Never let others pump your fuel...

[pajerry]

This is not a new tip, nor is it something I've ever really let anyone do.. but I was in Gold Bridge ready to hit the Hurley to go back to Pemby, and figured, having a little over half a tank of diesel I could make it back. I figured incase I wanted to do some more exploring, I'd just fill up. I drive up to their pumps, looking around for a diesel pump, and the guy walks out. I asked him, You have any diesel? He says Absolutely quite enthusiastlicly, so I figure great. I sit there for a minute as he gets started pumping. I hop out and we start chatting about JDMs and Land Cruisers and RHD and the usuals blah blah. I pay, he looks anxious to help the others, so I leave. I felt kinda funny about his reactions all of a sudden, but I just left.

Im now driving around Gun lake looking looking to check out La Joie, and all of a sudden I start noticing some loss of power, hmm I thought. Probably stale deisel, as I was thinking that in the back of my mind while contemplating the top off. I shut the truck down, and when starting it takes a few cranks. Not normal, it usualy takes half a crank, or just a bump of the key..

I figured I better just start heading back, burn this fuel and get some fresh stuff in town asap, so I hit hte hurley.

I got maybe 10K and I just lost all power and screeped to a stop.

I had visions of expensive repairs, new heads, melted injectors, or clogged fuel filter or something. I felt like a fuel problem, temp was norm, fluids were normal, a little white smoke that worried me..

I tried starting, repriming the fuel pump time to time and it would start, but idle rough and only with full foot on throttle. At this point I figured maybe it was agri diesel he put in to rip me off since he was pumping, but I really didnt know. I flagged a big truck down, and asked him to tow me out to the road in Pemby, and he agreeod. This was a tough trip, trying to keep on the brakes on the downhill, with no power assist and shit, trying to keep the strat tight. He didnt know what he was doing, so he ende dup jerking me so hard I almost rear ended him. At this point the truck was idling normal, just smokey, so I figured screw it, I'll just drive till it dies again. The downhills were fine, and as long as I kept moving it would run pretty much normaly.

I made it all the way to pemberton thinking that maybe something was clogging the filter, and cleared out or something like that, but then I came to the lights in town, and died, right in the intersection.

Popped the hood, primed, smoke screened the whole intersection, than got it off the road. At this point I had some time to think about it, and the grey and white smoke was getting worse, and I kept thinking about how the guy was acting and the setup of the gas station. Immediately it hit me, I opened the fuel cap, and all you smelt was GASOLINE!!

The guy filled half my tank with friggin gas, after asking if he has diesel, the diesel sticker on the gas cap (yes in engrish) and the fact that we were talking about JDM diesel options like mitsu's, landcruisers, or safaris.... I immediately picked up the phone and called information for the number there. Called him up, and pretty much gave him a big thank you for possibly meltin my injectors not to metion almost getting me stranded in the middle of nowhere...

At this point, I got a jerry can, empied all 65 litres 5gals at a time, walked it over to a service station, dumped and repeat. It took about two hrs. Then of course draining the fuel filter and repriming it before starting with fresh diesel and a litre of diesel aditive.

Fired right up, no smoke, ran fine so I drove home.




Now.. what kind of damage should I be looking for if any? Im surprised it ran at all, but Im afraid that it may have screwed up the injectors or something. It runs perfect (and fuel economy has gotten better) with no hickups. A new fuel filter is in line for tommorow, but Im not sure if there is anything else I need to do or check.


Long story I know... but at least it didn't end as another JDM stranded 100's of kms from home!

[jessef]

none.

it will hickup for awhile on gas but once you burn through a good 20+ liters of diesel, it's all good.

I went through 3 tanks of gasoline down in Mex in our old diesel cruiser because there was no diesel available.

It ran like crap but got us on the road. 2 towns later and full tank of diesel, we drove back home. Put on something like 400,000+ km's after that episode with just oil changes.

[FalcoColumbarius]

Now.. what kind of damage should I be looking for if any?

Hmmmmmmm...............

[pajerry]

I was mostly worried about the injectors, and maybe some super high egts? It was running hot when I cracked the hood, but the temp gauge didn't' move. I know the temp gauge works, cause it moved for the first time ever heading up there earlier.

