Put Petrol in a Diesel Jeep Patriot by Mistake?
The engine is best left off if it hasn't been run since you put petrol in a diesel Jeep Patriot, and that includes moving it clear of the pump. A fuel drain is normally sufficient to put your Patriot right, provided the petrol stays in the tank, which it will while the motor is off.
Your Jeep Patriot can stay put wherever it has stopped, forecourt or not, because Petrol in Diesel empties misfuelled cars where they are. We will go through it with you over the phone, so ring us before trying anything on your own.
Petrol in a diesel Patriot: what to do first
- Keep the motor off. Any diesel Patriot will usually start and run with petrol inside its tank, and it may feel normal for a few miles, which explains why drivers frequently drive away without realising anything is wrong.
- The ignition needs to stay off too, since turning it on starts the fuel pump priming on many diesels, and your pump then pulls fuel from the tank.
- Filling up with diesel to dilute it is a bad idea, even with super unleaded, which is petrol as well. The fuel tank in the Patriot holds up to 51 litres, and every litre of diesel put in is more contaminated fuel for us to drain.
- Forecourt attendants will normally help push your car out of the way in neutral if it's in the way of a pump.
- Once you call 0333 366 0103, we need to know which Patriot you drive, where it is, how much petrol you reckon was put in and whether your engine has been run. The precise version is useful as well if it is on the badging, for instance the Patriot 2.2 CRD.
What starting your engine does with wrong fuel in your Jeep Patriot
The engine is not touched by wrong fuel in your Jeep Patriot till it's pulled from your tank, and starting the motor is what draws it out. Whilst it runs through, diesel fuel keeps the high-pressure fuel pump and the injectors lubricated, and the motor relies on that. Driving for any distance on that mix is what can cause damage, as petrol thins your diesel and strips that lubrication away.
If you've already been driving your Patriot, stop where it is safe then turn off. We can still sort it out, by draining the tank and rinsing the pipes and the fuel filter till all the contaminated fuel is gone. Very few vehicles that are caught soon and cleaned out thoroughly end up with lasting harm.
Knowing the Jeep Patriot fuel tank capacity
The size of the tank counts because the risk depends on what share of your fuel in there is petrol, so the same couple of litres are a bigger problem if the tank was almost empty when you fuelled up.
It does not matter which version you have, since each diesel Jeep Patriot in our figures uses the same tank, holding 51 litres.
| Version | Fuel tank |
|---|---|
| Jeep Patriot 2.0 CRD | 51 litres |
| Jeep Patriot 2.2 CRD | 51 litres |
Working out which diesel Patriot you drive
Look for the badging on the boot lid, which generally shows the version, then tell us what it says when you ring.
Engine sizes run from 2.0 litres on the Patriot 2.0 CRD up to 2.2 litres in the Patriot 2.2 CRD.
If there is AdBlue in a diesel Jeep Patriot
Certain diesel cars carry a mixture of water and urea, called AdBlue, in a tank of its own with a separate filler, and use it to treat their exhaust. Putting AdBlue in the wrong filler gives you AdBlue in a diesel Jeep Patriot, so do not turn the key, not even to shift the car.
The fuel pump gets no protection whatsoever from AdBlue, which is largely water and won't burn. It won't blend with diesel either, and drops to the base of your tank, the same spot your pump pulls from, so a tank of up to 51 litres won't dilute it.
No matter how modest the quantity, some of it gets sucked into the line. Once the water has dried off, what is left is urea, which forms crystals inside the fuel system, filter and injectors among them, and attacks any metal it touches.
The same filler flap often covers both fillers, and if the Patriot has an AdBlue filler, it could well be beside the diesel one. The nozzle for AdBlue is far narrower than the diesel one, and the cap is normally blue.
Our fuel drain on your Jeep Patriot, step by step
We carry out a fuel drain on your Jeep Patriot where your car stands, and it never needs to be taken to a garage. Before we fire up your motor, the system is primed and your tank refilled with fresh diesel. First comes checking what was put in and whether it has run, draining a tank that holds up to 51 litres on the Patriot, and rinsing the pipes and fuel filter.
You are free to drive your Patriot away once we have finished, running on clean diesel.
AdBlue removal from a diesel Jeep Patriot
The stages are the same as a petrol drain in AdBlue removal from a diesel Jeep Patriot. Because AdBlue doesn't blend in but settles at the base of your tank, running the Patriot on it may leave deposits in the lines. Those get cleared through too, and the filter is changed if it needs it.
AdBlue removal, as we use it on this page, covers AdBlue that was put in the incorrect filler and has to come out of the diesel tank. It does not cover removing or switching off the AdBlue system on the car.
What sets the price of a fuel drain on the Jeep Patriot
Because every job is different, we have no set price to publish, and these are the chief factors that affect it:
- whether the Patriot has been started or driven, which makes the biggest difference
- how much went in compared with the capacity of the tank
- what was put in, petrol or AdBlue
- whether our van can safely reach the Patriot where it stands
With those answers over the phone, we can tell you what the job is going to involve.
Questions on petrol in a diesel Jeep Patriot, with answers
Can you tell me the fuel tank capacity of the Jeep Patriot?
All the variants we have figures for take 51 litres.
Is it OK to add diesel after just a little petrol in my Patriot?
We would advise against it. The petrol remains in your system when you drive, as adding diesel only lowers its share and removes none of it. All of it is removed with a fuel drain, which for a modest quantity is generally everything the Patriot needs.
Is a trip to the Jeep dealer needed for my Patriot?
No. We are independent and have no link with Jeep or its dealers, and we empty and clean your Patriot wherever it is parked, so there is no need to move it anywhere.
Which Patriot I drive: does it matter?
We have figures for 2 diesel versions of the Patriot, and knowing which one you have assists us when you call.
Is wrong fuel in my Jeep Patriot covered by my policy?
Some policies have misfuelling cover and some don't, so it's worth looking at yours. Either way, we come out and empty the car for you.
Diesel in the AdBlue tank of my Patriot: what happens?
In that case, too, leave the key out of the ignition. The AdBlue system will need emptying, and if your vehicle is driven that way, it'll most likely show a warning and enter limp mode. Let us know which tank the diesel went into when you ring.
I've already driven my Patriot. What now?
Find a safe place to pull over, then turn the engine off and keep the car that way until we arrive. Lasting harm is very uncommon if it's caught early like this, plus we drain the fuel system and clean it where you've pulled over.