Already Driven With Petrol in a Diesel Lancia Phedra?
The motor wants switching off then keeping off as soon as you can pull in safely, if you've driven on petrol in a diesel Lancia Phedra. Wherever you have stopped, we can still put it right, and damage that lasts is very rare when it is caught early.
Your Lancia Phedra can remain where it has ended up, as Petrol in Diesel travels out to it, drains its tank there then clears its fuel system of petrol. It's on fresh diesel and running by the time we go.
How petrol in a diesel Phedra shows itself
It's often a few miles until the signs appear, because with petrol inside your fuel tank a diesel Phedra tends to run normally at first. People normally notice the following if there is petrol or AdBlue inside your tank:
- the engine is short of power, particularly when it has to pull
- it runs rough, or your idle gets uneven
- more smoke than normal comes from the exhaust
- a warning lamp comes on
- once it stalls, it may not restart
Any of these beginning after you fuelled up is a reason to check your receipt to see what was put in.
What driving does with wrong fuel in your Lancia Phedra
Wrong fuel in your Lancia Phedra stays in your fuel tank till the engine draws it out, and driving is what takes it through the fuel filter, the high-pressure fuel pump and your injectors. As diesel passes through the fuel injectors and your pump it lubricates them, but petrol thins it, which is why the Phedra takes that mix deeper into the fuel system the further it's used.
That is the reason to stop the moment you can rather than complete the journey. Normally, a drain and a clean are all a vehicle needs when it is stopped soon, because what can cause damage is driving far on fuel that is tainted.
If you have the Phedra 2.0 16v jtd or another version of the Phedra, nothing changes.
We come to wherever you've stopped
Taking the Phedra anywhere is not necessary. No tow needs to be organised and there's no reason to start it, because we come to it at the roadside or outside your house.
On a main road, put on your hazard lights, then find somewhere safe to wait clear of the traffic.
About how far you went, which Phedra it is and where you've pulled up are what to mention when you phone 0333 366 0103. The version on the badge, like the Phedra 2.2 16v jtd, helps as well.
Fuel drain on your Lancia Phedra after it has been driven
Once it was driven, a fuel drain on your Lancia Phedra involves one step more than one at the forecourt. No petrol is remaining between the tank and the motor afterwards, which is why the fuel tank is emptied first and the lines are then opened up and flushed through with your filter. The fuel system is primed once clean diesel has gone in, and the engine is started to check it runs properly.
AdBlue in a diesel Lancia Phedra after it has been run
Look out for smoke, uneven running and warning lights if AdBlue in a diesel Lancia Phedra has been driven on, because the car might also cut out. Because AdBlue sinks to the bottom of your tank, where your fuel pump draws its fuel, it's in your fuel line quickly, and it neither burns nor lubricates. As its water dries, the urea crystallises in the fuel lines and the fuel filter.
AdBlue removal from a diesel Lancia Phedra after it has run
We change the fuel filter if it needs it as part of AdBlue removal from a diesel Lancia Phedra after it's run, when your tank is drained and the crystals are flushed out of your filter and the fuel lines.
If your Phedra has a separate AdBlue tank, that's left as it is. This is about fluid in the diesel tank, not taking out or turning off the AdBlue system.
Lancia Phedra fuel tank capacity and engines
Each version of the Lancia Phedra in our data comes with a diesel tank of 80 litres.
On this diesel Phedra, the versions wear JTD and Multijet badges.
The Phedra 2.2 16V Multijet has the biggest engine at 2.2 litres, and the Phedra 2.0 16v Multijet has the smallest, at 2.0 litres.
| Version | Fuel tank |
|---|---|
| Lancia Phedra 2.0 16v jtd | 80 litres |
| Lancia Phedra 2.0 16v Multijet | 80 litres |
| Lancia Phedra 2.2 16v jtd | 80 litres |
| Lancia Phedra 2.2 16V Multijet | 80 litres |
What a fuel drain on the Lancia Phedra will cost after driving
The distance travelled and where it is now matter the most towards the price of a fuel drain on the Lancia Phedra after a drive, and so does whether it was AdBlue or petrol. We can explain what the job will involve when you phone with those details.
Questions after driving with petrol in a diesel Lancia Phedra
Has the petrol ruined my Phedra?
The likelihood of that is very low. We drain and clean the system where you have stopped, and when the vehicle has been stopped early, lasting damage is rare.
Should I drive it home first?
Our advice is not to. We can empty the Phedra right where it stands, so it doesn't need shifting, and each mile driven on contaminated fuel would take it further through your system.
It won't restart after stalling. What now?
Leaving it alone is better than trying again, as each attempt pulls the blend further through. With it drained and flushed and fresh diesel in, we prime the system and get it started for you.
Which Phedra I drive: does it matter?
The badge on the tailgate shows the version you have, out of the 4 diesel versions of the Phedra, and knowing it assists us when you call.
Is wrong fuel in my Lancia Phedra covered by my insurance?
Once the car is dealt with, it is worth looking at your policy, as some include misfuelling cover. We come out whether it does or not.