Help: Petrol In Diesel Kia Sorento

spooner_src · 18-01-2009 10:50AM #1

Hello All,

Came home yesterday from being away on business to find out my wife mistakenly put 10 liters of Petrol in our Diesel Kia Sorento. There was approx 10 or more liters of Diesel left so the engine was still running although in her words quite badly.

I arrived home to this and now am having difficulties in emptying the tank.

I have searched the net all morning on where the drainage outlet is on this fuel tank and found nothing. Looking at it all morning I cant visually see where it is.

Do I have to remove a metal fuel cover to get at it.

Has anyone had experience of this. I wont be driving it anytime soon but want to at least get as much fuel out as possible. I am aware that my fuel pump maybe screwed but I just need clear help on emptying as much as I can.

Garden hose down into the tank is not an option I want to do as sucking fumes is not something I would like to do.

Thanks
Bryan

Captain Slow IRL · 18-01-2009 11:12AM

You're going to need to get the fuel tank, pumps (low and high pressure), fuel lines, filter and injectors replaced.

Common-rail engine components are built to very small tolerances and lack of the lubrication found in diesel will lead to excessive wear on the components.

Get on to your insurance company, as the bill is going to be big, they might absorb the cost.

spooner_src · 18-01-2009 11:56AM

thanks Captain,

Thats a very grave picture you are painting for me.

She drove it probably no more than 20 miles with the petrol/Diesel Mix. So fingers crossed its not that bad.

For the meantime I need to know where to find the place to drain the fuel tank of whats left. The rest I can dealing with tomorrow.

So if someone knows the exact procedure I would be grateful.

Thanks
B

18-01-2009 11:57AM

syphon it maybe?

MarkR · 18-01-2009 12:03PM

Best bet is talk to a real mechanic, just to be sure. However, it is common enough to put a little petrol (few litres) into a diesel to clear it out. If you were to top it up fully with diesel the mix may be improved enough.

Captain Slow IRL · 18-01-2009 12:06PM

Sorry to paint a grim picture, but gone are the days of the "hardy" diesel engine. When petrol starts being pumped through the diesel pumps (or any other components with metal to metal contact) small pieces of swarf are put through the fuel system. All the components have to be replaced to ensure no further damage to components that are replaced.

If you want to try the cheapest possible way, fill the tank with diesel after removing the petrol and replace the fuel filter - any damage that can be done is done. The best way to remove the petrol is remove the intank pump and use something (maybe a hand-operated pump if you can get one) to take out all the fuel.

EDIT - @ MarkR, I am a "real" mechanic

eringobragh · 18-01-2009 12:07PM

Get a syphon and chuck it in the filler cap, most motorfactors / DIY stores / Halfrauds have them you can get ones with a hand pump

and get one of these:http://www.misfuellingprevention.co.uk/index.asp to prevent future mishaps

david · 18-01-2009 12:09PM

Captain Slow IRL wrote: »

You're going to need to get the fuel tank, pumps (low and high pressure), fuel lines, filter and injectors replaced.

Common-rail engine components are built to very small tolerances and lack of the lubrication found in diesel will lead to excessive wear on the components.

Get on to your insurance company, as the bill is going to be big, they might absorb the cost.

This is the extreme worst case. You should've told her not to drive it! (Assuming she realised in time!) :rolleyes:. Go to a decent independant mechanic and they should flush out the fuel system for you.

Captain Slow IRL · 18-01-2009 12:11PM

freakonaleashx wrote: »

This is a bit dramatic.

Not really.

spooner_src · 18-01-2009 12:30PM

freakonaleashx wrote: »

This is the extreme worst case. You should've told her not to drive it! (Assuming she realised in time!) :rolleyes:. Go to a decent independant mechanic and they should flush out the fuel system for you.

Sorry but I was probably half way across the atlantic ocean when she put the petrol in and it only hit her that she 'may' have put the wrong fuel it last night when I attempted to go down to the local chippy.

