Kept Driving With Petrol in a Diesel Chevrolet Cruze?
As soon as it's safe, pull in then turn the motor off, then keep it off. Driving on with petrol in a diesel Chevrolet Cruze only carries the petrol further in. We can still put it right wherever you've stopped, and if it's caught early, lasting harm is very rare.
Petrol in Diesel travels out to wherever your Chevrolet Cruze has ended up, drains the tank and cleans the petrol from the system. We leave once it is running again on fresh diesel.
How petrol in a diesel Cruze shows itself
To begin with, petrol inside the tank often makes little difference to how a diesel Cruze feels, so the signs appear a couple of miles later on. With petrol or AdBlue inside your tank, these are the signs motorists tend to spot:
- the engine is short of power, particularly whenever it has to accelerate
- it runs roughly, or your idle turns uneven
- smoke from the exhaust, more of it than usual
- warning lamps come on
- the motor cuts out then may not start again
If any of these began after you filled up, check your receipt to see what was put in.
Wrong fuel in your Chevrolet Cruze: what driving on it does
Driving is what pulls wrong fuel in your Chevrolet Cruze out of the fuel tank and on through the fuel filter, your injection pump and the fuel injectors. Till the motor pulls it out, it stays where it is. Diesel lubricates the fuel pump and your fuel injectors as it flows through them and petrol thins it, so the farther the Cruze is driven, the more of the system the mix reaches.
Stopping the moment you can is better than finishing the trip for that reason. Travelling a long way on contaminated fuel is what can cause damage, and if a vehicle is stopped soon, a drain and a clean are generally all it requires.
It makes no difference whether yours is the Cruze 1.7 D SW or a different version of the Cruze.
Where you have stopped
You do not have to take the Cruze anywhere. The side of the road and outside your home are both spots we come to, and so it doesn't need restarting or towing.
A safe place, away from the traffic, is where to wait when you're beside a busy road, with your hazards on.
Ring 0333 366 0103 and tell us where you are, what Cruze it is and about how far you have driven. The version shown on the badge, such as the Cruze 2.0 D, is useful as well.
Fuel drain on your Chevrolet Cruze when you have driven it
A fuel drain on your Chevrolet Cruze after it was driven goes one step further than one at the forecourt. Once the tank is drained, the fuel lines are opened and rinsed through along with your fuel filter, which leaves no petrol anywhere from your fuel tank to the engine. The fuel system is primed after clean diesel is in, then the engine is started to confirm it runs properly.
When your engine has been run with AdBlue in a diesel Chevrolet Cruze
Uneven running, smoke and warning lamps are the normal signs after you've driven on AdBlue in a diesel Chevrolet Cruze, and your car might then stall. AdBlue doesn't burn or lubricate, and it drops to the base of your fuel tank where your pump draws fuel, so it reaches your fuel line quickly. Crystals build up in your lines and your fuel filter as its water dries.
AdBlue removal from a diesel Chevrolet Cruze
We replace your fuel filter if it needs it during AdBlue removal from a diesel Chevrolet Cruze after it has run, when your tank is drained and the crystals are cleared from your filter and the lines.
If your Cruze has a dedicated AdBlue tank, that's not touched. This is about fluid in the diesel tank, not removing or disabling the AdBlue system.
Tank sizes and engines: Chevrolet Cruze fuel tank capacity
60 litres is the capacity of the diesel tank on every version of the Chevrolet Cruze in our figures.
The smallest engine is 1.7 litres, on the Cruze 1.7 D, and the biggest is 2.0 litres, on the Cruze 2.0 D SW.
Among 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 |
What a fuel drain on the Chevrolet Cruze will cost after driving
The distance driven and where it is now count the most towards the price of a fuel drain on the Chevrolet Cruze after a drive, as does whether it was AdBlue or petrol. Give us those details on a call and we can say what's involved in the job.
Driven with petrol in a diesel Chevrolet Cruze: your queries
Is the Cruze done for now?
The likelihood of that is very low. We empty and clean the fuel system where you have pulled up, and if the car has been stopped early, lasting damage is uncommon.
Can I drive the vehicle home first?
Our guidance is not to. We can empty the Cruze right where it stands, so it doesn't need shifting, and every mile driven on tainted fuel would push it further through the system.
Stalled, and it will not restart: what should I do next?
Please leave the vehicle rather than having another go, because each try pulls more of that mixture through. Once we have drained and rinsed it and put clean diesel in, we prime the fuel system and get it started for you.
Does the version of my Cruze make a difference?
The badge on the boot shows the version you have, out of the 4 diesel versions of the Cruze, and knowing it assists us when you call.
Is wrong fuel in my Chevrolet Cruze covered by insurance?
We come out whichever way your policy goes, and some do include misfuelling cover, which means looking at yours after your car is dealt with is worth doing.