Petrol in diesel engine :(

Chat about your facelift 9n3 Polo - Including the 9N3 Polo GTI!
Post Reply
Jody Gibbons
New
Posts: 10
Joined: Sun Mar 17, 2019 4:53 pm
Drives: 2009 VW Polo 1.4Tdi Match 5d 9n3
Location: Suffolk

Petrol in diesel engine :(

Post by Jody Gibbons »

Hi,

So this evening I accidentally put petrol in my diesel engined VW polo :oops:

It was nearly empty, so started to fill up, wasn't much before I realised (under 5L) I was putting in petrol. Then I topped up the rest with diesel thinking I could 'get away' with it as it would be heavily diluted (added 50L diesel). Worked out approximately 8% petrol went in - I drove home the 20 miles without issue. But I'm thinking I really should take it to the garage to get drained and the contaminated diesel removed.

I understand a little bit of diesel in a petrol car is not as big of a deal. But diesel in petrol is worse even if its not that much :(

Many Thanks
Jody
User avatar
iichel
Bling Bling Diamond Member
Posts: 6361
Joined: Fri Nov 14, 2014 2:14 pm
Drives: Polo 6R 2.0 TDI, Passat B8 2.0 TSI
Location: http://mypassat.nl/

Re: Petrol in diesel engine :(

Post by iichel »

I wouldn't worry too much about 8%
Jody Gibbons
New
Posts: 10
Joined: Sun Mar 17, 2019 4:53 pm
Drives: 2009 VW Polo 1.4Tdi Match 5d 9n3
Location: Suffolk

Re: Petrol in diesel engine :(

Post by Jody Gibbons »

Thanks iichel, I have since read online if you keep topping it up with diesel regularly (every 50-75 miles or so) it will keep further diluting the little bit of petrol that is in there which will limit its damage.
User avatar
iichel
Bling Bling Diamond Member
Posts: 6361
Joined: Fri Nov 14, 2014 2:14 pm
Drives: Polo 6R 2.0 TDI, Passat B8 2.0 TSI
Location: http://mypassat.nl/

Re: Petrol in diesel engine :(

Post by iichel »

Yeah diluting is never a bad idea.
With your 9N3 engine not being a common rail engine, that should be ok-ish. It's not ideal but for a common rail engine, I'd be a bit more precautious.

Back in the days, diesel was regularly mixed in the winter times to prevent it from flaking with petrol or petroleum.
Jody Gibbons
New
Posts: 10
Joined: Sun Mar 17, 2019 4:53 pm
Drives: 2009 VW Polo 1.4Tdi Match 5d 9n3
Location: Suffolk

Re: Petrol in diesel engine :(

Post by Jody Gibbons »

Interesting, I didn't realise they used to mix the two back in the day in the winter.

Good to hear its not a common rail engine, hopefully that'll work out abit better.

Anyway recalculating the petrol percentage - I had it wrong, it was slightly higher than I first thought (15%) nearly double :(
Post Reply