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Diesel in 2010 Prius Gen 3 empty gas tank. Drove for five (5) miles. Repair recommendations?

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Main Forum' started by eirens, Sep 20, 2022.

  1. eirens

    eirens Junior Member

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    Thank you. I had it towed from the dealership to my trusted mechanic.
     
  2. eirens

    eirens Junior Member

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    Yep. Amazing.

    Thank you. I had it towed from the dealership to my trusted mechanic.
     
  3. eirens

    eirens Junior Member

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    Thank you very much.

    I had it towed from the dealership to my trusted mechanic.
     
  4. eirens

    eirens Junior Member

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    Thank you. I left the battery replacement entry on my list for completeness and to create an opportunity for anyone to tell me to go with another battery, etc.
     
  5. Grit

    Grit Senior Member

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    With multiple posts at this rate, you’ll become a senior member by tomorrow!
     
  6. Johnny Cakes

    Johnny Cakes Senior Member

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    Ah...just sayin' but are you SURE your daughter put diesel into the tank? Has she explained how she was able to accomplish that with the nozzle being too big? Is there any chance this could be a different problem and you are thinking "gas" because it occurred right after a fill-up?
     
  7. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Have the receipt?
     
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  8. jzchen

    jzchen Newbie!

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    Strangely this diesel in gas tank has recently been reported on the Honda Clarity PHEV forum. Mechanic is recommending a $7k repair/engine replacement:

    Diesel in tank! | Honda Clarity Forum

    REVVL V+ 5G ?
     
  9. eirens

    eirens Junior Member

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    Should I not? I prefer to reply to each person who offers help.
     
  10. eirens

    eirens Junior Member

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    Here there are fuel pumps with diesel and gasoline nozzles in one pump. The diesel nozzles fit just fine in a gasoline car’s hole. She did realize she’d done something wrong, but she didn’t know what. She found out a few miles later.
     
  11. eirens

    eirens Junior Member

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    It was diesel. I discussed it with her. As soon as I said “diesel,” she perked up.
     
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  12. ASRDogman

    ASRDogman Senior Member

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    Well, for whatever reason how it happened....... diesel got into the GAS tank.
    You've taken it somewhere and they are going to fix the problem....
    No need to explain any further. I'm sure you daughter feels bad enough.
     
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  13. eirens

    eirens Junior Member

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    That was my first question to her. She said she didn’t get it because she’d have had to go in. I had recently told her to always get her receipt.

    We went to the station. She showed us the pump. She put diesel in it.

    Toyota dealership also confirmed it was diesel.

    Trusted mechanic cleaned it out for $300. Picked it up last night. Runs smoother than before. No new spark plugs.

    Plus Toyota put a couple cans of injector cleaner through it, and got it to idle, they said, which they charged me $150 for.

    Direct costs (not j clouding my time):
    AAA tow to Toyota dealership. $10 tip to driver.
    $150 for two cans of injector cleaner by the dealership. Ripoff, but I had authorized diagnosis and they said this was for diagnosis.
    $100 tow from Toyota dealer to my trusted mechanic
    $300 to my honest mechanic.
    $18 for some gasoline by mechanic

    Running well.

    I didn’t want to stick my mechanic with a “Prius problem” so I had it towed to dealership to be safe. Plus they estimated it as $400-600 over phone before I had it towed to them. Last time I do that, probably.
     
  14. eirens

    eirens Junior Member

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    Yep. :)

    It is now fixed. My trusted mechanic did an excellent job and charged me an excellent price, $300.
     
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  15. ASRDogman

    ASRDogman Senior Member

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    Wow, that's Great!
    Just tell your daughter, going GREEN is bad! :ROFLMAO:(y)
     
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  16. eirens

    eirens Junior Member

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    Green means don’t go!
     
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  17. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    congrats, great mechanic!
     
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  18. Johnny Cakes

    Johnny Cakes Senior Member

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    First, it's awesome that you emerged from this at a much lower cost than anticipated -- and the Prius runs great!

    Just out of curiosity, can indicate where "here" is? I don't believe in needless government regulation, but you have proven that regs on this would be reasonable. Curious what state doesn't require that.
     
  19. douglasjre

    douglasjre Senior Member

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    Tell your daughter to take it to the dealer and let her pay the repair bill. When you bail a woman out by doing the work for her you don't treat her like the equal that feminism taught us she is. Instead let her learn her lesson and pay her bill the way we would have to if we did it to her car ;-)
     
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  20. wr69

    wr69 Member

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    I learned something from this thread: Talk to my daughters more often! :) And maybe bust out the label maker and slap on a label on the inside fuel tank door cover: "WARNING: Do not use Diesel or green fuel."

    How could this happen?: Attaching a pic of the Prius fuel tank inlet. It has a large diameter opening, which tapers back about 4-5" inside, to the normal gas nozzle diameter. I could very easily see a confused "learner" thinking this is a Prius, its way different from a normal car, its supposed to be a "green" environmentally friendly car, so what the hell, I must need some different fuel. Why not use the "green" fuel. Then you stick the nozzle in and it kind of works, but just doesn't go all the way inside. Interesting dilemma!

    Second comment: For those looking for cheap tows, AAA has some pretty good deals if you are a member and the distance very close. IMG_6845.JPG
     
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