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| This is a discussion on diesel in a 2001 Prius gas tank within the Gen II Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting forums, part of the Gen II (2004-2009) Toyota Prius Forums category; I did something incredibly stupid and pumped about 2.5 gallons of diesel into a 2001 Prius. I realized what I ... |
diesel in a 2001 Prius gas tank
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#1 |
| Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 1
My Car: 2001 Prius Model: Package: N/A Thanks: 0
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Friends: 0 | I did something incredibly stupid and pumped about 2.5 gallons of diesel into a 2001 Prius. I realized what I had done and I have not started the car. My question is, how hard will it be for the mechanic to drain the fuel tank? Keeping in mind that I have not started the car, will anything else need to be done to rectify the problem? I had it towed to a mechanic but I wont even be able to talk to them until Monday. Is the bladder in the fuel tank going to be a problem? Is this going to cost me an arm and a leg? |
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| | #2 |
| Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 264
My Car: 2008 Prius Model: Package: #2 Thanks: 0
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Friends: 0 | get a hose from say home depot... suck.. and have a bucket next to you.. |
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| | #3 |
| An Aussie perspective Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Adelaide South Australia
Posts: 9,951
My Car: 2004 Prius Model: N/A Package: Base Thanks: 203
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Friends: 36 | I don't think it is that easy to syphon fuel from a Prius. Shouldn't cost a lot as you only put a little in. I wouldn't be that surprised if it ran on a full tank of petrol with a couple of litres of diesel so if the mechanic bypasses the fuel pump relay and directs the fuel line into a drum he should be able to empty the tank then it's just a matter of refilling and flush the line out then drive. The fuel pump should move the fuel at 2 litres per minute so if you have say 4 gallons in the tank it will empty in about 8 minutes. I doubt diesel will harm the bladder, that is if the early models had a bladder. |
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| | #4 |
| DIY Enthusiast Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Green Valley, AZ
Posts: 4,963
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Friends: 46 | It is good that you did not attempt to start the car. That would have the potential to cause engine damage, depending upon the relative mix of diesel to gasoline in the tank. As Pat indicated, the easiest way to drain the tank will be to disconnect the fuel line at the engine, allow the line to pump into a drain container while placing a jumper across the switched terminals of the circuit opening relay (aka fuel pump relay), then reconnect the line and refill the gas tank. Hopefully you will only be charged for 1/2 hour or 1 hour of labor time.
__________________ 2007 Prius 2006 Highlander Hybrid 4WD-i 2004 Prius 2001 Prius (sold Feb. 2008, 75K miles) 2000 Ford Mustang GT conv. |
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| | #5 |
| 03 and 10 Prius Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Huntsville AL with 2003 Prius
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Friends: 23 | I've been thinking about the diesel fuel contamination problem when it occurred to me that it must precipitate out of the gasoline spray. The diesel then accumulates in the manifold and/or in the cylinders until enough forms a liquid lock and breaks the pistons/connecting rods/crank/bearings. Sad to say but someone posted a note about mixing 'filtered, used motor oil' from a change with gasoline. I've shared my concerns but it wasn't until I realized that though the gasoline might 'carry' the oil, the oil hydrocarbons won't evaporate along with the gasoline. It is most likely to precipitate out and join the traditional Prius pool in the intake manifold. Bob Wilson |
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| | #6 |
| Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Kunming Yunnan China
Posts: 2,565
My Car: 2001 Prius Model: Package: Pioneer #1 Thanks: 2
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Friends: 15 | Before you have your car towed the the Toyota shop, call and confirm that they will do the work as suggested above. I see no reason why it would not be successful. Afterwards, maybe toss in a gallon or two of 87 octane and pump that out also? Just to increase your chance of a good 'clearing'. Actually I have liitle to add to this thread, but I thought 'the traditional Prius pool in the intake manifold' was charming. Please make a follow-up post. I'm sure, decades ago, that I bought gasoline that was 10% diesel (or so) somewhere in Arizona. A tank or two later the engine inhaled a valve guide, poor thing. No known causality there, but it later caused me to learn engine rebuilding!
__________________ DAS Tochatihu, the Hopi hummingbird kachina |
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| | #7 |
| Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Phoenix, AZ
Posts: 1,092
My Car: 2007 Prius Model: Package: #5 Thanks: 54
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Friends: 0 | So how did you get diesel into it? The diesel nozzles are supposed to be larger than the unleaded nozzles and shouldn't fit. |
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| | #8 |
| resident lab rat Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: south of lake Michigan
Posts: 9,736
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Friends: 26 | disconnect the fuel line up front, use scan tool to run the fuel pump. run till tank is dry. add 3 gal gas, pump till dry again. labor charge about 3 hours. |
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| | #9 | |
| Grumpy, Cranky Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Fullerton CA
Posts: 197
My Car: 2007 Prius Model: Package: #6 Touring Thanks: 0
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Friends: 4 | Quote:
Or, what does the dealer do with it? (I'd be tempted to add about a gallon of that mixture to every tank of gas just to safely burn it to get rid of it.) | |
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| | #10 |
| Moderator of the North Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Canada
Posts: 21,172
My Car: 2010 Prius Model: N/A Package: Technology Package (Canada) Thanks: 368
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Friends: 26 | Watch and of course pay attention to the diesel into a petrol car: |
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| diesel, fuel tank |
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