I Put Gas in My Diesel Tank

POSTON WIDEHEAD · April 15, 2018, 02:41:53 PM

4 gallons of gas was put into my diesel tank to top it off when I left Georgia.

I was sick. I made it home on my other tank.

Now keep in mind I NEVER switched over to the tank that had the gas in it.
So when I got home I got in touch with you guys for help, I looked on You Tube, I called every machanic I personally know, I looked in my 97 F-250 7.3 Power stroke Manual and finally this is what I did.

First let me say we are talking about ~~M.R.~~ M.Y. TRUCK. :D :D :D :D :D
My stupidity by not paying attention made me sick! smiley_sick

Second...if you don't have one of these pumps they come in handy. I've had this pump for 15 years and have different length hoses to suck oil, gas, diesel, water or whatever.

I ran the hose in the tank and started.

As it filled I then poured it in the 5 gallon bucket then transferred it to my 55 gallon barrel.

It took about 30 minutes but I pulled 18 gallons out of that tank.
After that...and since I was at the mill.....I put in 3 gallons of clean off road and sucked it out.

When I got that 3 gallons sucked out 2 more gallons of fresh off road and sucked it out.

Then off to the service station.

I was able to fill the tank with 19.129 gallons of clean fuel.
Filled the other tank and I was ready.

I drove it down a country road at about 75mph and hit passing gear several times. M.Y. Truck is running like a new one again.

About the ATF in the tank....3 of my shade tree buddies said to do that also.
But I did read on line what as happened to some engines before.
So I chose just to drain, add more fuel, drain again then add more fuel and drain that then fill up.

So far no problems in 8 miles and I feel like if something was gonna happen like spitting, coughing, sputtering or just plane shutting down it would have happened by now.

Thanks for listening.

petefrom bearswamp · April 15, 2018, 03:07:30 PM

I think U done good
dilution must have been the solution.
Years ago a friend of mine put diesel in his gas tank.
Took him 2 weeks to find out why it wouldn't start. must have been the solution.

WV Sawmiller · April 15, 2018, 03:16:01 PM

David,

My only concern was when you said you put the off road diesel in then sucked it out. I'd be afraid the cops would check it some time in the future and find even the trace amount of the markers they put in it the off road diesel. I understand they are pretty tough on truckers when they find that. I am sure others with more experience can address that too.

Neat pump BTW.

thecfarm · April 15, 2018, 03:19:07 PM

Glad you got it. 8) I can imagaine what you was thinking. $$$$

starmac · April 15, 2018, 04:25:03 PM

I have added a gallon or two of gas many times to my old 6.9 and 7.3 diesels in cold weather. I have added 5 gallons or so to my big trucks a few times too, but those tanks hold 100 to 150 gallons too.

Sixacresand · April 15, 2018, 04:33:05 PM

Glad you got it straightened out.

goose63 · April 15, 2018, 04:34:29 PM

Quote from: WV Sawmiller on April 15, 2018, 03:16:01 PM
David,

My only concern was when you said you put the off road diesel in then sucked it out. I'd be afraid the cops would check it some time in the future and find even the trace amount of the markers they put in it the off road diesel. I understand they are pretty tough on truckers when they find that. I am sure others with more experience can address that too.

Neat pump BTW.

David that fine can start at 10 grand drive that tank empty 2 or 3 times change filter do that 2or 3 times and you should be ok with no more red fuel in the tank

Brucer · April 15, 2018, 04:47:15 PM

We had the same thing happen 30 odd years ago. Barb went to fill up the truck, told the attendant to fill both tanks with diesel, and left him to it for a few minutes. When she came back she saw the guy filling it with the "premium" hose on the other side of the pump. He told her "they didn't make a diesel version of this truck." :

:

Fortunately he had only half filled one tank. She brought it home on the other tank and I drained it and "cleaned" it exactly the way David did (except I only added clean fuel once). The truck ran just fine for another 20 years.

brianJ · April 15, 2018, 04:50:00 PM

Quote from: starmac on April 15, 2018, 04:25:03 PM
I have added a gallon or two of gas many times to my old 6.9 and 7.3 diesels in cold weather. I have added 5 gallons or so to my big trucks a few times too, but those tanks hold 100 to 150 gallons too.

On purpose as a gelling prevention? Did you run them that way?

POSTON WIDEHEAD · April 15, 2018, 04:56:18 PM

Well I have to admit I almost made a boo boo.
A guy at the service station I stopped at the 2nd time said leave the gas in it and just add ATF.

I'm just glad I made it home on the front tank, thought about it all night while I slept, talked to a lot of people and made a good decision.

It was like a bad dream. :D :D :D :D.......in fact it still is.

slider · April 15, 2018, 05:01:05 PM

Where did you find that pump ?

POSTON WIDEHEAD · April 15, 2018, 05:11:38 PM

Quote from: slider on April 15, 2018, 05:01:05 PM
Where did you find that pump ?

