DISASTER!!!!! :(

sportingfiat · Unread post by **sportingfiat** » 05 Nov 2010, 19:04

my missis has just filled my c5 hdi with petrol

luckily was only run for a minute before she realised

just waiting for recovery home at moment, is there any easy way to drain the tank at all????

just gone down to the one car so need to get it back running asap

spider · Unread post by **spider** » 05 Nov 2010, 20:07

I used to have a cavalier (!) fuel pump and an adaptor (a cut up piece of fuel pipe) to fit the feed in the engine bay, where it would plug in and simply used that to pump the contents out of the tank.

I don't think they have a drain, I've not seen a fuel tank drain on a modern car come to think about it.

Ultimately its good it was not run till it complained.

mpr1956 · Unread post by **mpr1956** » 05 Nov 2010, 20:56

Not long since I did the same... ( Unleaded into my tdci -full tank too ! ) Luckily I didn't drive off. While waiting sheepishly for recovery, I found that there are a number of mobile specialists that do nothing but drain and flush car fuel systems at the roadside for a fixed price... - got to be cheaper than a garage, and much cleaner/safer than diy ?

Unread post by **citroenxm** » 05 Nov 2010, 21:02

The fuel pipes are joined around the came belt area, or just before the Fuel Rail, DO NOT try draining at the fuel filter..

If you disconnect the feed and retun pipes at the Cam belt or rail, and point them in a Drum, use the ignition and in tank lift pump to drain the fuel out...

I filled a Gallon can in less then 5 mins with a Xantia HDi, dooing this method... nice and quick, but a lot of Key Ignition flicking on and off...

Paul

jmd · Unread post by **jmd** » 06 Nov 2010, 01:35

No it is not a disaster. Under the rear seat, you will find a circular plastic cover, remove it, the round or circular cover of the fuel tank will then be visible & can be removed by tapping with a chisel or mallet & hammer (anti-clockwise) remove any electrical connections to the pump Low pressure pump in the tank. Remove the Pump (In tank Low-Pressure Pump) This gives lots of access to the fuel and the inside of the tank. Use an oil suction extractor to remove the petrol. As the famous manual says ''fitting is the reversal of removal''. However I would advise care when re-fitting the threaded cover. Ensure you get it on the right thread. I had a similar experience with my Mark 1 Xantia a few years ago. Tank was almost empty, when I realized that 30 Ltrs of petrol had been but in, at this stage I filled the remainder of the tank with diesel & a Litre of engine oil with the petrol & diesel mix (to lubricate my pump). I'm happy to say that no ill effects were experienced. However the Hdi engines are a totally different animal. I should have learned a lesson, but I did a similar thing last year with my Hdi Xantia. The low-pressure pump in the tank packed up a few weeks later, but that might have happened anyway, car & pump had 120,000 miles covered. Good Luck

sportingfiat · Unread post by **sportingfiat** » 06 Nov 2010, 07:35

thanks for replies

gone for the aa fuelserve option basically they have a set price and come to us drain it, flush it and refill with 20litre of fresh diesel

downside is it aint cheap at £241 but they get rid of all the mixed fuel and £50 worth of petrol is quite a bit to get rid of :O

dnsey · Unread post by **dnsey** » 06 Nov 2010, 07:36

I second JMD's method - cheap and easy, and no extra strain on the rather fragile lift pump.
I'd use one of those plastic pumps from a pound shop or similar, with a sort of bellows on the end of a rigid tube.
Tape or tie the fuel lines to make sure that they don't slip away and become inaccessible while they're off, and beware of sparks from static (or current) elecricity - a real hazard with that amount of petrol vapour around.

sportingfiat · Unread post by **sportingfiat** » 06 Nov 2010, 18:55

all done in less than 40 mins

was bit nervous starting it up and for first 10 seconds or so you couldnt see down the street for smoke lol

done about 60 miles so far and its actually quiter is anything

will see how it fares for the next 1000 miles hoping to have got away with it although a very costly mistake

jmd · Unread post by **jmd** » 07 Nov 2010, 01:55

As well as being quieter, you will probably experience improved M.P.G because the petrol will have burnt off any carbon in the cylinders and have had a cleansing effect overall. But not a method to be advised in modern engines. Good luck & happy motoring

Unread post by **CitroJim** » 07 Nov 2010, 07:58

Pleased all is good

Trouble is, if you do the drain yourself, what do you do with the mixed fuel? How can you dispose of it?

Can't exactly dump it in the waste oil tank at the local tip can you?

Although, having said that, I have disposed of small quantities of petrol I've used for cleaning LHM filters and the like along with waste oil.

KP · Unread post by KP » 07 Nov 2010, 09:23

Mixed fuel is easy to get rid of Jim

just pop onto the veggie oil forum and put it up for offers as it can be used for older genders as long as they kniw the rough mix or heaters

davetherave · Unread post by **davetherave** » 07 Nov 2010, 09:39

I persnoally love mixed fuel

My car aso loves it as a bit of a treat!
It thins out the veg quite nicely.
Dave

Unread post by **myglaren** » 07 Nov 2010, 10:38

This was on Nov 5th! Chuck it on a bonfire - soon gone

andmcit · Unread post by **andmcit** » 07 Nov 2010, 11:59

Keep the removed stuff in jars etc and you have effectively an unlimited
supply of Gunklike cleanser that can be brushed carefully by brush onto oily
engines, front subframes etc - that's what's effectively in these proprietary
cleansers in Halfords anyhow. Messy side effects perhaps but laying down
newspaper under the car/engine etc and soaking it all up and then sensibly
disposing of the crudded up paper would be the only headache.

A surefire way to get maximum benefit of the unwanted petrol is to use it
as a dip as a removed parts washer in a bespoke ally bath. I guess the gritted
oily paper would make an interesting bonfire in the garden.

Andrew

Unread post by **Old-Guy** » 07 Nov 2010, 12:05

myglaren wrote:This was on Nov 5th! Chuck it on a bonfire - soon gone

Not if you want to live! If the fire is already alight it will flash back to the containers which will EXPLODE. If the fire isn't lit, it will ignite with a huge vapour flash. Either way, you will become a fireball!