Club 80-90 Forums

Cant believe this has happened Well, it's done so now need to face up to the costly consequences.

Ive added about 5 gallons of petrol to an almost empty diesel 2003 CLK270cdi. Drove car two miles home without noticing anything whatsoever. Next day car started but was misfiring and bellowing white smoke. Turned it off and waited. Then restarted car. Same problem. Switched car off

Before realising my stupidity I checked turbo pipes etc and MAF sensor in case of any obstruction. All visually good.Then cracked open the injectors and removed a small sample from each. Injectors 1, 2 and 4 had equal amounts. Injector 3 low and 5 twice as much as first three????...it's a five cylinder diesel.

I could instantly smell it was petrol and confirmed when I poured a little on to a piece of wood and ignited it with a lighter.

What's my chances of draining tank, cleaning or replacing diesel filter, blowing through fuel lines and still having a healthy car when refilled with premium diesel and adding a cleaner of some kind such as Redex?

Or have I blown it big time as I understand common rail diesels dont care for the above (mis)treatment.

Your views and advice please.......and commiserations

Thanks
Stuart

Hopefully a couple of miles won't have done any damage. If you have the standard Merc saddle tank you will have to remove the sender unit so you can suck out both sides of the tank. Fill with diesel and drain and then refill/replace the fuel filter filter, then all you can do it see how it goes.
If you have cracked open the injector pipes they are now scrap and need to be replaced.

May also be worth giving these guys a ring just to see if they can give you any further advice Stuart:

http://www.fuel-fix.com/

I don't have any personal experience with them, but just had a quick search on a merc forum and there was a link to the company on there.

Keep us informed on how you get on.

Basically its the seals in the pumps etc. that don't like petrol. The diesel will run on it. Rather well for a while.

bigherb wrote:Hopefully a couple of miles won't have done any damage. If you have the standard Merc saddle tank you will have to remove the sender unit so you can suck out both sides of the tank. Fill with diesel and drain and then refill/replace the fuel filter filter, then all you can do it see how it goes.
If you have cracked open the injector pipes they are now scrap and need to be replaced.

Cheers Herb,

Got both tanks drained today and refilled, then will drain again tomorrow. New filter and a couple of fuel lines on order. Regards to injector pipes, why necessary to scrap now? Because they have lost their ability to maintain pressure now?

thanks

300CE wrote:May also be worth giving these guys a ring just to see if they can give you any further advice Stuart:

http://www.fuel-fix.com/

I don't have any personal experience with them, but just had a quick search on a merc forum and there was a link to the company on there.

Keep us informed on how you get on.

Hi 300CE, and appreciate the attached link. I fear my Merc may be beyond their expertise now....I can hear a very expensive bill with my name attached winding it's way to me shortly.

Will keep it handy though

boxer wrote:Basically its the seals in the pumps etc. that don't like petrol. The diesel will run on it. Rather well for a while.

Thanks boxer

Insofar as they will start to leak and lose pressure then fail ?

Stuart

maxstu wrote:

Cheers Herb,

Got both tanks drained today and refilled, then will drain again tomorrow. New filter and a couple of fuel lines on order. Regards to injector pipes, why necessary to scrap now? Because they have lost their ability to maintain pressure now?

thanks

The injector pipes run at (1800bar 26000psi) they are considered one use only, when they are undone they twist the pipe leading to fractures at the coupling.

bigherb wrote:

maxstu wrote:

Cheers Herb,

Got both tanks drained today and refilled, then will drain again tomorrow. New filter and a couple of fuel lines on order. Regards to injector pipes, why necessary to scrap now? Because they have lost their ability to maintain pressure now?

thanks

The injector pipes run at (1800bar 26000psi) they are considered one use only, when they are undone they twist the pipe leading to fractures at the coupling.

Cheers mate

So the bill for my stupidity escalates