Gas in Diesel Engine

What kind of damages would happen when you run gas in a diesel? Neighbor boy filled up his dad's JD mower with the Yanmar 3 cyl. engine with gas. Only hits on one cylinder after considerable cranking to get it going. New pump maybe plus engine damage?

im not sure what that would do, but it sure was a stupid mistake on the kids part

I am not sure what damage was done but, we had a 1996 Dodge with the cummins diesel at work. ANYONE can tell the sound of a diesel pickup but the tachometer said UNLEADED FUEL ONLY on it so the bosses grandson put unleaded fuel in it. It only made it about 1/4 mile down road before it quit. I called the dealer and told salesman what had happened and he said he would get a new tach ordered for it. A year later when it happened the second time I called the salesman again and asked him if the dealer would stand behind the new motor, injection pump, injectors etc. when it goes bad because of the unleaded fuel in the diesel. I got a call 2 days later to make an appointment to get the new tach installed.

Steven

Could definitely be a very expensive repair. One of the first things to do when teaching someone how to use a machine is to make sure they know what fuel it uses. Dave

But not real smart of Dodge, Putting "Unleaded Fuel" on the tach of a Diesel Truck.. Kid may not have known much about engines, but it would be hard to get too mad at him, at least he read the directions..

It's not gonna hurt the actual engine one bit. The diesel injection pump and injectors MAY have gotten scored or seized by the lack of lubricity of the gasoline, though.

Chances are nothing permanent. Drain, flush out the gas and cross your fingers.

GET THE GAS OUT NOW !got a yawn murry out back that has blown its rings into the oil pan because of gasioline cold weather start methods, DIDNT USE BUT A TABLESPOON

GET THE GAS OUT NOW !got a yawn murry out back that has blown its rings into the oil pan because of gasioline cold weather start methods, DIDNT USE BUT A TABLESPOON

Wife put about 10 Gals Diesel in our 1973 Pontiac [gasoline engine] with no harm to the engine.it ran real rough for awhile after we drained the tank and put in fresh gas.Overhead gas and diesel tanks were side by side so a mistake was made.she made it to town about 9 miles away and into the Standard station we dealt with before she shut it off.

(quoted from post at 01:02:47 06/03/10) What kind of damages would happen when you run gas in a diesel? Neighbor boy filled up his dad's JD mower with the Yanmar 3 cyl. engine with gas. Only hits on one cylinder after considerable cranking to get it going. New pump maybe plus engine damage?

Click to expand...

When I worked road construction years ago this happened all the time. Company had a mix of gas/diesel equipment. Some of them were the same model EXCEPT the type of engine, so a new guy would often fuel up one and then put the same stuff in the next one. Never recall any PERMANENT damage done.

Funniest incident with wrong fuel was this: We used to use a bucket with some diesel in it to keep our shovels clean when shoveling asphalt. Just dipped the shovel in every now and then when the asphalt would start to stick to it. In the morning, the shovels would be all caked up with dried, cold asphalt from the day before, so we'd pour some diesel on them and light them. Let it sit for a few minutes and melt the asphalt, then we'd dunk the BURNING shovels into the diesel bucket to extinguish the flames, swish them around and they'd come out clean as a whistle. Well.... one day, new kid did it but put GAS in the bucket. You guessed it. I was about 50 ft away with my back turned when I heard a loud WHUMP. Turned around to see the kid on his back holding a shovel with a burning puddle around an overturned bucket. Went over and the look on his face was priceless. It was the visual definition of WTF. :lol: I'm pretty sure the shovel never even TOUCHED the gas in the bucket before it went up.

Once 20 years ago, my wife inadvertently put gasoline in an Olds with the 5.7 diesel. It ran about a half mile and quit. I took it to my shop, siphoned all the gasoline out of it, and drained the fuel lines the best I could.

I then put diesel back in it, and shot puffs of WD40 into the intake to keep it going till the diesel fuel worked back through. Once I got it going again, it ran fine--till a month later the head gaskets started to leak. Never did figure out whether the head gaskets were a result or a coincidence.

First stop cranking it.Until you drain the system and get the diesel back in it. The injectors and injector pump need the oil in the diesel to keep from locking up.
I you are lucky and stopped it in time you may have done little if any damage. All you can do at this time. Is drain the system,new fuel filter and flush the system with diesel.

A kid, reading directions???? Now that's a miracle! lol