So it looks like for now I will head off to halfords to see if that have a type of syphon and let as much out as possible and ring a garage in the morning.

Thanks to all.
B

spooner_src · 18-01-2009 12:32PM

Captain Slow IRL wrote: »

Sorry to paint a grim picture, but gone are the days of the "hardy" diesel engine. When petrol starts being pumped through the diesel pumps (or any other components with metal to metal contact) small pieces of swarf are put through the fuel system. All the components have to be replaced to ensure no further damage to components that are replaced.

If you want to try the cheapest possible way, fill the tank with diesel after removing the petrol and replace the fuel filter - any damage that can be done is done. The best way to remove the petrol is remove the intank pump and use something (maybe a hand-operated pump if you can get one) to take out all the fuel.

EDIT - @ MarkR, I am a "real" mechanic

Thanks Captain for your professional help on this. I dont want an easy out like filling her with diesel after the tank is empty and hope for the best so I know this is probably going to cost me.

Just cant find any diagrams etc online to show where I can get access to this bloody tank drain outlet so looks like a syphon is my way to go and get it towed to a garage in tomorrow.

Cheers

Captain Slow IRL · 18-01-2009 12:52PM

I know that a couple of customers who've had work done the garage I work in claimed for it through their insurance. Get some prices of your local Kia dealership and then try find out if your insurance company will help.

brian076 · 18-01-2009 01:00PM

I put 10 ltrs of petrol into my diesel corsa last year, realised my mistake while at the pump but didn't know what to do. Luckily a guy from a breakdown service was in the forecourt and he told me to fill it up the rest of the way with diesel and keep topping it up every few days. Never had any problems.
I know that's different to your problem in that your wife drove it with just petrol in it, but just thought I'd give you my tuppence worth in case it's any help.

niceirishfella · 18-01-2009 01:11PM

brian076 wrote: »

I put 10 ltrs of petrol into my diesel corsa last year, realised my mistake while at the pump but didn't know what to do. Luckily a guy from a breakdown service was in the forecourt and he told me to fill it up the rest of the way with diesel and keep topping it up every few days. Never had any problems.
I know that's different to your problem in that your wife drove it with just petrol in it, but just thought I'd give you my tuppence worth in case it's any help.

Hmmmmmmmm, advice from a stranger ...you were lucky in that instance.

andrewdeerpark · 18-01-2009 01:14PM

If you are getting the complete fuel system flushed do not go to a main Kia franchise dealer if the car is under manufacturers warranty. As they will void the remaining warranty on large portions of the mechanics of the car effected by this issue.

Keep Kia out of the repair picture.

niceirishfella · 18-01-2009 01:27PM

andrewdeerpark wrote: »

If you are getting the complete fuel system flushed do not go to a main Kia franchise dealer if the car is under manufacturers warranty. As they will void the remaining warranty on large portions of the mechanics of the car effected by this issue.

Keep Kia out of the repair picture.

Good advice.
The tank on the kia sorrento is quite exposed on the bottom of the vehicle (ladder chassis etc) - removal of same should not be too hard if needs be to empty it.

Go to a good trustworthy mechanic to get solid advice.

Captain Slow IRL · 18-01-2009 01:56PM

andrewdeerpark wrote: »

If you are getting the complete fuel system flushed do not go to a main Kia franchise dealer if the car is under manufacturers warranty. As they will void the remaining warranty on large portions of the mechanics of the car effected by this issue.

Keep Kia out of the repair picture.

Any mechanics of the car affected by this will be replaced and will come with a fresh warranty for work carried out.

Captain Slow IRL · 18-01-2009 02:00PM

niceirishfella wrote: »

Good advice.
The tank on the kia sorrento is quite exposed on the bottom of the vehicle (ladder chassis etc) - removal of same should not be too hard if needs be to empty it.

