Petrol in a Diesel Mazda BT-50: Already Driven It?
As soon as it's safe, pull in then turn the engine off, and keep it off. Driving on with petrol in a diesel Mazda BT-50 just carries the petrol further in. It is very uncommon for lasting damage to result when it's caught soon, and it can still be sorted out wherever you have pulled up.
Wherever your Mazda BT-50 has ended up, Petrol in Diesel comes out to drain the fuel tank there and clean the petrol from the system. By the time we head off, your car is running on fresh diesel.
How petrol in a diesel BT-50 reveals itself
At first, petrol inside the tank often makes little difference to how a diesel BT-50 feels, so the symptoms show up a couple of miles further on. Drivers usually spot the following if there's petrol or AdBlue in your tank:
- the motor is short of power, particularly when it has to accelerate
- it idles unevenly, or it runs rough
- there is more smoke than usual from the exhaust
- a warning lamp appears
- after it cuts out, it might not restart
Check your receipt if any of these started after filling up, because it shows which fuel went in.
What driving does to wrong fuel in your Mazda BT-50
Driving is what pulls wrong fuel in your Mazda BT-50 from the tank and on through your filter, the injection pump and the fuel injectors. Until the engine draws it out, it stays there. Diesel lubricates the fuel pump and the fuel injectors as it passes through them while petrol weakens it, and so the farther the BT-50 is taken, the more of the fuel system the mixture reaches.
That's why it is wiser to stop as soon as you can than to complete the journey. Harm, where it occurs, comes from a long journey on tainted fuel, and draining and cleaning are normally all a car needs when it's stopped early.
Another version of the BT-50 is no different from the BT-50 L-Cab in this, and so which one is yours makes no difference.
Staying where you've pulled up
The BT-50 doesn't need getting anywhere. The roadside and outside your house are both places we come to, so it does not need starting or a tow.
If you are beside a busy road, turn your hazards on and wait somewhere safe, away from the traffic.
About how far you drove, which BT-50 it is and where you've stopped are what to tell us when you phone 0333 366 0103. The version on the badge, such as the BT-50 XL-Cab, is useful too.
A fuel drain on your Mazda BT-50 after driving
Next to a drain on the forecourt, a fuel drain on your Mazda BT-50 goes one step further after a drive. We drain the tank first, then open the fuel lines and then flush them through with the filter, so that no petrol is left between your tank and the motor. The fuel system is primed after clean diesel has gone in, and the engine is started to make sure it runs smoothly.
When your motor has run with AdBlue in a diesel Mazda BT-50
If you have AdBlue in a diesel Mazda BT-50 and have driven on it, the signs are typically rough running, smoke and warning lights, and your car can stall. Sinking to the base of your tank, where your pump draws fuel, AdBlue reaches your fuel line quickly, and it does not burn or lubricate. As its water dries, the urea forms crystals in the lines and the filter.
AdBlue removal from a diesel Mazda BT-50 after it has run
We replace the fuel filter if it needs it as part of AdBlue removal from a diesel Mazda BT-50 after it has run, once the fuel tank is emptied and the crystals are cleared from the fuel filter and your fuel lines.
If your BT-50 has a dedicated AdBlue tank, that's not touched. This is about liquid in the diesel tank, not removing or switching off the AdBlue system.
Tank sizes and engines: Mazda BT-50 fuel tank capacity
The Mazda BT-50 has the same diesel tank, 70 litres, on each version in our records.
| Version | Fuel tank |
|---|---|
| Mazda BT-50 L-Cab | 70 litres |
| Mazda BT-50 XL-Cab | 70 litres |
Fuel drain on the Mazda BT-50 after driving: what it costs
The cost of a fuel drain on the Mazda BT-50 after it has been driven depends mostly on how far it travelled and where it has stopped, and whether it was petrol or AdBlue makes a difference too. We can tell you what the job will involve once you ring with those details.
Driven with petrol in a diesel Mazda BT-50: your questions
Is the BT-50 ruined now?
It's very unlikely. Permanent damage is uncommon when the car is stopped soon and the fuel system is emptied and flushed, and that is what we do where you've stopped.
Should I drive it home first?
We'd sooner you didn't. Contaminated fuel gets further into your fuel system with each mile, so leave the BT-50 where it is whilst we drain it there, with no reason to shift it.
What do I do if it has stalled and won't restart?
Leaving it alone is wiser than trying again, since every try draws the mixture further through. After we have drained and rinsed it and then put clean diesel in, we prime the fuel system and start the vehicle for you.
Does it matter which BT-50 I have?
There are 2 diesel versions of the BT-50, and the badge on the tailgate shows which one you have. Knowing that helps us when you call.
Insurance and wrong fuel in my Mazda BT-50: am I covered?
Some insurance policies include misfuelling cover, so it's worth looking at yours once the car is sorted. We come out either way.