Diesel in gasoline

msb · Jun 2, 2008

About 1 1/2 -2 gallons of soy diesel accidentally got dumped in lawn mower gas tank. Tank holds about 7 gallons---13.5 total according to specs. Engine is a Kohler 24 hp fuel injected on an Ex Mark ZTR. Could add about another 5 gallons. How about adding some premium? Will it run on the mix?

rustyfarmall · Jun 2, 2008

It'll probably smoke a bit, but it should run O.K. No need for the premium, just top it off with your regular un-leaded.

Hoss In ME · Jun 2, 2008

Do what rusty said.I agree Hoss

John M · Jun 2, 2008

Im not familiar with your mower, but have the same engine on my ZTR,did the same thing you did, dont know what I was thinking when I did it. i have two tanks, so I filled up one with straight gas, the other I topped off with staright gas start it on staright until it gets warm, then open the other valve,and close the starigh gas valve. about 5 minutes after before I think Im done, I change it back over to the straight, kinda like an old kerosene tractor. I haveny had any problems yet, and Ive gone through about 3/4 tank of it so far.

MarkB_MI · Jun 2, 2008

I have heard of gasoline aircraft engines that blew up because someone accidentally filled the aircraft with jet fuel, which is roughly the same as kerosene. Of course, aircraft engines are designed to run on 100 octane fuel, and your Kohler engine takes low octane auto gas. Kerosene and diesel do not have good octane numbers.

I think you'll be fine if you just top the tank with regular gas.

RobMD · Jun 2, 2008

Run 'er with regular gasoline, run 'er wide open and under a load. The Idea is to keep the engine hot and working to burn that fuel. you should be in A+ shape.

buickanddeere · Jun 2, 2008

Drain what you can and top up with premium. Otherwise the engine will knock. As previously stated diesel/kerosene has a very low octane number.
Do not operate under heavy load until the fuel oil is gone.
The gasoline aircraft engine would literately pound it's self apart with detonation.

Nebraska Cowman · Jun 3, 2008

I have used 5% mix in the summer to control vapor lock. You are close to 10%, I'd drain it. Use the drained fuel in a tractor or truck or something. Or use it to wash parts.

Michael Soldan · Jun 3, 2008

Heck, I accidentally dumped a five gallon can of diesel into our Case 311 gas tractor...lots of white smoke, I just opened the set screw on the carb and drove it home, about seven miles, it didn't have the power on hills but it didn't hurt anything and we just filled it with gas when I got it home..all fixed...

Anonymous-0 · Jun 3, 2008

The reason kero and diesel do not have good octane numbers is that they are rated as ctane.

JT · Jun 3, 2008

Ya better get ALL out before you start it, you can mess up injectors, the O2 sensor will get out of range and tell the computor things the computor will not know what to do with, can overfuel it and really mess things up.

Diesel in gasoline

msb

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rustyfarmall

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Hoss In ME

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John M

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MarkB_MI

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RobMD

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buickanddeere

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Nebraska Cowman

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Michael Soldan

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Anonymous-0

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JT

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