If you have to remove the driveshaft and exhaust to drop the fuel tank, it is going to be job that requires a lift. There also may be hand-brake cables that are routed underneath and that requires stripping the rear brakes.

maidhc · 18-01-2009 02:59PM

A know a person who put €20 of petrol into a C4 HDi. Drove until it cut out despite the fact the screen was flashing about fuel contamination, then got the tank drained, filled it up and it has been going fine since.

Mind you I wouldn't buy the car s/h, but having to replace everything is very much a worst case scenario.

Eric Cartman · 18-01-2009 03:33PM

Captain Slow IRL wrote: »

You're going to need to get the fuel tank, pumps (low and high pressure), fuel lines, filter and injectors replaced.

Common-rail engine components are built to very small tolerances and lack of the lubrication found in diesel will lead to excessive wear on the components.

Get on to your insurance company, as the bill is going to be big, they might absorb the cost.

to help out ill give you 25 euro for the old injectors i really need a set

MarkR · 18-01-2009 05:15PM

Captain Slow IRL wrote: »

Sorry to paint a grim picture, but gone are the days of the "hardy" diesel engine. When petrol starts being pumped through the diesel pumps (or any other components with metal to metal contact) small pieces of swarf are put through the fuel system. All the components have to be replaced to ensure no further damage to components that are replaced.

If you want to try the cheapest possible way, fill the tank with diesel after removing the petrol and replace the fuel filter - any damage that can be done is done. The best way to remove the petrol is remove the intank pump and use something (maybe a hand-operated pump if you can get one) to take out all the fuel.

EDIT - @ MarkR, I am a "real" mechanic

I hadn't intended to imply otherwise. I meant don't ask on the internet, get out the yellow pages!

Captain Slow IRL · 18-01-2009 05:24PM

Don't worry, no blood spilled!

david · 18-01-2009 05:48PM

Eric Cartman wrote: »

to help out ill give you 25 euro for the old injectors i really need a set

What happened?! Tesco diesel :mad: ?

niceirishfella · 18-01-2009 06:01PM

Captain Slow IRL wrote: »

If you have to remove the driveshaft and exhaust to drop the fuel tank, it is going to be job that requires a lift. There also may be hand-brake cables that are routed underneath and that requires stripping the rear brakes.

From memory, i don't think its the case.
Lets hope so for the Op anyways.

Eric Cartman · 18-01-2009 06:38PM

freakonaleashx wrote: »

What happened?! Tesco diesel :mad: ?

no, its an issue that occurs with the sorento , on really cold mornings it starts a bit rough (sounds like its on 3 cylinders) everyone on uk sorento forums had the problem rectified by replacing 1 injector, (the injector is leaking too much diesel into the cylinder and it doesnt stop till it warms up, but apparantly affects the fuel economy by 10-15% , dealers want crazy money for an injector , id rather just do it myself

El Guapo! · 18-01-2009 06:45PM

I had a customer come in to me a couple of months ago with the same problem on the same type of jeep. I just syphoned out the petrol, changed the fuel filter, re-filled the tank with diesel and threw in some injector cleaner and hoped for the best. It knocked like mad for a few mins and was very smokey but after a good long drive it was and still is running fine. TA-DAA!!

spooner_src · 19-01-2009 08:36PM

Hello All

Thanks for all your inputs.

My local mechanic towed it up to his place yesterday with a plan as we couldnt get into the tank to even start syphoning the fuel out.

Anyway long story short he made up a pump from fuel pump (a scrap cars pump) and hooked it up to some battery and undid the fuel line at the filter and pumped it out. With it all out he replaced the filter with a new one, and removed any air in the system, filled her with Diesel and started.

Bobs your unkle no bother, not a shake in sight....think we dodged a bullet.

only a little over a 100 euro all done.

Fingers crossed!

Eric Cartman · 19-01-2009 09:56PM

spooner_src wrote: »

Hello All

Thanks for all your inputs.

My local mechanic towed it up to his place yesterday with a plan as we couldnt get into the tank to even start syphoning the fuel out.

