Petrol in a Diesel Ford B-Max, and You've Driven It
Leaving the motor off is what counts after you have driven with petrol in a diesel Ford B-Max, so pull in as soon as it's safe and switch the motor off. Caught early, it very rarely leaves lasting damage, and sorting it out where you've pulled up is still possible.
When Petrol in Diesel travels out to wherever your Ford B-Max has stopped, the petrol is cleaned out of the system and the fuel tank emptied. By the time we go, the vehicle is running on fresh diesel.
How petrol in a diesel B-Max shows itself
A diesel B-Max carrying petrol in the fuel tank commonly drives normally at first, so the symptoms tend to appear a couple of miles further on. These are the signs usually spotted if the tank has AdBlue or petrol in it:
- the engine loses power, particularly whenever you ask it to accelerate
- it runs rough, or your idle becomes erratic
- more smoke than usual comes from the exhaust
- the dashboard shows warning lamps
- it cuts out, then may refuse to restart
If any of these began after you filled up, look at your receipt to find out what was put in.
Wrong fuel in your Ford B-Max and the result of driving on it
Wrong fuel in your Ford B-Max stays in the tank until the engine pulls it out, and driving is what draws it through the fuel filter, your high-pressure fuel pump and the injectors. The mix reaches more of your fuel system the further the B-Max is driven, since petrol weakens the diesel fuel that protects the fuel pump and the fuel injectors as it passes through them.
That's why it's wiser to stop the moment you can than to complete the trip. Travelling a long way on contaminated fuel is what can do harm, and if a car is stopped early, a drain and a clean are generally all it needs.
Where you have pulled up
You do not have to get the B-Max anywhere. The side of the road and outside your house are both places we come to, so it does not need restarting or a tow.
If you're next to a main road, turn your hazard lights on and wait somewhere out of harm's way, clear of the traffic.
Before you phone 0333 366 0103, have your whereabouts ready, along with the mileage you travelled and which B-Max it is. Giving us the version on the badge, such as the B-Max 1.6 TDCi, helps as well.
Fuel drain on your Ford B-Max after it was driven
After it has been driven, a fuel drain on your Ford B-Max involves one step more than one on the forecourt. We empty the fuel tank first, then open the fuel lines and rinse them through with your fuel filter, so no petrol is left between the tank and the engine. With fresh diesel in and the fuel system primed, we start the motor then make sure it runs correctly.
When the motor has been run with AdBlue in a diesel Ford B-Max
If you have AdBlue in a diesel Ford B-Max and have driven on it, the symptoms are typically uneven running, smoke and warning lights, and your car might cut out. Sinking to the bottom of your fuel tank, where your fuel pump picks up fuel, AdBlue gets into the fuel line quickly, and it doesn't burn or lubricate. Urea crystals build up in your lines and the filter as its water evaporates.
AdBlue removal from a diesel Ford B-Max after driving
AdBlue removal from a diesel Ford B-Max that has been run means draining the tank and then clearing the crystals out of your lines and your filter, and we'll change the filter if it needs it.
Nothing here means switching off or removing the AdBlue system. It covers fluid in your diesel tank, and a separate AdBlue tank your B-Max may have is left alone.
Ford B-Max fuel tank capacity and engine sizes
47 litres is the size of the diesel fuel tank on every version of the Ford B-Max in our data.
You'll see TDCi badges on diesel B-Max versions.
The smallest engine is 1.5 litres, on the B-Max 1.5 TDCi, while the largest is 1.6 litres, on the B-Max 1.6 TDCi.
| Version | Fuel tank |
|---|---|
| Ford B-Max 1.5 TDCi | 47 litres |
| Ford B-Max 1.6 TDCi | 47 litres |
What a fuel drain on the Ford B-Max will cost after a drive
The price of a fuel drain on the Ford B-Max after it has been driven depends largely on how far it travelled and where it has stopped, and whether it was petrol or AdBlue makes a difference too. Those details are what we need when you ring, and with them we can explain what the work will involve.
Petrol in a diesel Ford B-Max: common questions after driving
Has the petrol ruined my B-Max?
It's very unlikely. Lasting damage is rare when the car is stopped soon and the system is drained and cleaned, and that is what we do wherever you've stopped.
Should I drive it home first?
We'd rather you didn't. We can empty the B-Max just where it stands, which means it doesn't need shifting, and every mile driven on contaminated fuel would push it further through the system.
What do I do when it has stalled and won't restart?
Please do not try once more. Leave it as it is, since each try pulls more of that blend through. Once we have drained and flushed it and put clean diesel in, we prime your system and start it for you.
Which B-Max I drive: does it matter?
It helps when you call if we know which of the 2 diesel versions of the B-Max you have, and the tailgate badge says.
Is wrong fuel in my Ford B-Max covered by my insurance?
Misfuelling cover is included in some insurance policies, so check yours after the vehicle has been sorted out. Whatever it says, we come out.