I put 4.22 gallons of unleaded gasoline in my hubby's 2500 duramax (tank was 1/2 full of diesel) before I realized I was not in my vehicle and immediately finished filling it up with premium diesel. Have I done anything drastic to the truck? Hubby is out of state on business and if I have to make trip to shop, I want to do it now so I won't get in BIG trouble.


I am heartsick and probably won't drive his truck again.


Please answer asap...


DDitto1952http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Cry.gif

Short bed or long bed?


It makes a difference because the two have different size fuel tanks and would affect the percentage of gasoline to diesel.

It's the 26 gallon tank...Did I screw up bad?

Well I'm not a DuraMax engine tech, so you should wait for other answers before you decide, but I'll give you a couple of thoughts.


The Dmax fuel system runs at really high pressures and depends on the lubricity found in diesel fuel to lubricate the components of the system. Gasoline does not have those lubricity agents.


There are a few around here who've had to deal with the problem of getting gasoline put in their diesels and in large part, it depends on how high a percentage of gas to diesel they end up with. If it's a small percentage, usually adding a lubricity increasing fuel additive will take care of it. If the percentage of gasoline is high, that trick won't work. I've not seen anything here to indicate that there is any hard rule about how much you can get away with, it's a judgement call based on experience. That's why you're going to need a tech or two who've dealt with this before you go much further about what to do.


I would say you're right on the borderline of too much gas. If that's the case, the tank needs to be drained and the fuel system flushed. That's going to be an expensive proposition, and one of the big costs is disposing of the contaminated diesel fuel.


In any event, I wouldn't drive it anymore until you get some more definitive advice here. The suggestions may even include having it towed to a shop so as to not drive it anymore than necessary with the gas in it. OR they may tell you to just put the additive in it.


Good luck and I'm sorry I can't be of more help...http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Disapprove.gif

Thank you...I just spoke with a couple of GMC shop people and they said that since the tank was 1/2 full and I only put 4 gallons in, finishing it off with the premium unleaded was the right thing to do and there should be no problem...still kinda shaky though...so upset with myself. They said this happens more times than people know and to drive it and add diesel every day to further dilute the gas...It's time for a new fuel filter and transmission filter anyway and I will keep an eye on it.


Thanks so much for the advice.

That's good news.


Adding fuel as you drive it is an excellent idea and is what's usually done in these cases.


I would check your local diesel station or auto parts accessory store to see if a lubricity increasing fuel additive is available. Sometimes they can be hard to find, then put that in the tank as well. Some common brands are Stanadyne and Powerservice and they can sometimes even be found at WalMart.


Just make sure whatever additive you use contains NO ALCOHOL.


Now take a deep breathe and relax...http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Approve.gif

Hopefully you'll be okay. I'm with Zeeb, don't know what the borderline is for too much gas. If I were you and it ran fine after you topped off with diesel, run it down to 3/4 tank once or twice, refilling each time. Then I would run it as low as possible, then fill up with diesel. You will wind up running a slightly higher concentration of gas through on that tank, but once you burn that tank almost all the way out, you will be pretty much rid of the gas once and for all.


JMO,
Dennis

Thanks guys! My hubby would have a heart attack if he knew! I just felt so stupid when I realized I was not in my vehicle and putting the wrong fuel in the tank. Almost passed out on the spot!

I've heard of guys that did the same thing, but added a quart of transmission fluid to the tank for lubricity and drove it away. Seemed fine after that.

I thought we'd pretty much de-bunked this thing about ATF in a common rail system?


The ATF thing is an old timer's solution to lubricity problems and doesn't have a place in a fuel system that runs at 23,000 psi.


At least it's certainly not going to have a place in my 40k+ truck...http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Ermm.gif

Does ATF have alchohol in it?


Sorry for getting off track.


I know Aviation Hydrualic Oil has alchohol in it and isn't the regular style ATF about the same charractoristics?

How did the truck run after driving away from the service station? Also, have you tried starting it after getting home? If so, did it start right up or were there problems? This additional detail may be helpful to the techs. If it ran about the same, and it starts right up, I would take that as good news.

Stanadyne additive is generally available and is approved by GM. I think I read a post saying that some of the NAPA stores carry it.

Good luck.

I 99% guarantee you are FINE. We ran damn near a full tank of unleaded through a 7.3 PSD and its still running fine. albeit I am amazed and wouldnt try it in my Dmax :D


for good measure, put in some lubricant additive and run it out

I've put 130 miles on it since "the incident" and it is not missing a beat. Added more diesel and running it out. I'm so thankful for the input. Bought some additive (Berryman product) from O'Reilly's. Think that will be all right? Says it is a lubricant for diesel and injectors.


Edited by: DDitto1952