Petrol in diesel engine

[javu]

A3 2.0 tdi 2005
Any help on the following would be much appreciated:

I recently bought an Approved Used Audi which unfortunately has come with a leaking fuel tank. This became quite dramatic when I filled up the car and resulted in having the vehicle recovered to a nearby garage. The garage owner checked over the car and aside from the leaking fuel tank noticed a new clip on fuel hose to engine, suggesting that the wrong fuel (petrol) may have been put in the car and the tank drained.

I have no way of finding out whether the engine may have been run with petrol in it so am assuming it has. If this is the case does anyone know what damage may have occurred and what the usual repair would be? I've only had the car a few days so am considering whether to return it for a refund or if it should be OK (when the leak's fixed that is!).

Thanks in advance for any help anyone can offer.

Dave

[chrisvrscrx]

I think i'm correct in saying petrol in a diesel is not that bad, say you put a tenner's petrol in a fairly empty tank as long as you did not start it filling the rest of the tank with diesel would be ok. If your car runs fine I wouldn't worry about it, has it got any warranty? If it has I would leave it.

[onzarob]

I don't think you can assume its had petrol in it due to a clip being changed, it may of been done due to a suspected fuel leak!!!

Since the car is running then IF petrol was used then the engine probably has no damage. My father-in-law filled his 1.9 TDI with petrol drove it home and then it conked out. He then realise what he has done, we drained it filled the tank and it been perfect ever since, that was 5 months ago , so i wouldn't worry to much.

what I would be worried about is the damage to the tank, where is it leaking and why?

[javu]

Thanks for your reply.

It is still under the manufacturers warranty but given the serious fault of the leaking diesel tank (which it's booked in to have repaired) it should still be possible to reject the vehicle and claim a refund.. I'm just a bit paranoid about what damage could have occurred if it has been run with petrol. Also, I suspect the warranty will not cover damage by using the wrong fuel and if I leave it to wait and see if anything develops I won't then be able to prove it wasn't me who put petrol in it..

Cheers

Dave

[javu]

Hi Rob,

Thanks for your reply. The vehicle recovery company suggested the wrong fuel theory as they replace the clip in question when draining a tank filled with the wrong fuel. They also thought the tank had been dismantled but not put back together correctly with a seal not in quite the right place. In any case it seemed a little odd, especially as the leak (or broken CD player and interior light!!) were not discovered during the MultiPoint check!! I'm arranging the check to be carried out again (properly!).

I am pretty concerned about the leak - but that can be dealt with by the dealer
and although it's a big problem at least it's obvious.

Cheers
Dave

[onzarob]

MultiPoint check!! I'm arranging the check to be carried out again (properly!).

They advertise this but why does it feel more like a marketing thing, hope you get it sorted.

Good advice on the clip, was it the one in the boot to the tank?

[javu]

Hi Rob,

The clip is actually one in the engine - I don't know a lot about engine parts but I think it's on hose going into fuel filter (maybe? - metal cylinder thingy on left with four hoses on top). ...

I'm sure it'll all be sorted soon but as you'd imagine I didn't expect a 2 year old Audi Approved etc car to dump a third a tank of diesel onto the garage forecourt! It seems pretty clear that the dealer didn't carry out the checks properly so I'm trying to get a different dealer to carry it out.

Cheers

Dave

[Ben]

very disconcerting indeed.

Like you say, what else has been missed in the multipoint inspection. Surley the Fueltank is covered by warranty, certainly as a good will gesture.

If you don't ask you don't get so see if they'll replace it foc at around about the same time you point out the rest of their oversights.

You never know.

[Midon]

It sounds like your used dealer is not quite up to the standard normally expected from an Audi dealer.
A small amount of petrol will not harm the car, but if your unhappy; then dump it and get another car. !!
Like you, I would not be too happy with this car.
Better to be safe now, then sorry later. !!