Petrol in a Diesel Ford Scorpio: Already Driven It?
If you have travelled with petrol in a diesel Ford Scorpio, stop as soon as it's safe, turn the engine off and leave it off. We can still put it right where you have pulled up, and if it's caught soon, lasting damage is very rare.
Petrol in Diesel comes out to wherever your Ford Scorpio has ended up, drains your tank then clears the petrol out of the system. Once we go, your vehicle is back on fresh diesel.
When petrol in a diesel Scorpio reveals itself
A diesel Scorpio with petrol inside your tank commonly feels normal at first, and so the signs tend to appear a few miles later on. These are the ones most often noticed when your fuel tank has AdBlue or petrol in it:
- power falls away, especially as you ask the engine to pull
- rough running, or an uneven idle
- smoke from the tailpipe, more than usual
- the dash shows warning lamps
- once it stalls, it may not restart
Any of these starting after you filled up is a reason to check the receipt and see what was put in.
What driving does to wrong fuel in your Ford Scorpio
Wrong fuel in your Ford Scorpio remains in your tank till the engine draws it out, and driving is what draws it through your filter, the high-pressure fuel pump and the injectors. The mixture gets into more of the system the longer the Scorpio is taken, because petrol weakens the diesel fuel that lubricates the fuel pump and the injectors as it passes through them.
That is the reason to stop the moment you can and not complete the trip. A motor that is stopped early normally needs nothing more than a drain and a clean. What can cause harm is covering a long distance on tainted fuel.
It makes no difference if you have the Scorpio 2.5 TD or any other version of the Scorpio.
We come to wherever you've stopped
The Scorpio does not need moving anywhere. We come to it at the roadside or outside your home, and so there's no need to restart the vehicle or book a tow.
On a main road, put on the hazard lights, then choose somewhere safe to wait clear of the traffic.
When you call 0333 366 0103, tell us where you are, which Scorpio it is and roughly how far you travelled. It helps too if the badge shows the version, such as the Scorpio 2.5 TD Turnier.
After it's been driven: fuel drain on your Ford Scorpio
There is one step more to a fuel drain on your Ford Scorpio after it was driven than to a drain on the forecourt. We drain your fuel tank first, then open the fuel lines and rinse them through with the filter, so that no petrol is left between your tank and the engine. The fuel system is primed after fresh diesel has gone in, and the motor is started to make sure it runs properly.
AdBlue in a diesel Ford Scorpio that has been driven
Travelling with AdBlue in a diesel Ford Scorpio usually brings warning lights, smoke and rough running, and the vehicle might go on to stall. AdBlue doesn't burn or lubricate, and it sinks to the bottom of the tank where the pump picks up fuel, so it gets to your fuel line fast. Urea crystals form in your fuel lines and the fuel filter as its water dries out.
AdBlue removal from a diesel Ford Scorpio
We replace the filter if it needs it during AdBlue removal from a diesel Ford Scorpio after it has run, when the tank is emptied and the crystals are flushed from your filter and the lines.
Only your diesel tank is dealt with here. If your Scorpio has an AdBlue tank of its own, it's left alone, and nothing here means taking out or disabling the AdBlue system.
Tanks and engines: Ford Scorpio fuel tank capacity
The Ford Scorpio has the same diesel fuel tank, 70 litres, on every version in our records.
You will see TD badges on diesel Scorpio versions.
Every version listed has an engine of 2.5 litres.
| Version | Fuel tank |
|---|---|
| Ford Scorpio 2.5 TD | 70 litres |
| Ford Scorpio 2.5 TD Turnier | 70 litres |
What a fuel drain on the Ford Scorpio will cost after a drive
The distance travelled and where it is now matter most for the price of a fuel drain on the Ford Scorpio after driving, as does whether it was AdBlue or petrol. We can tell you what the work will involve once you ring with those details.
Questions after driving with petrol in a diesel Ford Scorpio
Is the Scorpio done for now?
Very probably not. With the car stopped early and the system drained and flushed where you have pulled up, which is what we do, lasting damage is uncommon.
Can I finish the drive home first?
Our advice is not to. Contaminated fuel gets further into your system with each mile, so keep the Scorpio where it is while we empty it there, with no need to shift the vehicle.
It has stalled and will not restart. What should I do?
Please don't try once more. Leave it as it is, since each attempt pulls more of the mixture through. We get it started for you after draining and flushing it, putting fresh diesel in and priming your system.
Does the version of my Scorpio make a difference?
Knowing which of the 2 diesel versions of the Scorpio you have assists us when you call, and it is on the badge on the boot.
Is wrong fuel in my Ford Scorpio covered by insurance?
Some insurance policies have misfuelling cover, so it is worth looking at yours after your car is sorted. We still come out either way.