Petrol in a Diesel Alfa Romeo 166: What the Tank Holds
Someone who has got petrol in a diesel Alfa Romeo 166 wants to know the capacity of its fuel tank early on, as that determines what share of the fuel in there is now petrol. Every version of the Alfa Romeo 166 we have data for is set out on this page with its tank capacity, and the same goes for the motors it came with.
Once it has occurred, the same guidance holds whatever the size is. With your engine left off, call Petrol in Diesel and the vehicle will be emptied where it is.
Each version in turn: Alfa Romeo 166 fuel tank capacity
Between 69 and 72 litres is the spread for the Alfa Romeo 166 diesel tank, and the version you have determines where yours falls.
In our figures, the 166 2.4 JTD 16V Multijet carries the smallest fuel tank and the 166 2.4 JTD 8V the biggest.
| Version | Fuel tank |
|---|---|
| Alfa Romeo 166 2.4 JTD 16V Multijet | 69 litres |
| Alfa Romeo 166 2.4 JTD 8V | 72 litres |
A couple of litres of wrong fuel in your Alfa Romeo 166, and what they amount to
Whatever diesel is already inside the tank blends with the wrong fuel in your Alfa Romeo 166, and how full the tank was when you filled up sets how much of the mix is petrol. When a couple of litres of petrol go into a tank running near empty, they form a much bigger part of what your engine would take in. Added to a nearly full tank of up to 72 litres, the same amount is just a minor share of the total.
The quantity of petrol that is too much is something motorists commonly ask about. Starting the motor is what takes the blend out of the tank and through your pump and the fuel injectors, and so the more helpful thing to find out is if it has run.
Having it emptied is the right course whatever the share is. When the amount is small, your 166 normally needs nothing more than that.
The engine options fitted to your diesel 166
When you ring, it is useful to have checked the badge beforehand, because the name of the version on it shows us which motor your 166 has.
The badges on the diesel versions of the 166 within our data are JTD and Multijet.
All of them share one engine size, 2.4 litres.
Call anyway if you're not certain which version you have, then we will work it out with you.
When there is AdBlue in a diesel Alfa Romeo 166
Fuel tank size plays out differently with AdBlue. With AdBlue in a diesel Alfa Romeo 166, the diesel already in your tank does not dilute it. Being mainly water, AdBlue keeps separate from your diesel and settles to the base, which is where your pump pulls from. Even a tiny quantity gets into your fuel line.
AdBlue doesn't burn and gives the pump no lubrication, and as its water dries out, the urea left behind forms crystals in the fuel lines and your filter and eats into the metalwork around it.
The filler for AdBlue, on diesel vehicles that carry it, often shares a flap with the diesel one and leads to a separate tank. If your 166 has an AdBlue filler, the AdBlue filler cap is normally blue and takes a slimmer pump nozzle than the diesel one.
Fuel drain on your Alfa Romeo 166
The entire tank is emptied in a fuel drain on your Alfa Romeo 166, however large the tank is in your version, without the vehicle being moved from where it stands. We draw the tainted fuel out, rinse the lines and your filter, and refill with fresh diesel ahead of re-priming the system and firing up your engine.
Left at home or still at the pumps, your 166 receives the same drain. After the drain is done it's running on fresh diesel and you can take it away.
AdBlue removal from a diesel Alfa Romeo 166, explained
Clearing your tank totally is where AdBlue removal from a diesel Alfa Romeo 166 starts, since AdBlue does not mix in and collects at the bottom instead. A motor that has run means cleaning the fuel filter and lines through too, plus replacing your fuel filter if it needs it.
AdBlue that has gone into your diesel tank is the subject here. Switching off or removing your car's AdBlue system is not part of it.
How the price of a fuel drain on the Alfa Romeo 166 is worked out
There's no fixed price listed on this page, because call-outs on one model can differ quite a lot. How much got in compared with the size of the tank, petrol or AdBlue, and the car's location all matter, yet whether the 166 has been driven or only started changes it most.
With those facts, we can let you know what this job will involve when you phone.
Tank queries about petrol in a diesel Alfa Romeo 166
Fuel tank capacity of the Alfa Romeo 166: how much does it hold?
Each version is set out above in the table, with tanks from 69 to 72 litres according to which one it is.
Does petrol matter less with a bigger tank?
In a bigger tank, petrol is a smaller part of the total, yet it has not gone anywhere, and it reaches the pump once the motor runs. A fuel drain clears all of that as long as your 166 is turned off.
How many diesel versions of the 166 do you list?
There are 2 diesel 166 versions in our data, and the name on your badge tells you which row of the table above is yours.
Wrong fuel in my Alfa Romeo 166: what does that include?
Anything except diesel in your diesel tank, which means petrol of every type, super unleaded included, or AdBlue meant for its own dedicated tank.
Do you come to the Alfa Romeo 166 to drain it?
We do. The vehicle does not need to be moved or started, as we travel to it whether it is still at the forecourt or left at home.