Oh dear...

andmcit · Post by **andmcit** » 14 Jul 2008, 21:30

oops...

Google strikes again!
You reckon his strut tops will still be OK?

Andrew

andmcit · Post by **andmcit** » 14 Jul 2008, 21:45

Kowalski · Post by **Kowalski** » 14 Jul 2008, 22:05

I don't think either of those will just buff out. Might even be a bit much for those magnetic dent poppers too!

Ross_K · Post by **Ross_K** » 14 Jul 2008, 23:07

They deform quite a bit at the back, don't they?

andmcit · Post by **andmcit** » 14 Jul 2008, 23:25

Maybe this thread should be linked from www.bxclub.co.uk

They're not the biggest fans of Xantiae...

Andrew

Post by **myglaren** » 15 Jul 2008, 20:54

Speaking of Oh Dear! I have just had a text from my daughter.
She's in France and has filled her brother's Mondeo with diesel.
What are the odds on it firing up in the morning?

I did run an old Volvo on diesel but you could shovel coal into those damned things.

Post by **CitroJim** » 15 Jul 2008, 21:17

andmcit wrote:Maybe this thread should be linked from www.bxclub.co.uk
They're not the biggest fans of Xantiae...

Andrew

I'm only tolerated on there because I host their forum database

I jest but they have tried and tried to convert me to BX ownership...

myglaren wrote:She's in France and has filled her brother's Mondeo with diesel.
What are the odds on it firing up in the morning?

Oh dear Steve

The odds are very long unfortunately

Does diesel and petrol mix or does it separate out and leave the lighter petrol floating on top of the diesel?

It really depends on how much of each is in the tank, if the ratio of petrol is high, it might just run but smoke somewhat which may not be good for the health of the cat. I'd not even try to start it, get it drained and flushed ASAP.

Post by **myglaren** » 15 Jul 2008, 21:39

I'd guess that the petrol would be a solvent for diesel so it would be an homogenous mix.

She hasn't said anything about the proportions but I doubt she would fill it if there were much petrol in it.

Looks as though the cat is a goner though.

jgra1 · Post by **jgra1** » 15 Jul 2008, 21:58

AndersDK · Post by **AndersDK** » 15 Jul 2008, 23:00

The cat will most certainly survive - as long as the fuel is driven with a diluted mix enough for the engine to run sanely.

Its not that big a problem to syphon out the diesel fuel. Using the old fuel theft method ...
Anything less than 10% diesel in the petrol will not make any significant running trouble and certainly wont affect the cat.

Yes the cat is delicate - but it is NOT that sensitive. Think about the rather large deviations in fuel quality an engine oil consumptions a cat is exposed to ...

Post by **myglaren** » 15 Jul 2008, 23:16

I've told Richard (his car - he's there too but on his motorbike) to siphon out as much as possible and take it to the local filling station for disposal and refill with fresh petrol.

He was asking if there was a dump valve on the tank - you can just picture it can't you

I was wondering about the cat - I know leaded fuel is instant death for them but what is there in diesel to damage them? Cats are fitted to diesels anyway - maybe a different catalyst but I thought it was platinum all the way?

I'm sure the Frechies will be mightily amused by the stupid rostbiffs

Thanks for the advice guys.

BTW, it was a PV444 that we filled with diesel and drove halfway down Sweden followed by a huge black cloud

andmcit · Post by **andmcit** » 15 Jul 2008, 23:41

Don't be too hard on your daughter - it's the easiest thing in the world to
do with a car that's borrowed or one you've not driven for a while; don't
ask me how I know!

The diesel fuel is very waxy and will play merry hell with the injectors
and fuel pump causing their overheating and failure due to the incorrect
operation. The cat is a delicate piece of kit and there is a very good
chance you'll do harm with bump starting a flat battery car as the
unused petrol will wash through and dump right onto it so diesel may
be equally bad news too but probably in different ways!!

The only good news is the car has made it this far without signs of
calamity though the only certain way to move it now would be full
draining of the tank and fuel line.

All the best,
Andrew

Post by **myglaren** » 15 Jul 2008, 23:51

I have the impression that she filled it up then drove two minutes to the chalet before realising what she had done.

It's OK, I am not chastising her - as I said, I have done the same thing.

My daughter (a different one) bought a C3 from a Honda dealer. They taxed it and filled it up for her. She made it four miles down the road before it konked out.

Yes, they had filled it with petrol. Nice of them as it was an HDi.
Just automatic as they had never had a diesel Honda in.

At least they have my other son's 306 there to run around in and collect empty containers and petrol. How much luck they will have with that in Les Gets I couldn't say.

Post by **myglaren** » 26 Jul 2008, 12:17

They drained it and filled with petrol and it has been OK but the power is down and according to Richard was never up to much in the first place. It's a 2L Zetec.
He's going to trade it for an FTO now, can't persuade him to get a sensible car, like a C6