Member Since: 23 Jul 2007
Location: London
Posts: 1
Unleaded in a Deisel Engine
After a long and wet journey through west country, stopped at a Shell Garage to fill up.
Automatically picked up the black handle with the black hose to fill thinking it was deisel fuel.
74 ltrs later paid at counter. Drove up A303 in Somerset. 2/3 of mile up road car started loosing power, managed to make it to a layby. Suspected that I had somehow put Unlead into engine, but how could I I used the black nozzle bla bla bla.
Turns out Shell Vpower fuel has a black hose and black and green nozzle with a small unleaded badge next to it.
Have I scewed my engine or will LR be able to drain and clear and refil. They are giving me the fear by saying that it is contaminated but I would have thought that by draining the leads etc and regreasing the engine it should be fine?
Help.
23rd Jul 2007 2:42 pm
Gareth Site Moderator
Member Since: 07 Dec 2004
Location: Bramhall
Posts: 26701
Sorry to be so blunt, but its going to be expensive if you want to keep a Land Rover warranty. Check your insurance, as there are a few on here that have done this and sucessfully claimed the cost back for an accidental misfuel. The bill will be £1000's if you ran it until it lost power and stopped.
Common rail diesel engines do not like petrol at all, and there are lots of components involved.
Once again, very sorry, and I sympathise that it is a far too easy mistake to make.
When BP had their little mishap with the colouring of their ultimate pumps they accepted liability for misfuels and changed their labelling. It would be worth speaking with Shell's Customer Services to outline the problem and seek their comments. Whatever you do, keep the receipt that shows the pump number used if you have it and if possible take some pics of the pump. I'm not usually in favour of the "it can't be my fault" approach to life, but Shell really shoud accept some responsibility for using a black hose and nozzle; it's just asking for trouble!I know it's not considered "kind" to say no these days, but no. Just no, ok? And if it's not ok, still no.
23rd Jul 2007 4:32 pm
gesoono
Member Since: 10 Jan 2006
Location: Scotland
Posts: 68
sorry to hear about this, having done it myself I know exactly how you will be feeling. Check with your insurer as they may cover the costs £6.5k+. I had Zurich and all it cost me was £100 excess. Hope you are as lucky. Fuji White, Auto with Surround Camera
23rd Jul 2007 10:21 pm
CY
Member Since: 16 Aug 2005
Location: Warwickshire
Posts: 4502
This certainly isn't the first time that's happened..
Isn't it time diesel fuel nozzles had different shapes to petrol fuel nozzles, making misfuelling virtually impossible...? 2007 Porsche Boxster (987) 2.7
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23rd Jul 2007 10:42 pm
SN
Member Since: 03 Jan 2006
Location: Romiley
Posts: 13710
They are different sized - just the wrong way round - this is a hangover from the switchover from 4-star to unleaded...
sticking 4-star in an unleaded motor killed the catalytic convertor I believe so the unleaded nozzles were made smaller to stop people sticking a 4 star nozzle in...
nobody thought ahead did they?Steve N | 21MY Defender | 08MY Discovery 3 (history) | 06MY Discovery 3 (ancient history)
Problem here is very simple..... The damn fuel companies
They won't talk to eachother to come up with any degree of commonality in regards to fuel type marking. They all want to steel a march on eachother with what is essentially the same product.
You can't put DERV into an unleaded car because the diesel nozzle is larger than the cars unleaded tube. However, the laws of physics dictate the reverse is always possible.
WHY WHY WHY don't they make it Black, Green, & Blue for Diesel, Unleaded and Racing Fuel
Perhaps Blue with pink spots for Shell Max Power and Blue with red lines for Esso Sooper Dooper. But NO......
Reason - The culture of the management systems in these companies dictate that every couple of years a new spotty graduate appears who has never had a job before and probably has never driven a car. He is then expected to come up with a new marketing strategy to make his (or her) name in the business.
Best people to come up with a system would be the tanker drivers - as their jobs depend on putting the right stuff in the hole, however, they don't have degrees in 'street mime & dance', so they are not qualified to make decisions....... The older I get, the more I realise that people confuse wrinkles for wisdom
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23rd Jul 2007 11:04 pm
catweasel
Member Since: 05 May 2006
Location: Bundaleer
Posts: 4805
a better option might be to have the deisel pumps seperate from the petrol pumps altogether.
24th Jul 2007 1:22 am
DiscoStu
Member Since: 09 Apr 2006
Location: London
Posts: 11412
Damn damn damn!! I just did it as well. Was in a hurry to catch a plane to Sydney, went to my local BP, my mind was a million miles away. I realised after 30 litres of unleaded when into the tank. I didn't start the car so engine will be ok.
Is there an easy way to drain the tank or will it need major work? Will the local garage be able to do it or do I need to get it to the nearest LR dealer (150km away)?'06 TDV6 SE AUTO BUCKINGHAM BLUE
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After a long and wet journey through west country, stopped at a Shell Garage to fill up.
- this is a hangover from the switchover from 4-star to unleaded...
| 08MY Discovery 3 (history) 
