Kept Driving With Petrol in a Diesel Chevrolet Cruze?
If you have travelled with petrol in a diesel Chevrolet Cruze, stop as soon as it is safe, turn the motor off and leave it off. Wherever you've stopped, we can still sort it out, and damage that lasts is very rare when it's caught early.
Wherever your Chevrolet Cruze has stopped, Petrol in Diesel comes out to drain your tank there and clear the petrol out of your fuel system. Once we head off, the vehicle is running on clean diesel.
Petrol in a diesel Cruze: the symptoms to look for
At first, petrol inside the tank frequently changes very little to how a diesel Cruze feels, so the symptoms appear a couple of miles later. With petrol or AdBlue in your fuel tank, the following are the ones people tend to spot:
- a loss of power, especially when the motor is asked to pull
- the idle becomes erratic, or it runs rough
- more smoke than normal comes from the exhaust
- the dashboard shows warning lamps
- the motor stalls and might not restart
Any of these beginning after you fuelled up is a reason to check your receipt to see what went in.
Wrong fuel in your Chevrolet Cruze: what travelling on it does
Wrong fuel in your Chevrolet Cruze sits in your tank till the motor pulls it out, and driving is what pulls it through the fuel filter, the high-pressure pump and your fuel injectors. Petrol dilutes the diesel fuel that protects the pump and the injectors while it runs through them, and driving the Cruze further brings that mix into more of your fuel system.
This is the reason to stop the moment you can rather than finish the journey. Normally, a drain and a clean are all a motor needs when it is stopped early, as what can cause damage is travelling far on fuel that is tainted.
If yours is the Cruze 2.0 D SW or any other version of the Cruze, nothing changes.
We come to wherever you have stopped
The Cruze doesn't need taking anywhere. No recovery truck has to be booked and there is no reason to restart it, because we come to it at the side of the road or outside your house.
On a main road, turn on your hazards, then find somewhere safe to wait clear of the traffic.
About how far you travelled, which Cruze it is and where you've pulled up are what to mention when you call 0333 366 0103. Giving us the version on the badge, like the Cruze 1.7 D, helps as well.
After it has been driven: fuel drain on your Chevrolet Cruze
There is a step more to a fuel drain on your Chevrolet Cruze after it was driven than to one at the forecourt. Draining the tank comes first. Then we open up the lines and flush them through with the filter, until there is no petrol left between your tank and the motor. Fresh diesel goes in, your fuel system is primed, and our technicians start the motor to confirm it runs properly.
AdBlue in a diesel Chevrolet Cruze after it has been run
Driving with AdBlue in a diesel Chevrolet Cruze normally brings warning lamps, smoke and uneven running, and the vehicle may stall. AdBlue does not burn or lubricate, and it settles to the bottom of your tank where the fuel pump picks up fuel, and so it reaches the fuel line quickly. Its water drying out lets the urea form crystals in your fuel lines and your fuel filter.
AdBlue removal from a diesel Chevrolet Cruze
AdBlue removal from a diesel Chevrolet Cruze that has been run means draining the tank and then flushing the crystals from your lines and the fuel filter, and we replace your fuel filter if it needs it.
If your Cruze has a separate AdBlue tank, that's left alone. This is about fluid in the diesel tank, not removing or disabling the AdBlue system.
Tank sizes and engines: Chevrolet Cruze fuel tank capacity
Our records show the diesel tank takes 60 litres on every version of the Chevrolet Cruze.
From 1.7 litres on the Cruze 1.7 D SW, engine sizes run up to 2.0 litres on the Cruze 2.0 D.
Amongst them are SW versions.
| Version | Fuel tank |
|---|---|
| Chevrolet Cruze 1.7 D | 60 litres |
| Chevrolet Cruze 1.7 D SW | 60 litres |
| Chevrolet Cruze 2.0 D | 60 litres |
| Chevrolet Cruze 2.0 D SW | 60 litres |
Fuel drain on the Chevrolet Cruze after driving: the cost
Whether it was petrol or AdBlue changes what a fuel drain on the Chevrolet Cruze costs after driving on it, though it hinges mainly on how far it travelled and where it has ended up. Call with those details and then we can explain what the job will need.
Common queries about petrol in a diesel Chevrolet Cruze after a drive
Will my Cruze be ruined?
It is very unlikely. Permanent damage is uncommon when the car is stopped early and your fuel system is emptied and flushed, and that is what we do where you've stopped.
Is it OK to drive it home first?
We would sooner you did not. Contaminated fuel reaches further into your fuel system with every mile, which means you can keep the Cruze where it stands whilst we drain it there, with no reason to shift the car.
What do I do if it has stalled and will not restart?
Another go draws more of the blend through on each attempt. Please leave the car as it is. With it emptied and rinsed and fresh diesel in, we prime your fuel system and get it started for you.
Does it matter which Cruze I drive?
Knowing which of the 4 diesel versions of the Cruze you have helps us when you call, and it's on the badge on the boot.
Wrong fuel in my Chevrolet Cruze: does insurance cover it?
Misfuelling cover is offered in some insurance policies, so check yours once your car has been sorted out. Either way, we come out.