Petrol in a Diesel Ford S-MAX, and You've Driven It
Keeping the motor off is what matters after you've travelled with petrol in a diesel Ford S-MAX, so pull in as soon as it is safe and then switch the motor off. We can still sort it out wherever you've pulled up, and if it's caught soon, permanent harm is very rare.
Once Petrol in Diesel comes out to wherever your Ford S-MAX has stopped, the petrol is cleaned from the fuel system and the fuel tank drained. It is on clean diesel and running by the time we go.
How petrol in a diesel S-MAX reveals itself
At first, petrol in the tank often changes very little to how a diesel S-MAX drives, so the signs show up a couple of miles further on. These are the signs usually noticed if your fuel tank has AdBlue or petrol in it:
- the motor is short of power, particularly when it has to pull
- rough running, or an erratic idle
- more smoke than normal comes from the exhaust
- the dashboard displays warning lights
- it cuts out, then may fail to restart
Look at the receipt if one of these started after filling up, as it will show which fuel was put in.
What travelling does to wrong fuel in your Ford S-MAX
Till the motor pulls it out, wrong fuel in your Ford S-MAX remains in your fuel tank, and driving pulls it on to your fuel filter, then into the high-pressure pump and the fuel injectors. Petrol dilutes the diesel fuel that protects your fuel pump and the injectors as it runs through them, so driving the S-MAX on brings that mix into more of your system.
That is the reason to stop the moment you can and not complete the journey. Normally, a drain and a clean are all a car requires when it's stopped early, as what can cause harm is driving far on fuel that's tainted.
Waiting where you've pulled up
Moving the S-MAX anywhere is not necessary. No tow needs to be organised and there is no need to start it, as we come to it at the side of the road or outside your home.
If you are next to a busy road, switch the hazard lights on and wait somewhere safe, away from the traffic.
When you phone 0333 366 0103, tell us where you are, which S-MAX it is and about how far you travelled. If the badge shows the version, such as the S-MAX 2.0 TDCi, it helps as well.
The fuel drain on your Ford S-MAX after a drive
A fuel drain on your Ford S-MAX after it has been driven goes a step further than a drain on the forecourt. Emptying your tank comes first. Then we open your fuel lines and flush them through with the filter, until there's no petrol remaining between the tank and the engine. Fresh diesel goes in, the system is primed, and we fire up the motor to make sure it runs smoothly.
If the motor has run with AdBlue in a diesel Ford S-MAX
Travelling with AdBlue in a diesel Ford S-MAX normally brings warning lamps, smoke and rough running, and the vehicle may go on to stall. The pump draws fuel from the bottom of the fuel tank, which is where AdBlue sinks, and so it reaches your fuel line fast. It also does not burn or lubricate. Its water drying out lets the urea crystallise in the fuel lines and your filter.
AdBlue removal from a diesel Ford S-MAX
We change the fuel filter if it needs it during AdBlue removal from a diesel Ford S-MAX after it has run, when the tank is drained and the crystals are flushed from the fuel filter and your lines.
If your S-MAX has a dedicated AdBlue tank, that is not touched. This is about liquid in your diesel tank, not removing or switching off the AdBlue system.
Ford S-MAX fuel tank capacity and engines
Our data show the diesel tank takes 70 litres on every version of the Ford S-MAX.
You'll find TDCi badges on diesel S-MAX versions.
The smallest engine is 1.6 litres, on the S-MAX 1.6 TDCi, and the biggest is 2.2 litres, on the S-MAX 2.2 TDCi.
| Version | Fuel tank |
|---|---|
| Ford S-MAX 1.6 TDCi | 70 litres |
| Ford S-MAX 2.0 TDCi | 70 litres |
| Ford S-MAX 2.2 TDCi | 70 litres |
What a fuel drain on the Ford S-MAX costs after driving
Whether it was petrol or AdBlue changes what a fuel drain on the Ford S-MAX costs after driving on it, though it hinges mostly on how far it went and where it has ended up. Those details are what we need when you phone, and with them we can tell you what the work will need.
Petrol in a diesel Ford S-MAX: common questions after driving
Is my S-MAX ruined?
Almost certainly not. With the vehicle stopped soon and your fuel system emptied and cleaned where you've pulled up, which is what we do, permanent harm is uncommon.
Should I drive it home first?
Our advice is not to. Tainted fuel reaches further into the fuel system with every mile, which means you can keep the S-MAX where it is while we drain it there, with no need to move it.
Stalled, and it won't restart: what should I do next?
Leaving it alone is wiser than trying again, since every try draws the mixture further through. With it drained and flushed and fresh diesel in, we prime your fuel system and get it started for you.
Does it matter which S-MAX I own?
Knowing which of the 3 diesel versions of the S-MAX you have assists us when you ring, and it is on the badge on the tailgate.
Wrong fuel in my Ford S-MAX: will insurance cover it?
Some policies have misfuelling cover, so it is worth checking yours once the car is sorted. We come out either way.