Put Petrol in a Diesel BMW X3 by Mistake?
The engine is best left off when it hasn't been run since you put petrol in a diesel BMW X3, and that covers shifting it clear of the pump. A fuel drain is normally enough to set the X3 right, as long as the petrol stays in your tank, which it will whilst the motor is off.
Your BMW X3 can be left wherever it ended up, forecourt included, because Petrol in Diesel empties misfuelled vehicles on the spot. Hold off attempting anything yourself till you've rung us, and we will explain what to do.
First steps for petrol in a diesel X3
- With petrol inside your tank, a diesel X3 will usually still start and run, and seem completely normal for several miles. That's why people frequently drive off without noticing a problem, and the reason your engine needs to be left off.
- Fuel can be drawn to the injectors even before the engine has started, because on many diesel engines the ignition on its own starts priming the fuel pump. Leave your ignition off too.
- The X3 takes up to 67 litres, so topping up the rest of the tank with diesel to dilute the petrol just leaves more contaminated fuel to drain. The same goes for super unleaded, which counts as petrol too.
- If the car is blocking a pump, pop it in neutral and roll the vehicle out of the way. Forecourt staff are normally happy to lend a hand.
- If the badging shows the precise variant, for instance the X3 xDrive 20d, give it once you phone 0333 366 0103. Let us know too which X3 you have and where it is parked, about how much petrol was put in and whether your engine has run.
Running on wrong fuel in your BMW X3
The motor isn't touched by wrong fuel in your BMW X3 until it is pulled out of your tank, and starting your motor is what draws it out. While it passes through, diesel fuel leaves your high-pressure pump and the fuel injectors oiled, and your motor depends on that. That lubrication is taken away as soon as petrol dilutes the diesel, so the harm, where there is any, comes from driving on the blend.
Find a safe place to stop and switch off, if the X3 has already been on the road. We drain your tank, then clean the pipes and fuel filter through until no tainted fuel is left, so it can still be sorted out. Very few cars that are caught early and flushed out properly end up with lasting damage.
The X3 xDrive 30d is no different in this from any other version of the X3.
The fuel tank capacity of the BMW X3
What matters is what proportion of your fuel inside the tank is petrol. The same couple of litres matter more if you fuelled up with your tank almost empty, which is why its size makes a difference.
In our figures, all of the diesel versions of the BMW X3 share one tank of 67 litres, so the calculation comes out the same for every one.
| Version | Fuel tank |
|---|---|
| BMW X3 1.8d | 67 litres |
| BMW X3 2.0d | 67 litres |
| BMW X3 3.0d | 67 litres |
| BMW X3 3.0sd | 67 litres |
| BMW X3 sDrive 18d | 67 litres |
| BMW X3 xDrive 20d | 67 litres |
| BMW X3 xDrive 30d | 67 litres |
| BMW X3 xDrive 35d | 67 litres |
What diesel variant of the X3 do you drive?
It is useful for us to have the variant when you ring, and it is generally on a badge at the rear of the car.
You will also see xDrive versions on the list.
AdBlue in a diesel BMW X3
Some diesel vehicles hold a blend of water and urea, called AdBlue, in a tank of its own with a dedicated filler, and rely on it to treat their exhaust. The key needs to stay out of your ignition if you have AdBlue in a diesel BMW X3 through the incorrect filler, and that covers shifting the car.
Even a tank holding up to 67 litres won't dilute AdBlue the way it would dilute petrol. AdBlue doesn't blend with diesel, so it drops to the base, right where the pump picks up its fuel, and being mostly water it neither ignites nor gives the fuel pump any protection.
Even a little of that is plenty to end up in the fuel line. When the water dries out, the urea crystallises inside the system, including the filter and injectors, and it eats into the metal it rests against.
On a lot of vehicles the AdBlue filler is beside the diesel filler under the same flap, and where the X3 has one, it may well be there too. A blue lid and a nozzle much smaller than diesel generally pick out the AdBlue filler.
Fuel drain on your BMW X3: how we do it
There is no garage involved, since we carry out a fuel drain on your BMW X3 at the vehicle itself. We begin by confirming what was put in and whether your engine has run, then drain your tank, which on the X3 takes up to 67 litres. After that we clean the fuel lines and your filter and fill up with clean diesel, and the fuel system is primed before we fire it up.
You are free to drive the X3 away when we've finished, now running on clean diesel.
AdBlue removal from a diesel BMW X3
AdBlue removal from a diesel BMW X3 follows the same stages as draining petrol. If the X3 has been run, AdBlue can form deposits inside the lines, as it gathers under the diesel instead of blending in. We clear those through too, and replace the filter if it needs it.
What we call AdBlue removal is draining AdBlue from your diesel tank after a mistake at the filler, not taking out or switching off the AdBlue system on a car.
The cost of a fuel drain on the BMW X3
The work changes from one job to the next, so we don't publish a fixed quote. The main factors that shape it are these:
- whether the X3 has been started or driven, which makes the biggest difference
- the quantity put in, measured against the size of your tank
- whether it was AdBlue instead of petrol
- whether our van can safely reach the X3 where it is
We can tell you what this work will probably need once you phone and give us those answers.
Questions on petrol in a diesel BMW X3, with answers
Your BMW X3 fuel tank capacity: how many litres?
All the variants we have data for take 67 litres.
Is it OK to add diesel after just a little petrol in my X3?
We would recommend against it. The petrol stays in the system when you drive off, because putting in diesel only lowers its share and takes out none of that. Your X3 usually needs no more than a fuel drain if just a small amount was put in, and that takes the petrol out entirely.
Do I need to take my X3 to the BMW dealer?
You do not have to. We have no tie with BMW or any of its dealers, being independent, and your X3 is drained and cleaned wherever you have stopped.
Which X3 I have: does it matter?
Knowing your variant helps when you ring, as there are 8 diesel versions of the X3 in our figures.
Does my insurance policy cover wrong fuel in my BMW X3?
It is worth looking at your policy, as misfuelling cover is part of some and not others. Whatever it says, we come out and empty your vehicle.
What should I do if my X3 got diesel in its AdBlue tank?
In that case, as well, leave your key out of the ignition. When it's driven that way, a car will usually give a warning and drop into limp mode. The AdBlue system needs draining too. When you ring, let us know which tank your diesel was put in.
What should I do if I've already driven my X3?
Until we get to you, your engine should remain off, so pull over where it is safe then switch it off. Catching it this early means long-term damage is very unusual, plus we drain and clean the fuel system wherever you are.