Anyway long story short he made up a pump from fuel pump (a scrap cars pump) and hooked it up to some battery and undid the fuel line at the filter and pumped it out. With it all out he replaced the filter with a new one, and removed any air in the system, filled her with Diesel and started.

Bobs your unkle no bother, not a shake in sight....think we dodged a bullet.

only a little over a 100 euro all done.

Fingers crossed!

well done, good to know, but if those injectors get even a little dodgy, you know where i am

rex-x · 20-01-2009 12:53AM

Captain Slow IRL wrote: »

You're going to need to get the fuel tank, pumps (low and high pressure), fuel lines, filter and injectors replaced.

Common-rail engine components are built to very small tolerances and lack of the lubrication found in diesel will lead to excessive wear on the components.

Get on to your insurance company, as the bill is going to be big, they might absorb the cost.

coming from a family of mechanics and one diesel specialist this is a bit harsh to be honest, you shouldnt go around scaring people with things that are just not true . . . . . I have a common rail hdi engine which petrol causes no problems, golf tdi's, laguna dci's are in my family and as happens from time to time petrol gets put in, just drain if there is alot and fill with derv and it WILL be fine. Running on only petrol can cause problems but if there was a little derv in the tank all it will do is maybe clean it out a bit!

Darragh29 · 20-01-2009 12:58AM

Captain Slow IRL wrote: »

You're going to need to get the fuel tank, pumps (low and high pressure), fuel lines, filter and injectors replaced.

Common-rail engine components are built to very small tolerances and lack of the lubrication found in diesel will lead to excessive wear on the components.

Get on to your insurance company, as the bill is going to be big, they might absorb the cost.

Not necessarily true at all. First of all OP, get a fuel filter ordered.

Darragh29 · 20-01-2009 12:59AM

spooner_src wrote: »

Hello All

Thanks for all your inputs.

My local mechanic towed it up to his place yesterday with a plan as we couldnt get into the tank to even start syphoning the fuel out.

Anyway long story short he made up a pump from fuel pump (a scrap cars pump) and hooked it up to some battery and undid the fuel line at the filter and pumped it out. With it all out he replaced the filter with a new one, and removed any air in the system, filled her with Diesel and started.

Bobs your unkle no bother, not a shake in sight....think we dodged a bullet.

only a little over a 100 euro all done.

Fingers crossed!

I was going to suggest this but as it's been resolved, no need. Nice to hear your mechanic was honest and didn't put a saddle on you!

Savman · 20-01-2009 01:01AM

spooner_src wrote: »

Bobs your unkle no bother, not a shake in sight....think we dodged a bullet.

Indeed. They say knowledge is realising the power of sharing with the woman in your life, whereas wisdom is hiding your car keys

dad · 13-04-2009 09:07AM

Getting the petrol out is one thing. How do I get rid of the contaminated petrol?

Anan1 · 13-04-2009 12:35PM

Captain Slow IRL wrote: »

You're going to need to get the fuel tank, pumps (low and high pressure), fuel lines, filter and injectors replaced.

Common-rail engine components are built to very small tolerances and lack of the lubrication found in diesel will lead to excessive wear on the components.

Get on to your insurance company, as the bill is going to be big, they might absorb the cost.

Whatever about the rest, why would the fuel tank & lines have to be replaced?

Sqaull20 · 13-04-2009 12:40PM

Well done OP.

So if this was to happen to someone, what should they do from the on set?

Leave the car at the station, get it towed to a mechanic, get the fuel sucked out, is that right?

Captain Slow IRL · 13-04-2009 12:54PM

Anan1 wrote: »

Whatever about the rest, why would the fuel tank & lines have to be replaced?

I'm not 100% sure why it happens, whether it's the petrol and diesel combining or the petrol doing something to the inside of the fuel tank (or system), but there can be a build-up of scaley deposits in the fuel tank after putting petrol in it.

Changing the lines is ensuring that every last piece of contaminated material is removed from the fuel system.

