# Gas in diesel **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Created:** [October 21, 2014, 6:58am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/gas-in-diesel/87763 "2014-10-21T06:58:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![tedemore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ee59a6/32.png) [@tedemore](https://community.cartalk.com/u/tedemore)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2014, 6:58am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/gas-in-diesel/87763/1 "2014-10-21T06:58:32Z")
Just put 15 gallons of gas in 35 gallon diesel tank and had to drive about 100 miles because truck was loaded with hay. Next step: drain; next step: pray? ---
**Author:** ![asemaster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@asemaster](https://community.cartalk.com/u/asemaster)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2014, 7:00am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/gas-in-diesel/87763/2 "2014-10-21T07:00:59Z")
You put 15 gallons of gasoline in a 35 gallon diesel tank and it still runs after 100 miles? You must be awful lucky. I would drain it all and change all the filters ASAP. ---
**Author:** ![jesmed1](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/jesmed1/32/2097_2.png) [@jesmed1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jesmed1)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2014, 7:11am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/gas-in-diesel/87763/3 "2014-10-21T07:11:44Z")
We’ve been discussing engine efficiency over on another thread, and by coincidence, blending gas with diesel with gas can actually improve efficiency if the engine is designed for it: > **[Diesel used as gasoline 'spark plug' improves economy and emissions](https://newatlas.com/diesel-spark-plug-gasoline/12484/)** > > Researchers at the University of Wisconsin have developed a diesel-gasoline engine cocktail that improves economy and emissions, and could save the U.S. 4 million barrels of oil a day. However, your engine is not designed for it and you are lucky it didn’t melt a piston. Apparently old VW/Audi diesels could run 10% gas in winter, though: > **[OT Gas/Diesel mixed fuel](http://www.practicalmachinist.com/vb/general/ot-gas-diesel-mixed-fuel-216292/)** > > Practical Machinist - Largest Manufacturing Technology Forum on the Web ---
**Author:** ![dagosa](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/dagosa/32/9837_2.png) [@dagosa](https://community.cartalk.com/u/dagosa)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2014, 7:16am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/gas-in-diesel/87763/4 "2014-10-21T07:16:57Z")
. I assume you had 20 gallons of diesel ? . Best of luck ! The fact that it continued to run works in your favor. But, drain and refill with diesel immediately . I don’t understand. "I had to drive about 100 miles because the truck was loaded with hay? " was the hay more valuable then a new motor ? ---
**Author:** ![bing](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/bing/32/4619_2.png) [@bing](https://community.cartalk.com/u/bing)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2014, 7:41am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/gas-in-diesel/87763/5 "2014-10-21T07:41:30Z")
I thought hay was only running about $175 a ton. Whatever. Back in the 80’s my dad worked at the Caddy/Olds dealer part time after retirement. They had more than one brand new diesel Caddy or Olds with significant engine damage after the driver put gas in. I think the rule was under 25 miles before the cars stopped dead. ---
**Author:** ![Tester](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tester/32/15976_2.png) [@Tester](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tester)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2014, 7:47am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/gas-in-diesel/87763/6 "2014-10-21T07:47:33Z")
Drain all the fuel out. Refill with clean diesel Then stand back and see if the ethanol in the gas had any effect on the diesel fuel injectors Tester ---
**Author:** ![Caddyman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/caddyman/32/23_2.png) [@Caddyman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Caddyman)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2014, 8:06am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/gas-in-diesel/87763/7 "2014-10-21T08:06:59Z")
Did the engine operate normally during that 100 mile trip?? I’m surprised you made it that distance… ---
**Author:** ![tedemore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ee59a6/32.png) [@tedemore](https://community.cartalk.com/u/tedemore)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2014, 8:22am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/gas-in-diesel/87763/8 "2014-10-21T08:22:58Z")
Engine did knock somewhat. We didn’t have much of an alternative to driving from where we were. All comments are appreciated, though I can’t be made to feel much stupider than I already do! ---
**Author:** ![jesmed1](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/jesmed1/32/2097_2.png) [@jesmed1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jesmed1)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2014, 8:31am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/gas-in-diesel/87763/9 "2014-10-21T08:31:41Z")
We’ve all done boneheaded things. It was just your turn. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Caddyman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/caddyman/32/23_2.png) [@Caddyman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Caddyman)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2014, 8:32am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/gas-in-diesel/87763/10 "2014-10-21T08:32:37Z")
Time will tell… ---
**Author:** ![Nevada\_545](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/nevada_545/32/41232_2.png) [@Nevada\_545](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Nevada_545)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2014, 9:54am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/gas-in-diesel/87763/11 "2014-10-21T09:54:02Z")
Gasoline is a poor lubricant for the injector pump. I wouldn’t worry about the pistons. ---
**Author:** ![bing](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/bing/32/4619_2.png) [@bing](https://community.cartalk.com/u/bing)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2014, 10:30am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/gas-in-diesel/87763/12 "2014-10-21T10:30:22Z")
I happen to know of an Army General in transportation that did the same thing to a rental so it happens. ---
**Author:** ![tedemore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ee59a6/32.png) [@tedemore](https://community.cartalk.com/u/tedemore)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2014, 3:29am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/gas-in-diesel/87763/13 "2014-10-22T03:29:07Z")
Well, I may have been luckier than I deserve. The tank and filters are drained and flushed, and the truck seems at present to be running smoothly. The mechanic said that, had it been a 6.0 engine instead of a 7.3, pistons would have melted. “Time will tell,” to be sure, but it’s a huge relief right now. ---
**Author:** ![BustedKnuckles](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/bustedknuckles/32/25_2.png) [@BustedKnuckles](https://community.cartalk.com/u/BustedKnuckles)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2014, 3:30am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/gas-in-diesel/87763/14 "2014-10-22T03:30:46Z")
Sounds lke you dodged one. Good job and good luck. ---
**Author:** ![oldtimer-11](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e79b87/32.png) [@oldtimer-11](https://community.cartalk.com/u/oldtimer-11)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2014, 5:58am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/gas-in-diesel/87763/15 "2014-10-22T05:58:10Z")
I was in Grand Junction Colorado, just pulled off to get gas when I saw a large rental truck with a power liftgate at the nent pump. A truck that I knew had a diesel. And he wasn’t at a diesel pump. He was on the phone with the rental company and was telling them he just filled it up and it quit. I told my wife we had to get out of there, I didn’t want to be watching when he found out what he did. ---
**Author:** ![tedemore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ee59a6/32.png) [@tedemore](https://community.cartalk.com/u/tedemore)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2014, 5:55am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/gas-in-diesel/87763/16 "2014-10-24T05:55:11Z")
I’ve driven the truck for a couple of days now, and it all seems OK. There was a bit of a hot smell once after stopping, but nothing really bad and, as I said, it seems to be running fine. The question: I know luck does not trump the laws of physics, so should I expect something to show up in the near-, medium-, or distant future? Or am I just paranoid? ---
**Author:** ![dagosa](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/dagosa/32/9837_2.png) [@dagosa](https://community.cartalk.com/u/dagosa)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2014, 6:06am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/gas-in-diesel/87763/17 "2014-10-24T06:06:50Z")
@‌Tedemore Just a question. Did you do this intentionally or by mistake ? ---
**Author:** ![BustedKnuckles](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/bustedknuckles/32/25_2.png) [@BustedKnuckles](https://community.cartalk.com/u/BustedKnuckles)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2014, 2:11pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/gas-in-diesel/87763/18 "2014-10-24T14:11:15Z")
Chances are any damage to be worried about would have made itself known by now.