Diesel is a specific blend of crude oil components that operate in a different way than regular fuel. That difference makes it operate better in specific circumstances but not in all circumstances. This means putting diesel fuel in a car that doesn’t ask for diesel fuel is not a good idea. But what happens if I put diesel in my gas tank? Well, the answer is very important and hopefully, you won’t make that mistake.
There is one question that hopefully never needs to be asked in the lifetime of your car, what happens if I put diesel in my gas tank?
What Happens if I Put Diesel in My Gas Tank | What is Diesel?
Diesel is a type of fuel that is made up of a different blend of oil components. These components are known as hydrocarbons. The goal of this mixture is to change the way the fuel is burned by the engine. Diesel engines are designed specifically to be able to burn the fuel in this way and that is why diesel fuel was necessary. Most vehicles that use diesel include transportation vehicles, off-road vehicles, 18-wheelers, watercraft and more. There are even some regular vehicles that use diesel. However, it is important to understand that a specific type of engine is needed in order to properly use diesel fuel. The most important aspect is that a diesel engine uses compressed air to ignite the fuel, regular engines use a spark from a spark plug to ignite the fuel.
What Happens if I Put Diesel in My Gas Tank | Diesel Side Effects
A gas engine uses fuel that requires effort to be ignited. The spark plug ignites the fuel in the engine, making it power the vehicle. But in a diesel engine, compressed air is all it takes. That is because diesel fuel is easily ignited and that’s what makes those engines work. So if diesel needs a specific way to be ignited, and you put diesel in a regular gas engine, it will clog up the fuel injectors. If it is not removed, the diesel fuel will continue to clog up the works and cause timing issues as well as cylinder issues. These issues can cost a lot of money to fix.
What Happens if I Put Diesel in My Gas Tank | How to Remove Diesel Fuel
Depending on how much diesel fuel you put in your car, you may be able to just fill the rest of your tank with regular gas and get away with it. But if you filled your tank completely with diesel fuel, you will need to do a bit more work to clear it out. First things first, do not drive your car, have it towed home if you filled the tank with diesel. Once at home, immediately use a siphon pump to siphon out all of the diesel fuel. Then, once it has been completely emptied, refill your tank with regular gas. It may take a minute or two to get your car to start but keep trying and get it running with the right fuel. If all of this sounds too complicated, it is probably a better idea to call a professional to have them do this for you.