Rovi · 13-04-2009 01:28PM

Captain Slow IRL wrote: »

I'm not 100% sure why it happens, whether it's the petrol and diesel combining or the petrol doing something to the inside of the fuel tank (or system), but there can be a build-up of scaley deposits in the fuel tank after putting petrol in it..

Having converted more than a few vehicles from diesel to petrol, and a handful the other way (petrol to diesel), and never changing the fuel tanks (steel or plastic) or the fuel lines if they were in good condition, I've never come across this sort of thing happening.
I've had diesel/petrol mixtures sitting in cans for goodly lengths of time too, and haven't seen any sort of peculiar reactions going on either.

In very cold places it's pretty common practice to put a bit of petrol in the diesel to keep it from freezing, and this was done routinely here too before the advent of 'winter' diesel a couple of decades ago.

Perhaps it's a manufacturer specific thing; what vehicle have you have found this to be an issue in?

Mycroft H · 13-04-2009 01:38PM

I suppose gone are the days where you could put 30 percent petrol in to stop the diesel waxing in winter

Captain Slow IRL · 13-04-2009 01:45PM

Rovi wrote: »

Perhaps it's a manufacturer specific thing; what vehicle have you have found this to be an issue in?

Hyundai. (who share a lot of parts with kia's)

Rovi · 13-04-2009 01:58PM

Captain Slow IRL wrote: »

Hyundai. (who share a lot of parts with kia's)

Note to self: Never work on Hyundais or Kias! :eek:

Eric Cartman · 13-04-2009 02:23PM

Rovi wrote: »

Note to self: Never work on Hyundais or Kias! :eek:

note to you, you mightent have to, theres so few problems with them.

also a lot of components are quite universal, only recently learned the injectors are the same as most of the mitsubishi shogun/pajero range, the MAF sensor is a bosch sensor thats been used in an awful lot of cars, starter motor is the same as the last model of the landcruiser, fuel pump is just a bosch one, (this all applies to the 2003-2006 sorento) so parts are easy to get hold of and not that expensive

maidhc · 13-04-2009 02:51PM

Rovi wrote: »

Having converted more than a few vehicles from diesel to petrol, and a handful the other way (petrol to diesel), and never changing the fuel tanks (steel or plastic) or the fuel lines if they were in good condition, I've never come across this sort of thing happening.

OT but why would you convert a diesel vehicle to petrol? The diesel is nearly always more expensive to buy and easier to sell on. Converting petrol to diesel was common, but I think it is too involved now with ECUs and so on to deal with.

Rovi · 13-04-2009 03:54PM

maidhc wrote: »

OT but why would you convert a diesel vehicle to petrol?

It's mostly transplanting petrol V8 engines & automatic gearboxes out of Range Rovers into diesel Land-Rovers, but a Pajero or two have gotten similar treatment too.

eamon234 · 13-04-2009 04:02PM

rex-x wrote: »

coming from a family of mechanics and one diesel specialist this is a bit harsh to be honest, you shouldnt go around scaring people with things that are just not true . . . . . I have a common rail hdi engine which petrol causes no problems, golf tdi's, laguna dci's are in my family and as happens from time to time petrol gets put in, just drain if there is alot and fill with derv and it WILL be fine. Running on only petrol can cause problems but if there was a little derv in the tank all it will do is maybe clean it out a bit!

I agree I've seen it happen with a lot of cars and it happened with my wife's Ford Fusion - 10k later and no problems whatsover.

snowman707 · 13-04-2009 07:56PM

Captain Slow IRL wrote: »

I'm not 100% sure why it happens, whether it's the petrol and diesel combining or the petrol doing something to the inside of the fuel tank (or system), but there can be a build-up of scaley deposits in the fuel tank after putting petrol in it.

Changing the lines is ensuring that every last piece of contaminated material is removed from the fuel system.

Jaysus, the longer you live the more you learn, in over 40 years of sucking diesel this is a first by me.

All I ever saw any mechanic do was bleed the system, drain the tank & change the fuel filter.

Help: Petrol In Diesel Kia Sorento

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