# Diesel is my gasoline tank **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Tags:** fivehundred, ford\ **Created:** [July 8, 2018, 4:53pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/diesel-is-my-gasoline-tank/120641 "2018-07-08T16:53:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![lookslikeluke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/b5a626/32.png) [@lookslikeluke](https://community.cartalk.com/u/lookslikeluke)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2018, 4:53pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/diesel-is-my-gasoline-tank/120641/1 "2018-07-08T16:53:15Z")
I’ve just read this blog post. [[https://www.cartalk.com/blogs/dear-car-talk/what-really-happens-when-you-put-diesel-gas-car](https://www.cartalk.com/blogs/dear-car-talk/what-really-happens-when-you-put-diesel-gas-car)] My Ford Fivehundred was almost empty when I filled it and I drove about 10 miles before it started sputtering and finally shutdown. I was able to maneuver safely to the side of the road and attempted to restart the engine. I was able to restart the engine after a few attempts and let the engine idle a minute or three until i noticed what appeared to be smoke surrounding my car. Fearing death by carbon monoxide poisoning I shutdown the car. _My Question_ is: will the fact\_that I allowed the engine to idle allow the diesel to have reached the catalytic converter?\_ ---
**Author:** ![Purebred](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/purebred/32/46796_2.png) [@Purebred](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Purebred)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2018, 5:03pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/diesel-is-my-gasoline-tank/120641/2 "2018-07-08T17:03:52Z")
Yes, your whole fuel system is contaminated. Whether or not permanent damage to the catalytic converters, I don’t know but would suspect they are. Be prepared for many $$$$ to fix your car. I thought diesel nozzles would not fit into a gas filler neck. ---
**Author:** ![lookslikeluke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/b5a626/32.png) [@lookslikeluke](https://community.cartalk.com/u/lookslikeluke)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2018, 5:06pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/diesel-is-my-gasoline-tank/120641/3 "2018-07-08T17:06:05Z")
> [@lookslikeluke](#): > > My Ford Fivehundred was almost empty when I filled it I should note that filling my gasoline tank with diesel was not my fault. The station in witch I filled my tank does not serve diesel. After finding out from my mechanic (several hours latter) I called the filling station. Of course the attendant denied this was possible as they do not serve diesel. I politely explained that I already knew that was calling only to inform them so they could check the fuel and prevent others from my fate. ---
**Author:** ![VOLVO-V70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/8e8cbc/32.png) [@VOLVO-V70](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VOLVO-V70)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2018, 5:15pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/diesel-is-my-gasoline-tank/120641/4 "2018-07-08T17:15:55Z")
The place you may have gotten diesel fuel should have a corporate office, that is who you should call. ---
**Author:** ![BillRussell](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/billrussell/32/3179_2.png) [@BillRussell](https://community.cartalk.com/u/BillRussell)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2018, 5:17pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/diesel-is-my-gasoline-tank/120641/5 "2018-07-08T17:17:53Z")
you may want to go back to the station with a jug and witnesses to get a sample from that pump. Now you have grounds for a lawsuit (small claims court) to recover the many thousands of dollars you will spend to repair your car. Or perhaps a notarized statement from your mechanic who tested the fuel will be enough. ---
**Author:** ![lookslikeluke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/b5a626/32.png) [@lookslikeluke](https://community.cartalk.com/u/lookslikeluke)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2018, 5:18pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/diesel-is-my-gasoline-tank/120641/6 "2018-07-08T17:18:30Z")
I will do that first thing Monday morning, thanks. ---
**Author:** ![lookslikeluke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/b5a626/32.png) [@lookslikeluke](https://community.cartalk.com/u/lookslikeluke)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2018, 5:20pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/diesel-is-my-gasoline-tank/120641/7 "2018-07-08T17:20:44Z")
I plan on speaking to a lawyer Monday morning, I will ask if I should do that. ---
**Author:** ![VOLVO-V70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/8e8cbc/32.png) [@VOLVO-V70](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VOLVO-V70)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2018, 5:22pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/diesel-is-my-gasoline-tank/120641/8 "2018-07-08T17:22:24Z")
You can do it now, just take a small gas can like you were buying fuel for your lawn mower. ---
**Author:** ![lookslikeluke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/b5a626/32.png) [@lookslikeluke](https://community.cartalk.com/u/lookslikeluke)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2018, 5:27pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/diesel-is-my-gasoline-tank/120641/9 "2018-07-08T17:27:34Z")
Good suggestion, now I just need to get a ride to the filling station. 😋 ---