I dont know.. my minor coolant leak is no longer minor.. but that could be from the rough as sh*t FSR and my driving habits.

[pajerry]

Now.. what kind of damage should I be looking for if any?

Hmmmmmmm...............

Thats your worst post ever, and in my thread? Falco Falco Falco..............:)

[RichD]

Geez man you seem to be having bad truck luck lately. Sorry to hear it.

[aclarker]

What I found interesting was the gas pump actually fit in your diesel tank...

[manic29]

What I found interesting was the gas pump actually fit in your diesel tank...

I thought it was the diesel nozzles were bigger and the gas ones smaller diameter.

Pajerry, so what did the pump jockey do/say? If it was a major brand station, I'd be writing a letter and see what happens. Possibly more than just a letter if something got affected by the gas.

m29

[RichD]

Major brand or not, he bought diesel and was sold the wrong fuel, resulting in some degree of damage for which the station is liable.

Small claims can be more trouble than its worth but you might try contacting the owner of the station and concisely explain what happened, and that you have yet to establish how much damage was done to your vehicle. Then stop talking and see what happens.

[pajerry]

I know, my luck has been crap lately, and meanwhile I should be racking up the karma points. I was first responder to a nearly dead man from a climb after falling 30 feet, I've helped change 5 tires in the last month, (four of which being around that area this weekend with people in their landrovers, and minivans), I jump started a guy camping two weeks ago, and I helped a random L400 owner adjust his TPS when we started talking about them on the ferry...

I called him letting him know what happened, and to see what he had to say. "Oh, Geeez" was pretty much all he could come up with. He's like I dont know why you would stop there, the diesel is on teh other side of the building.. So Im like, yeah, I know, I didn't see it, thats why I asked you if you HAD DIESEL!! I just asked him if he knew anyone local that could help me out since it was his ^&%$#@ up.

Im thinking of contacting the stores owner, but Im not sure what good that will do as I can't evaluate the damage without spending a bunch of coin.

[pajerry]

What I found interesting was the gas pump actually fit in your diesel tank...

I thought it was the diesel nozzles were bigger and the gas ones smaller diameter.

Pajerry, so what did the pump jockey do/say? If it was a major brand station, I'd be writing a letter and see what happens. Possibly more than just a letter if something got affected by the gas.

m29

nah man, its a small station in a town with a population of 41.. The sign is hand painted and just says GAS PROPANE DIESEL. Apparently the diesel tank is in the back....

Not all diesel nozzles are bigger either. For instance Im pretty sure a volkswagon TDI's have a small diesel opening. I've even had a couple quick misunderstandings with station attendants when prepaying, cause they tell me the large diesel wont fit in my truck!

From what I noticed, its only old or commercial pumps with the bigger nozzles.

[manic29]

Major brand or not, he bought diesel and was sold the wrong fuel, resulting in some degree of damage for which the station is liable.

Small claims can be more trouble than its worth but you might try contacting the owner of the station and concisely explain what happened, and that you have yet to establish how much damage was done to your vehicle. Then stop talking and see what happens.

I know what you are saying, but I just meant that he may get further with the likes of Chevron/Esso/PetroCan/etc rather than some no-name station without actually going to court. A well worded letter to a major brand might just have them forking over some gas cards or what have you to get him to keep it quiet so that they don;t make the "Olsen on your side" segment or similar.

[Pajerist]

It is outrages!

They should refund at least your wasted gas plus towing cost ...

==============================

Several times at Shell station (Main and West 2-nd in Vancouver) I was warned by personnel "It is a diesel pump, sir!"
I said, "yes I know! Thanks for telling me..."

Good to know that some people are really care...

[pajeroo]

yup gas in a diesel can do some serious damage is a hurry... there was a pajero a few months back for sale locally. The owners kid had put in Gas and ran it till it died...( a few kilometers, if I remember correctly). I spoke to the guy since he was selling it for a 1000 bucks. he said it needed a new engine or an injection pump.... probably the reason your motor didnt grenade is cause it had a half tank of diesel.... I would speak to the manager to cover costs and take it to a good shop to asses damage...

[RichD]

the funniest thing about this thread is the punny forum handles