It was at the service station. I just pulled right up to it and filled up. SEE.
:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D

I'm just playing with you Slider.... what's that you just called me? :D :D :D :D :D :D :D
I saw that pump at my lawn mower shop. They use it for taking oil and gas out of lawn mowers.
The boat place uses them also.
I asked the lawn mower guy to order me one. He did 15 years ago and it sure has come in handy.
I'll find out where he got it and post it. You need one. It will fit in your buddies beer can and he will never know where his beer went. :D :D :D :D :D

Red Clay Hound · April 15, 2018, 05:32:58 PM

I have nightmares about doing that very thing! Every time I fill up I remind myself I'm driving the truck and not the car. Makes me nervous when my son borrows my truck too. He's not in the habit of pumping diesel! arg-smiley

By the way, it was good to see you at Jake's!

POSTON WIDEHEAD · April 15, 2018, 05:35:28 PM

Quote from: Red Clay Hound on April 15, 2018, 05:32:58 PM
I have nightmares about doing that very thing! Every time I fill up I remind myself I'm driving the truck and not the car. Makes me nervous when my son borrows my truck too. He's not in the habit of pumping diesel! arg-smiley

By the way, it was good to see you at Jake's!

Been missing ya! Glad to see you too.

red · April 15, 2018, 06:28:59 PM

Daydreaming getting out of the truck. . Wishing you lived in New York and eating Danny's NY pizza you grabbed the wrong filler nozzle

Southside · April 15, 2018, 06:38:19 PM

So you have a gas tank sucker out thingy.... Hummm.. :D

breederman · April 15, 2018, 06:47:35 PM

I filled the work truck with gas once and didnt realize it untill it started skipping I Was real close to a Ford dealer and they pumped it out and told me to buy a lottery ticket! Truck still ran great when i turned it in over 100000 miles later

POSTON WIDEHEAD · April 15, 2018, 06:48:29 PM

Quote from: breederman on April 15, 2018, 06:47:35 PM
I filled the work truck with gas once and didnt realize it untill it started skipping I Was real close to a Ford dealer and they pumped it out and told me to buy a lottery ticket! Truck still ran great when i turned it in over 100000 miles later

:D :D :D

customsawyer · April 15, 2018, 06:57:53 PM

Glad you got it straitened out. Don't beat yourself up to much, that's my job. lol

POSTON WIDEHEAD · April 15, 2018, 07:13:41 PM

Quote from: customsawyer on April 15, 2018, 06:57:53 PM
Glad you got it straitened out. Don't beat yourself up to much, that's my job. lol

Good 1 Jake! 😂😂😂😂😂

BigZ La · April 15, 2018, 08:31:09 PM

I had a couple of friends who's wives filled their diesel truck with gas. They both made it a little ways down the road and they locked up but neither one suffered major damages. One a ford and the other a dodge. A few of the guys I know have filled tanks with gas unintentionally and added ATF to it to run it out with no long term side effects. One had a dodge with the big tank which I think was a 30 gallon and he filled it up completely, said he added two quarts of atf and hit the road albeit a little slower than normal with no issues and he was pulling a loaded trailer. I can understand not wanting to gamble and you made it, these guys didn't have dual tanks and were not close to any dealers.

starmac · April 15, 2018, 08:32:33 PM

Quote from: brianJ on April 15, 2018, 04:50:00 PM
Quote from: starmac on April 15, 2018, 04:25:03 PM
I have added a gallon or two of gas many times to my old 6.9 and 7.3 diesels in cold weather. I have added 5 gallons or so to my big trucks a few times too, but those tanks hold 100 to 150 gallons too.
On purpose as a gelling prevention? Did you run them that way?

Yes sir.

YellowHammer · April 15, 2018, 08:40:15 PM

I once put gas in my diesel by mistake, maybe 75% gas, 25% diesel. I drove a couple hundred yards to a truck mechanic shop he said if I didn't drive it anymore, he could drain the tank and fuel lines for $400. He said if I kept driving it, the damage would be more than $1000. I thought he was crazy, so I drove it a quarter mile or so and got an error code. I pulled into a parking lot, called the dealership and they said if I kept driving it, the engine was toast. So they sent a tow and the next day I paid them $1000, pretty much exactly what the first mechanic said would happen. :

POSTON WIDEHEAD · April 15, 2018, 08:42:38 PM

Quote from: YellowHammer on April 15, 2018, 08:40:15 PM
I once put gas in my diesel by mistake. I drove a couple hundred yards to a truck mechanic shop he said if I didn't drive it anymore, he could drain the tank and fuel lines for $400. He said if I kept driving it, the damage would be more than $1000. I thought he was crazy, so I drove it a quarter mile or so and got an error code. I pulled into a parking lot, called the dealership and they said if I kept driving it, the engine was toast. So they sent a tow and the next day I paid them $1000, pretty much exactly what the first mechanic said would happen. :

:D :D :D :D :D :D Good story Hammer!

pineywoods · April 15, 2018, 08:46:19 PM

Hey, I pulled the same stunt with my kubota tractor. Towing a trailer hauling the tractor. Pulled into service bay, topped off the truck (gas burner), then stuck the hose in the tractor tank and topped it off. Tractor started ok when I got to the job, then quit when it warmed up. Had to pull the tractor back on the trailer with a hand winch.. >:(