**Author:** ![BillRussell](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/billrussell/32/3179_2.png) [@BillRussell](https://community.cartalk.com/u/BillRussell)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2018, 5:29pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/diesel-is-my-gasoline-tank/120641/10 "2018-07-08T17:29:31Z")
don’t forget a witness. Note time and date. for a good chain of evidence, have the witness keep the container and take it to be tested. ---
**Author:** ![lookslikeluke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/b5a626/32.png) [@lookslikeluke](https://community.cartalk.com/u/lookslikeluke)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2018, 5:32pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/diesel-is-my-gasoline-tank/120641/11 "2018-07-08T17:32:07Z")
another good suggestion, whom ever I get to take my there I will ask to be my witness, thanks. ---
**Author:** ![Barkydog](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/barkydog/32/2470_2.png) [@Barkydog](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Barkydog)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2018, 5:43pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/diesel-is-my-gasoline-tank/120641/12 "2018-07-08T17:43:38Z")
There are probably a lot of dead cars around the gas station if they got diesel by mistake. I would try going through the company first, We have heard on this board stories of companies paying for repairs in similar stories. ---
**Author:** ![db4690](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/db4690/32/2583_2.png) [@db4690](https://community.cartalk.com/u/db4690)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2018, 6:39pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/diesel-is-my-gasoline-tank/120641/13 "2018-07-08T18:39:39Z")
Why are you so sure the station had diesel fuel by mistake? Don’t take this the wrong way, but there are plenty of other reasons why a car can stall ---
**Author:** ![Purebred](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/purebred/32/46796_2.png) [@Purebred](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Purebred)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2018, 6:43pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/diesel-is-my-gasoline-tank/120641/14 "2018-07-08T18:43:25Z")
When you go for the fuel sample, along with the witness, be sure to save the receipt from the pump. ---
**Author:** ![BillRussell](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/billrussell/32/3179_2.png) [@BillRussell](https://community.cartalk.com/u/BillRussell)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2018, 7:12pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/diesel-is-my-gasoline-tank/120641/15 "2018-07-08T19:12:29Z")
> [@db4690](#): > > Why are you so sure the station had diesel fuel by mistake? He said his mechanic checked it. (presumably checked the tank) ---
**Author:** ![lookslikeluke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/b5a626/32.png) [@lookslikeluke](https://community.cartalk.com/u/lookslikeluke)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2018, 9:28pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/diesel-is-my-gasoline-tank/120641/16 "2018-07-08T21:28:55Z")
> [@BillRussell](#): > > He said his mechanic checked it. (presumably checked the tank) i am indeed trusting my mechanics word that there is diesel fuel in the tank. ---
**Author:** ![lookslikeluke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/b5a626/32.png) [@lookslikeluke](https://community.cartalk.com/u/lookslikeluke)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2018, 9:34pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/diesel-is-my-gasoline-tank/120641/17 "2018-07-08T21:34:37Z")
> [@Barkydog](#): > > There are probably a lot of dead cars around the gas station if they got diesel by mistake. The fuel was most likely mixed with gasoline and diesel. The station is right off the interstate and stays busy. Also with the increased traffic from the holiday they most likely have increased deliveries of fuel to the station. ---
**Author:** ![VDCdriver](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/vdcdriver/32/30_2.png) [@VDCdriver](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VDCdriver)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2018, 9:39pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/diesel-is-my-gasoline-tank/120641/18 "2018-07-08T21:39:39Z")
When Costco experienced a similar contamination situation at some of their stations a couple of years ago, they voluntarily covered the entire repair cost for anyone who had their vehicle damaged by the unexpected diesel fuel coming from a gas pump. If your gas station’s home office can match the actions of Costco, I think that you should be very grateful–and very surprised. 🤔 ---
**Author:** ![Barkydog](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/barkydog/32/2470_2.png) [@Barkydog](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Barkydog)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2018, 9:44pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/diesel-is-my-gasoline-tank/120641/19 "2018-07-08T21:44:19Z")
I would not be surprised, I would demand it if they screwed up my car. 🍋 ---
**Author:** ![jmcarc](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/278dde/32.png) [@jmcarc](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jmcarc)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2018, 10:10pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/diesel-is-my-gasoline-tank/120641/20 "2018-07-08T22:10:14Z")
A few months ago, I saw a story on the TV news about a fuel delivery error made at a gas station. Diesel fuel was poured into the underground tank that was meant for regular gasoline.