Kept Driving With Petrol in a Diesel Mazda 5?
As soon as it's safe, pull over then switch the engine off, then leave it off. Driving on with petrol in a diesel Mazda 5 just carries the petrol further in. It's very uncommon for permanent damage to result if it is spotted soon, and it can still be put right where you have stopped.
Your Mazda 5 can stay where it has ended up, as Petrol in Diesel travels out to it, empties its fuel tank on the spot then cleans its fuel system of petrol. It is on fresh diesel and running by the time we leave.
Spotting petrol in a diesel 5
At first, petrol inside the tank frequently makes little difference to how a diesel 5 feels, and the symptoms show up a couple of miles later. Whether the fuel tank has petrol or AdBlue in it, people normally spot these:
- power drops away, especially as you ask the motor to accelerate
- lumpy running, or an uneven idle
- there is more smoke than normal from the exhaust
- warning lights come on
- once it stalls, it might not restart
Any of these starting after you filled up is a reason to look at the receipt and see what was put in.
Wrong fuel in your Mazda 5: what travelling on it does
Driving is what takes wrong fuel in your Mazda 5 from the fuel tank then on through your fuel filter, your injection pump and your injectors. Until the engine pulls it out, it sits where it is. Petrol weakens the diesel that protects your pump and your injectors as it runs through them, and driving the 5 on brings the mixture into more of the fuel system.
That is why it's better to stop the moment you can than to finish the journey. Travelling a long way on tainted fuel is what can cause harm, and if a motor is stopped early, a drain and a clean are generally all it requires.
We come to where you have stopped
The 5 doesn't need taking anywhere. No tow has to be arranged and there is no reason to restart it, because we come to it at the roadside or outside your home.
With your hazard lights on, stand clear of the traffic in a safe spot if the road next to you is fast.
Call 0333 366 0103 and say where you are, what 5 it is and roughly how far it has been driven. If the badge shows the version, like the 5 2.0 MZR-CD, that helps too.
A fuel drain on your Mazda 5 after driving
Once it was driven, a fuel drain on your Mazda 5 takes a step more than a drain on the forecourt. We empty the fuel tank first, then open up your fuel lines and then rinse them through with your filter, so no petrol is remaining between the tank and the motor. Clean diesel goes in, the system is primed, and our technicians start the motor to confirm it runs correctly.
AdBlue in a diesel Mazda 5 once driven
Uneven running, smoke and warning lights are the normal signs after you have driven on AdBlue in a diesel Mazda 5, and the vehicle may then stall. Settling to the bottom of the tank, where your pump draws fuel, AdBlue reaches your fuel line quickly, and it doesn't burn or lubricate. Crystals form in your fuel lines and your filter once its water dries.
How AdBlue removal from a diesel Mazda 5 is done
The fuel lines and your filter have to be cleared of the crystals after your tank is emptied, which is what AdBlue removal from a diesel Mazda 5 that has been run means. Where your fuel filter needs it, we change it.
If your 5 has a dedicated AdBlue tank, that's not touched. This is about fluid in your diesel tank, not removing or disabling the AdBlue system.
Tanks and engines: Mazda 5 fuel tank capacity
Each version of the Mazda 5 in our figures has a diesel tank of 60 litres.
The smallest engine is 1.6 litres, on the 5 1.6 MZ-CD, while the largest is 2.0 litres, on the 5 2.0 MZR-CD.
| Version | Fuel tank |
|---|---|
| Mazda 5 1.6 MZ-CD | 60 litres |
| Mazda 5 2.0 MZR-CD | 60 litres |
What a fuel drain on the Mazda 5 costs after a drive
The price of a fuel drain on the Mazda 5 after it's been driven depends mostly on how far it travelled and where it has stopped, and whether it was petrol or AdBlue makes a difference as well. We can tell you what the work will involve once you phone with those details.
Driven on petrol in a diesel Mazda 5: your questions
Is the 5 done for now?
Almost certainly not. With the vehicle stopped soon and the fuel system drained and flushed wherever you've pulled up, which is what we do, lasting harm is rare.
Is it all right to drive it home first?
We'd sooner you didn't. We can drain the 5 right where it stands, which means it does not need shifting, and every mile driven on tainted fuel would push it further through your system.
What do I do when it has stalled and will not restart?
Leaving it alone is wiser than having another go, as each try pulls the mixture further through. We prime your system and get it started for you after it's been drained and flushed and fresh diesel is in.
Does the version of my 5 make a difference?
Knowing which of the 2 diesel versions of the 5 you have helps us when you ring, and it is on the badge on the tailgate.
Does my policy cover wrong fuel in my Mazda 5?
We come out whichever way your policy goes, and some do include misfuelling cover, so looking at yours after your car is dealt with is worth doing.