today with petrol getting its own island but it could save a lot of errors.
[/quote]

What is 3* !?!?

[quote="535dboy"]
[quote="snipez999"]
Must admit I take a second third and fourth glance now; given this is my first petrol car following a run of 4 consecutive diesels.


Sent from my iPhone 5 using Tapatalk 2
[/quote]

Me too although my cars are now all petrol I still take a good look.....
[/quote]
I also check & double check both are petrols at the moment but I did worry when we had one diesel & one petrol...I don't miss getting diesel all over my hand though from the pump.

[quote="535dboy"]
[quote="Greydog"]
Many years back Diesel pumps were on a separate island and all pumps were individual, so mistakes just didn't happen. The worst was did I put 3* or 4* in? Then in the late 70's they started putting in multi-service pumps and problems began.
It would most probably be reversed today with petrol getting its own island but it could save a lot of errors.
[/quote]

What is 3* !?!?
[/quote]

What is 3* about 5p a litre cheaper than 4* of course

The real fun was during the 80's when they started putting unleaded pumps on the forecourts a lot of large European car makers engines weren't equipped so melted valve seats!! The rice powered cars were about the only ones ready for unleaded.

It also f****d fuel injectors as I found out with my Opel Manta.  The valve seats were fine but the local dealer omitted the fact about injectors needing leaded fuel every five tanks.  £250 later....... >:(

[quote="X5Sport"]
It also f****d fuel injectors as I found out with my Opel Manta.  The valve seats were fine but the local dealer omitted the fact about injectors needing leaded fuel every five tanks.  £250 later....... >:(
[/quote]

That must be £5k at today's money!

£5k !! Back then there wasn't money it was barter system you had to trade one of the kids into slavery.

Hmnn that could cut some bills??

Did the same with my 3.0D but fortunately only put 1 litre of unleaded in before realizing what I'd done. Fortunately no harm done.
Thing is I know how & why I made the mistake in the first place.......

Opened up fuel flap, took off filler cap & spent a little while trying to put the fuel cap plastic string thing back in the GREEN cap holder that had fallen off at some stage in the past. The important part of this is the GREEN cap holder! I had the colour imbedded in my head & automatically picked up the GREEN fuel nozzle!
Major design flaw for a diesel car if you ask me!

)Another 1000 miles and all is well, town fuel econ 30 journey now 34