Put Petrol in a Diesel Dacia Sandero by Mistake?
We'd ask you to leave your engine off if you have put petrol in a diesel Dacia Sandero and not started it yet, and that counts for moving it off the forecourt too. As long as the motor remains off the petrol stays inside your tank, and a fuel drain is normally all that it takes to put the Sandero right.
Petrol in Diesel empties misfuelled vehicles on the spot, and the Dacia Sandero can stay on the forecourt or wherever it ended up. We'll go through it with you over the phone, so ring us before attempting anything yourself.
The first moves with petrol in a diesel Sandero
- Don't turn on your engine, even though a diesel Sandero will generally run with petrol in your tank. It may seem normal for a time, and that's how people commonly drive away without noticing something is wrong.
- Turning your ignition on is enough, on plenty of diesels, to start the fuel pump priming and pull fuel from your tank to the injectors, so keep that off too.
- Topping up with diesel to dilute it is a mistake, even with super unleaded, which is petrol as well. The fuel tank on the Sandero takes up to 50 litres, and every litre of diesel added is more tainted fuel for us to empty.
- Ask the forecourt attendants when your car is blocking a pump. They normally help push the car out of the way once it's in neutral.
- Once you call 0333 366 0103, we need to know which Sandero you drive, where it is parked, how much petrol you reckon went in and whether the motor has been run. The exact version is useful as well if it's on the badge, for instance the Sandero Stepway dCi 90.
Wrong fuel in your Dacia Sandero once your motor has been run
The engine is not affected by wrong fuel in your Dacia Sandero until it is drawn out of your tank, and starting your engine is what pulls it out. A diesel engine relies on the fuel to oil the high-pressure fuel pump and the fuel injectors as it passes through them. That protection is stripped away when petrol thins your diesel, so the harm, where there is any, is down to driving on that mix.
Pull over in a safe place and switch off if the Sandero has already been driven. We drain the tank, then rinse the lines and filter through till no contaminated fuel is left, so it can still be dealt with. Lasting harm is very unusual when it's caught soon and given a thorough clean.
It's the same whatever variant of the Sandero you have, including the Sandero Stepway 1.5 dCi.
Checking the Dacia Sandero fuel tank capacity
If you fuelled up when the tank was close to empty, the same few litres make up more of the fuel in it, and the risk hinges on that proportion, which means the size of your tank matters.
It does not make a difference which version you have, because each diesel Dacia Sandero in our figures uses the same tank, taking 50 litres.
| Version | Fuel tank |
|---|---|
| Dacia Sandero 1.5 dCi | 50 litres |
| Dacia Sandero dCi 75 | 50 litres |
| Dacia Sandero dCi 90 | 50 litres |
| Dacia Sandero Stepway 1.5 dCi | 50 litres |
| Dacia Sandero Stepway dCi 90 | 50 litres |
Checking your diesel Sandero variant
The version is generally on a badge on your boot lid, and knowing it helps us when you phone.
On the diesel Sandero, the badging used is dCi.
Every version on our list has a motor of 1.5 litres.
AdBlue in a diesel Dacia Sandero by accident
Water and urea go into AdBlue, which certain diesel cars use to clean up the exhaust. It is kept in a tank of its own, with its own filler. Pouring AdBlue in the wrong filler leaves you with AdBlue in a diesel Dacia Sandero, so do not touch the key, not even to shift the vehicle.
AdBlue settles to the bottom of the tank, where the pump takes its fuel from, as it won't mix with diesel. Being mostly water, it can't burn and gives the fuel pump no lubrication, and the diesel in a tank of up to 50 litres doesn't weaken it as it would petrol.
Even a small amount is drawn into your fuel line. Inside the fuel system the water dries off and leaves the urea to crystallise, in your filter and injectors among other places, where it eats into the metal it touches.
Look under the fuel flap where the Sandero has an AdBlue filler, since on many cars it sits right alongside the diesel filler. A blue cap and a nozzle far smaller than diesel typically mark the AdBlue filler.
The fuel drain on your Dacia Sandero, step by step
We carry out a fuel drain on your Dacia Sandero where your vehicle is, and it never needs to be taken to a garage. We start by finding out what went in and whether the motor has run, then drain the tank, which on the Sandero holds up to 50 litres. Then we rinse your fuel lines and the filter and refill with clean diesel, and the system is primed before we fire it up.
You are free to take your Sandero away when we have finished, running on clean diesel.
AdBlue removal from a diesel Dacia Sandero
The steps are the same as a petrol drain in AdBlue removal from a diesel Dacia Sandero. Because AdBlue doesn't mix in but gathers at the base of your tank, running the Sandero on it can form crystals inside the pipes. Those get cleared through as well, and the fuel filter is replaced if it needs it.
AdBlue removal on this page means getting AdBlue out of the diesel tank after it has gone in the incorrect filler. It does not mean removing or switching off the AdBlue system on your vehicle.
What does a fuel drain on the Dacia Sandero cost?
The work differs from one task to the next, so we don't publish a fixed quote. The chief things that affect it are these:
- whether the Sandero has been started or driven, which makes the biggest difference
- the volume put in, weighed against the capacity of your tank
- whether it was petrol or AdBlue
- whether the van can safely reach the Sandero where it stands
With those details over the phone, we can tell you what the job is likely to involve.
Queries about petrol in a diesel Dacia Sandero
How many litres is the Dacia Sandero fuel tank capacity?
50 litres. Your tank is the same size whatever variant you have.
Is it OK to add diesel after only a little petrol in my Sandero?
It is not something we would recommend, since adding diesel does nothing to take out the petrol. It only lowers its proportion, and the petrol is still in your system after you drive off. Draining gets all of it out, and with a modest amount that's usually all the Sandero needs.
Will my Sandero have to be taken to the Dacia dealer?
No. We are independent and have no tie with Dacia or its dealers, and we drain and clean your Sandero wherever it is, so there's no need to take it anywhere.
Does it matter which Sandero I drive?
We hold figures for 5 diesel variants of the Sandero, and knowing which one you have assists us when you call.
Will my insurance policy pay for wrong fuel in my Dacia Sandero?
Some policies have misfuelling cover and some do not, so it is worth looking at yours. Either way, we come out and empty the vehicle for you.
The diesel went into the AdBlue filler on my Sandero. What now?
Here, too, the right thing is to leave the ignition alone. When it's driven that way, a car will generally show a warning and enter limp mode. The AdBlue system needs draining as well. Please say which tank took your fuel when you call.
I've already driven my Sandero. What do I do?
Switch your motor off after you've pulled over somewhere safe, and keep it off until we reach you. Spotting it this early means permanent damage is very uncommon, and we empty and clean your fuel system wherever you are.