You've Driven With Petrol in a Diesel Jeep
Turn the engine off then keep it off as soon as you can pull over safely, if you have driven with petrol in a diesel Jeep. Spotted soon, the issue only very rarely causes lasting damage, and where you have stopped is also the place we can put it right.
By the time we go, the car is running on clean diesel once more. Petrol in Diesel travels out to wherever it has stopped to empty the fuel tank and clean the petrol from the system.
Petrol in a diesel Jeep: the signs to look for
Often, a diesel motor with petrol in its tank drives normally for a couple of miles to begin with, and the signs appear after that. Motorists usually notice these if there is petrol or AdBlue in your fuel tank:
- the engine feels short of power, particularly as it's asked to accelerate
- it runs roughly, or the idle becomes uneven
- smoke from the tailpipe that is heavier than normal
- warning lights light up
- the motor cuts out, and restarting may not work
Looking at the receipt shows what went in, which is useful if any of these began after you filled up.
How driving spreads wrong fuel in your Jeep
Driving is what carries wrong fuel in your Jeep through the filter, your high-pressure fuel pump and the fuel injectors. Until the engine draws it out, it sits in your fuel tank. Petrol thins the diesel that protects the fuel pump and the fuel injectors, so that blend reaches deeper into the system with every mile your car goes.
That's why it is wiser to stop the moment you can than to finish the trip. Driving a long way on mixed fuel is what can cause damage, and if a vehicle is stopped soon, a drain and a clean are usually all it needs.
The Cherokee is no different from any other diesel Jeep here.
Getting help where you stopped
Your car can remain exactly where it is. Whether it is at the side of the road or outside your home, we come to the car there, with no need to start it or organise a tow.
On a fast road, the hazards go on and you wait somewhere safe, out of the way of the traffic.
Once you phone 0333 366 0103, let us know where you are, which model it is and about how far you went. We can start with only the model name, such as the Wrangler.
What a fuel drain on your Jeep involves after driving
Once it's been driven, the fuel drain on your Jeep involves a step more than one at the forecourt. We empty your tank first, then open your fuel lines and rinse them through with the fuel filter, so that no petrol is remaining between the fuel tank and the motor. The system is primed once fresh diesel goes in, and the motor is fired up to check it runs properly.
Draining the tank comes first, and on the Compass it takes up to 51 litres.
AdBlue in a diesel Jeep after it has been run
Look out for smoke, uneven running and warning lamps once you have driven on AdBlue in a diesel Jeep, as the vehicle might then cut out. The pump draws fuel from the bottom of the tank, and that is where AdBlue sinks, so it reaches the fuel line fast. AdBlue doesn't ignite or lubricate in any way. When its water dries, what remains is urea, which crystallises in your lines and your fuel filter.
AdBlue removal from a diesel Jeep: what it means
We replace the filter if it needs it during AdBlue removal from a diesel Jeep that has been run, after emptying your tank and flushing the crystals out of your fuel filter and the lines.
If your car has a separate AdBlue tank, that's left as it is. This is about liquid in the diesel tank, not taking out or turning off the AdBlue system.
The diesel Jeep range
Diesel Jeep fuel tanks run from 51 to 78 litres over the models.
One example is the Grand Cherokee, which takes a maximum of 78 litres.
Every one of the 6 diesel Jeep models we list has its own page below, with each version and its tank.
After a drive, what does a fuel drain on a diesel Jeep cost?
What you pay for a fuel drain after driving is down mainly to the distance your car covered and where it is now, but petrol or AdBlue matters as well. What the job will involve is something we can explain once we have those details from your call.
Questions after driving with petrol in a diesel Jeep
Is my Jeep wrecked?
It is very unlikely. Permanent damage is rare when the vehicle is stopped soon and the system is emptied and cleaned, and that's what we do wherever you have pulled up.
Should I take it home first?
We would prefer you not to. Moving it isn't needed, as we can deal with your car where it stands, and each mile on contaminated fuel carries it further through the system.
What should I do if it has stalled and won't restart?
Each attempt pulls more of the mixture through, so please leave it rather than trying again. Clean diesel goes in after we've drained and rinsed it, and then we prime your system and get it started for you.
Does my insurance cover wrong fuel in my Jeep?
Misfuelling cover is included in some insurance policies, so it's worth looking at yours after the car is sorted out. Whatever it says, we come out.