Have You Put Petrol in a Diesel Audi Q7?
We'd urge you to leave your engine off when you have put petrol in a diesel Audi Q7 and not started it yet, and that counts for moving it off the forecourt too. As long as your motor stays off that petrol remains in your tank, and a drain is normally all that it needs to set your Q7 right.
Petrol in Diesel empties wrongly fuelled vehicles where they stand, and the Audi Q7 can be left on the forecourt or wherever it has come to a stop. We'll go through it with you over the phone, so call us before attempting anything on your own.
What to do first for petrol in a diesel Q7
- Leave the motor off. Any diesel Q7 will generally fire up and run with petrol in the tank, and it can feel normal for a few miles, which is why drivers often drive away without noticing something is wrong.
- The ignition has to remain off too, because turning it on starts the fuel pump priming on plenty of diesels, and your pump then draws fuel from your tank.
- Filling up with diesel to thin it is a bad idea, even with super unleaded, which is petrol as well. The fuel tank on your Q7 holds up to 100 litres, and every litre of diesel put in is more tainted fuel for us to drain.
- If the car is blocking a pump, pop it in neutral then push it clear. Forecourt attendants are usually happy to lend a hand.
- Phone 0333 366 0103 with the place the Q7 is and which one it is, the rough quantity of petrol that went in, and whether it has run. If you can read the exact variant on the badge, for instance the Q7 3.0 TDI clean diesel quattro, that helps too.
Running on wrong fuel in your Audi Q7
The motor is not affected by wrong fuel in your Audi Q7 until it's drawn out of the tank, and starting the motor is what draws it out. A diesel engine depends on its fuel to lubricate the high-pressure pump and your injectors whilst it passes through them. Petrol thins your diesel and takes that lubrication away, which is why it is driving for any distance on the blend that can do damage.
If you've driven your Q7 on it, the right thing to do is stop somewhere safe and turn the engine off. We can still sort it out, by emptying your tank and cleaning the pipes and your filter till all of the tainted fuel is cleared. Very few vehicles that are caught soon and cleaned out thoroughly end up with permanent damage.
It is the same whatever variant of the Q7 you have, and that includes the Q7 4.2 TDI quattro.
Audi Q7 fuel tank capacity
The capacity of the tank counts since the risk depends on how much of your fuel in there is petrol, so the same couple of litres are more of a problem if the tank was almost empty when you fuelled up.
In our figures, all the diesel variants of the Audi Q7 share one tank of 100 litres, so the calculation comes out the same for each.
| Version | Fuel tank |
|---|---|
| Audi Q7 3.0 TDI clean diesel quattro | 100 litres |
| Audi Q7 3.0 TDI quattro | 100 litres |
| Audi Q7 4.2 TDI quattro | 100 litres |
| Audi Q7 6.0 TDI quattro | 100 litres |
Which diesel version of the Q7 is yours?
The version is usually on a badge on your boot lid, and it's useful for us to know when you phone.
Look for TDI on the badge of a diesel Q7.
At 3.0 litres, the Q7 3.0 TDI quattro has the smallest engine, while the Q7 6.0 TDI quattro runs up to 6.0 litres.
There are Quattro versions on the list too.
AdBlue in a diesel Audi Q7 by mistake
Water and urea make up AdBlue, which certain diesel cars rely on to treat their exhaust. It is kept in a tank of its own, with a separate filler. If you've got AdBlue in a diesel Audi Q7 because it went in the wrong filler, don't turn your key, even to move the car.
Even a tank holding up to 100 litres won't dilute AdBlue the way it would dilute petrol. AdBlue does not blend with diesel, so it drops to the bottom, right where the pump draws its fuel, and being mainly water it neither burns nor offers the fuel pump any lubrication.
Even a small amount gets pulled into the fuel line. Crystals of urea form in the filter, your injectors and the rest of the fuel system once the water evaporates, and they corrode the metal they touch.
The same filler flap frequently hides both fillers, and if the Q7 has an AdBlue filler, it may well be alongside the diesel one. You can usually spot the AdBlue lid by its blue colour and the far smaller nozzle it takes.
How a fuel drain on your Audi Q7 is done
We do a fuel drain on your Audi Q7 where the car sits, and it doesn't need to be taken to a garage. To begin with we check what was put in and whether your engine has run. The tank, which takes up to 100 litres on the Q7, is then drained, the pipes and fuel filter are flushed, and the vehicle is refilled with fresh diesel and primed before we start the car.
Fresh diesel is what your Q7 is running on by the time we have finished, and you can drive off in it.
What AdBlue removal from a diesel Audi Q7 involves
The steps are the same as a petrol drain for AdBlue removal from a diesel Audi Q7. We flush crystals out of the lines as well when the Q7 has been run, and replace your fuel filter where needed, as AdBlue gathers in the base of the tank rather than blending in and may leave them there.
What we call AdBlue removal is emptying AdBlue from the diesel tank after a slip at your filler, not taking out or disabling the AdBlue system on a vehicle.
A fuel drain on the Audi Q7: what it costs
A set quote is not something we publish, as no two jobs involve the same work. It largely comes down to the following:
- whether the Q7 has been started or driven, which makes the greatest difference
- a tank's capacity next to the amount that went in
- whether it was petrol or AdBlue
- the location of the Q7 and how safely we can get to it with the van
We can let you know what this work will probably involve when you call and give us those details.
Queries on petrol in a diesel Audi Q7, with answers
Can you tell me the fuel tank capacity of the Audi Q7?
All the variants we have figures for hold 100 litres.
Can I fill up with diesel if I only put a little petrol in my Q7?
It is not something we'd recommend, as putting in diesel does nothing to take out the petrol. It just lowers its proportion, and that petrol is still in the system after you drive off. A drain takes all of that out, and with a small quantity that's generally all the Q7 needs.
Do I need to take my Q7 to the Audi dealer?
There's no need to take it anywhere. We empty and clean your Q7 where it is, and we're independent, with no connection to Audi or its dealers.
Do you need to know which Q7 I have?
It helps us to know which one you have when you phone, since we hold figures for 4 diesel variants of the Q7.
Am I insured for wrong fuel in my Audi Q7?
It's worth checking your policy, as misfuelling cover is part of some and not others. Whichever way it reads, we come out and drain the car.
What happens if I pour diesel in the AdBlue tank of my Q7?
Don't put the key in the ignition then either. The AdBlue system will need emptying, and when your car is driven that way, it'll most likely display a warning and enter limp mode. Do say which tank took the diesel when you call.
What should I do if I've already driven my Q7?
Turn the engine off after you've pulled over somewhere safe, and keep it off till we reach you. Wherever you have stopped, your fuel system is drained and cleaned there, and caught soon like this, it very rarely leaves long-term harm.