diesel in a 2001 Prius gas tank

tiggrr106 · 06-08-2008, 03:17 AM

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?

omgitsroy326 · 06-08-2008, 03:20 AM

get a hose from say home depot... suck.. and have a bucket next to you..

patsparks · 06-08-2008, 03:43 AM

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.

Patrick Wong · 06-08-2008, 04:44 AM

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.

bwilson4web · 06-08-2008, 05:20 AM

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

tochatihu · 06-08-2008, 09:13 AM

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!

alanh · 06-08-2008, 11:19 PM

So how did you get diesel into it? The diesel nozzles are supposed to be larger than the unleaded nozzles and shouldn't fit.

galaxee · 06-08-2008, 11:54 PM

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.

kohnen · 06-09-2008, 11:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by galaxee

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.

Just curious - What do you do with the 3 to 12 gallons of gasoline / diesel mixture at this point?

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.)

**Tideland Prius** · 06-10-2008, 03:40 PM

Watch and of course pay attention to the diesel into a petrol car:

YouTube - Fifth Gear - Wrong Fuel Type

06-08-2008, 03:17 AM	#1
tiggrr106 Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 1 My Car: 2001 Prius Model: Package: N/A Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	diesel in a 2001 Prius gas tank 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?

06-08-2008, 03:20 AM	#2
omgitsroy326 Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 264 My Car: 2008 Prius Model: Package: #2 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	Re: diesel in a 2001 Prius gas tank get a hose from say home depot... suck.. and have a bucket next to you..

06-08-2008, 03:43 AM	#3
patsparks 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 Thanked 272 Times in 211 Posts Friends: 36	Re: diesel in a 2001 Prius gas tank 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. __________________ All the warranty I need. Still averaging 4.4L/100km across town 2004 silver base model Prius Shark fin, genuine mudflaps, colour matched side mouldings, rear bumper scuff guard, sheepskin seats, BT Plate. I love it!

06-08-2008, 04:44 AM	#4
Patrick Wong DIY Enthusiast Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Green Valley, AZ Posts: 4,963 My Car: 2007 Prius Model: N/A Package: #4 Thanks: 57 Thanked 519 Times in 417 Posts Friends: 46	Re: diesel in a 2001 Prius gas tank 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.

06-08-2008, 05:20 AM	#5
bwilson4web 03 and 10 Prius Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Huntsville AL with 2003 Prius Posts: 5,101 My Car: 2010 Prius Model: III Package: #1 Thanks: 342 Thanked 745 Times in 430 Posts Friends: 23	Re: diesel in a 2001 Prius gas tank 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

06-08-2008, 09:13 AM	#6
tochatihu Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Kunming Yunnan China Posts: 2,565 My Car: 2001 Prius Model: Package: Pioneer #1 Thanks: 2 Thanked 85 Times in 70 Posts Friends: 15	Re: diesel in a 2001 Prius gas tank 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

06-08-2008, 11:19 PM	#7
alanh Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 1,092 My Car: 2007 Prius Model: Package: #5 Thanks: 54 Thanked 58 Times in 43 Posts Friends: 0	Re: diesel in a 2001 Prius gas tank So how did you get diesel into it? The diesel nozzles are supposed to be larger than the unleaded nozzles and shouldn't fit.

06-08-2008, 11:54 PM	#8
galaxee resident lab rat Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: south of lake Michigan Posts: 9,736 My Car: 2005 Prius Model: N/A Package: #5 Thanks: 0 Thanked 129 Times in 52 Posts Friends: 26	Re: diesel in a 2001 Prius gas tank 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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