Petrol in a Diesel Ford Ka: Already Driven It?
The engine wants switching off and leaving off once you can pull over safely, if you have driven on petrol in a diesel Ford Ka. Spotted soon, it very rarely causes lasting harm, and putting it right wherever you've stopped is still possible.
Petrol in Diesel travels out to wherever your Ford Ka has stopped, drains your tank and clears the petrol out of your fuel system. It's on fresh diesel and running when we leave.
How petrol in a diesel Ka shows itself
To begin with, petrol in your tank frequently makes little difference to how a diesel Ka feels, so the symptoms show up a couple of miles later. If your fuel tank has petrol or AdBlue in it, people normally spot the following:
- the motor is short of power, especially when it has to accelerate
- it runs roughly, or the idle gets erratic
- there's more smoke than usual from the tailpipe
- the dashboard displays warning lamps
- it stalls and might not restart
Any of these starting after you filled up is a reason to look at the receipt and see what went in.
Wrong fuel in your Ford Ka and the effect of travelling on it
Until the engine pulls it out, wrong fuel in your Ford Ka remains in your tank, and driving pulls it on to the filter, and then to the injection pump and your fuel injectors. Petrol dilutes the diesel fuel that lubricates the fuel pump and your injectors while it runs through them, and driving the Ka further carries the mix into more of your fuel system.
Stopping the moment you can is wiser than finishing the journey for that reason. A motor that's stopped early normally needs no more than a drain and a clean. What can cause damage is covering a long distance on contaminated fuel.
Waiting where you have pulled up
Getting the Ka anywhere is not necessary. You can keep it at the roadside or at home and we come to it, with no need to restart it and no tow to book.
With the hazard lights on, wait clear of the traffic in a safe spot if the road next to you is busy.
When you ring 0333 366 0103, let us know where you are, which Ka it is and about how far you drove. The version shown on the badge, such as the Ka 1.3 TDCi, is useful as well.
Fuel drain on your Ford Ka after it has been driven
A fuel drain on your Ford Ka after it has been driven goes a step further than a drain at the forecourt. Emptying your tank comes first. After that we open up the lines and rinse them through with your filter, so there's no petrol remaining between the fuel tank and the motor. The system is primed once clean diesel is in, and the engine is started to check it runs smoothly.
AdBlue in a diesel Ford Ka after it has been run
Watch for smoke, rough running and warning lights when AdBlue in a diesel Ford Ka has been driven on, as the vehicle may also stall. Sinking to the base of your fuel tank, where the pump picks up fuel, AdBlue gets into your fuel line quickly, and it doesn't burn or lubricate. The urea forms crystals in the fuel filter and your lines once its water dries.
How AdBlue removal from a diesel Ford Ka is done
Draining your fuel tank comes first with AdBlue removal from a diesel Ford Ka that has been run, and then the crystals are flushed from the fuel lines and your fuel filter, with your fuel filter replaced if it needs it.
Just your diesel tank is worked on here. If your Ka has an AdBlue tank of its own, it is left as it is, and nothing here means removing or turning off the AdBlue system.
Tanks and engines: Ford Ka fuel tank capacity
The Ford Ka has the same diesel tank, 35 litres, on every version in our figures.
Diesel Ka versions carry TDCi badging.
Engine size is 1.3 litres across the versions listed.
Fuel drain on the Ford Ka after a drive: what it costs
The cost of a fuel drain on the Ford Ka after it has been driven hinges mainly on how far it went and where it has stopped, and whether it was petrol or AdBlue makes a difference as well. Phone with those details and we can explain what the job will need.
Driven on petrol in a diesel Ford Ka: your questions
Will my Ka be ruined?
It's very unlikely. Permanent harm is rare when the car is stopped early and the system is emptied and cleaned, and that's what we do wherever you have pulled up.
Is it all right to drive it home first?
Our guidance would be not to. Shifting it is not needed, because we can drain the Ka where it is. Driving it on only takes tainted fuel further through your system.
It has stalled and will not restart. What should I do?
Another go pulls more of that mixture through on every try. Please leave the vehicle alone. We prime the system and get it started for you after it's been emptied and rinsed and fresh diesel is in.
Insurance and wrong fuel in my Ford Ka: am I covered?
Misfuelling cover is included in some insurance policies, so look at yours after the car has been sorted out. Either way, we come out.