You've Driven With Petrol in a Diesel Citroen
Switch the engine off then leave it off as soon as you can pull in safely, if you have been driving with petrol in a diesel Citroen. Where you have stopped, sorting it out is still something we can do, and damage that lasts is very rare if it is caught soon.
Petrol in Diesel comes out to wherever the car has stopped, drains your tank and flushes the petrol from the fuel system, so it's running on fresh diesel again before we leave.
Noticing petrol in a diesel Citroen
A diesel car with petrol in its fuel tank commonly drives normally for the first couple of miles, so the signs tend to show up later. Petrol or AdBlue in your fuel tank normally shows itself in the following ways:
- the engine struggles for power, especially when it is asked to pull
- the idle goes uneven, or it runs rough
- smoke from the exhaust that's heavier than normal
- the dash shows warning lamps
- it may not start again once it stalls
One of these starting after you filled up is a reason to check your receipt, which will show what got in.
What occurs if you drive with wrong fuel in your Citroen
The fuel tank keeps wrong fuel in your Citroen until the motor pulls it out. When you drive, it goes through the filter, and then your high-pressure pump and your injectors. Diesel lubricates your fuel pump and the fuel injectors as it flows through, and petrol thins it, so the farther your car goes, the more of your fuel system that mixture hits.
Because of this, stopping as soon as you can is better than completing the journey. Travelling a long way on mixed fuel is what can cause harm, and if a motor is stopped early, a drain and a clean are generally all it needs.
The ZX works the same way as any other diesel Citroen in this respect.
We come to where you've stopped
The vehicle does not need taking anywhere. Whether it's at the side of the road or outside your home, we come to the vehicle there, with no need to start it or arrange a tow.
A safe spot clear of the traffic is the place to wait when a busy road is just beside you, with your hazards on.
As you call 0333 366 0103, the things we need are your location, the model and about how many miles you drove. The model name is enough to start with, such as the Xsara.
What a fuel drain on your Citroen involves after driving
A fuel drain on your Citroen after it was driven goes a step further than one on the forecourt. No petrol should be left anywhere from the tank to the engine, which is why the tank is drained first and your fuel lines are opened and rinsed through along with your filter. To check it runs correctly, we start the motor once fresh diesel has gone in and your system has been primed.
Emptying your tank comes first, and on the C6 it takes up to 72 litres.
After it has run: AdBlue in a diesel Citroen
Travelling on AdBlue in a diesel Citroen can end in a stall, normally following uneven running, smoke and warning lights. Once AdBlue is in your fuel tank, it sinks to the bottom, where the pump draws fuel, so it reaches the fuel line quickly. It also doesn't burn or lubricate. Deposits of urea build up in the fuel lines and the fuel filter once its water evaporates.
AdBlue removal from a diesel Citroen: what it means
Emptying the tank comes first in AdBlue removal from a diesel Citroen that has been run, and then the crystals are cleared from your fuel lines and your filter, with your fuel filter replaced if it needs it.
Nothing here involves removing or switching off the AdBlue system. The work covers liquid in the diesel tank, and any dedicated AdBlue tank the vehicle has is left as it is.
Diesel Citroen tanks through the range
Diesel Citroen fuel tanks range from 35 to 80 litres over the models.
The Xantia, for instance, takes up to 70 litres.
Further down, there is a page for every one of the 19 diesel Citroen models we list, with each version and its fuel tank.
Costing a fuel drain on a diesel Citroen once it has been driven
What you are charged for a fuel drain after driving comes down mainly to the miles the vehicle covered and its location, but petrol versus AdBlue counts too. We can tell you what the job will involve once you ring with those details.
Driven on petrol in a diesel Citroen: your queries
Will my Citroen be wrecked?
The chance of that is very small, as permanent damage is rare when the vehicle is stopped early and we empty and clean the system wherever you have stopped.
Should I take it home first?
Our advice is not to. Contaminated fuel gets further into your system with each mile, and your car can be dealt with where it is, with no need to move it.
It has stalled and will not restart. What do I do?
Please leave it rather than having another go, because each attempt pulls more of the mixture through. After we've emptied and flushed it then put fresh diesel in, we prime the fuel system and get it started for you.
Wrong fuel in my Citroen: will my insurance cover it?
Once the car is sorted, it is worth checking your policy, because some offer misfuelling cover. We come out either way.