Petrol in a Diesel Mercedes CLK: What the Tank Holds
The capacity of the fuel tank is among the earliest things to know once you have got petrol in a diesel Mercedes CLK, as the proportion of the fuel that's currently petrol hinges on it. Each version of the Mercedes CLK we have figures for is listed on this page alongside its tank capacity, and so are the motors it was sold with.
Regardless of how big the number is, there's one thing to do after the mistake. With your engine kept off, ring Petrol in Diesel and the car can be emptied where it stands.
Version by version: Mercedes CLK fuel tank capacity
62 litres is what the diesel tank holds on each version of the Mercedes CLK we have data for, because they all share the same tank.
| Version | Fuel tank |
|---|---|
| Mercedes CLK Cabriolet 320 CDI | 62 litres |
| Mercedes CLK Coupe 220 CDI | 62 litres |
| Mercedes CLK Coupe 270 CDI | 62 litres |
| Mercedes CLK Coupe 320 CDI | 62 litres |
What a couple of litres means with wrong fuel in your Mercedes CLK
How full your tank was when you filled up decides the proportion of petrol, because wrong fuel in your Mercedes CLK blends with whatever diesel was still in it. In a tank that takes up to 62 litres, a few litres of petrol on top of a nearly full tank is a small share of the total, and the same few litres going into a tank which was close to empty makes up a much larger share of what your engine would take in.
The quantity of petrol that's too much is something people often wonder about. Starting the engine is what carries that mixture from the tank and through your pump and the fuel injectors, and so the more useful point to find out is whether it's run.
With a modest amount, a fuel drain is generally all your CLK needs, and whatever the proportion, having it drained is the sensible course.
Diesel CLK engines and the badges
The engine in your CLK is given in the version name on the badge. Read it before you phone.
Diesel versions of the CLK within our figures carry CDI badging.
Among the CLK versions in the figures are Coupe and Cabriolet ones.
If you are not sure which version you drive, call all the same then we'll work it out together.
Tank size and AdBlue in a diesel Mercedes CLK
Fuel tank size plays out differently with AdBlue. The fuel pump takes its fuel from the base of your tank, and that is where AdBlue sinks, and so even a small quantity gets into your fuel line. If you have AdBlue in a diesel Mercedes CLK, the diesel surrounding it doesn't dilute it, because AdBlue is mostly water and does not blend with it.
Nothing in AdBlue ignites, and your pump gets no lubrication from it. After its water evaporates, urea is left in the fuel lines and the fuel filter as crystals, and the metal next to it corrodes.
Some diesel cars keep AdBlue in a separate tank with its own filler, commonly next to the diesel one under the same flap. On any CLK with an AdBlue filler, a blue cap normally shows it, and that cap takes a narrower pump nozzle than the diesel one.
Fuel drain on your Mercedes CLK
Carried out where your car is parked, a fuel drain on your Mercedes CLK empties the entire tank, whatever size the tank is on your version. Fresh diesel is put in after the tainted fuel gets pumped out and the lines and the filter are purged, and then your system is primed and the engine fired up.
It makes no difference whether your CLK is sitting on the station forecourt or left on your driveway. When this drain is complete it's running on fresh diesel and you can take it away.
AdBlue removal from a diesel Mercedes CLK, explained
Emptying your tank entirely is where AdBlue removal from a diesel Mercedes CLK begins, as AdBlue does not blend in and settles at the base instead. Where the motor has been started, your lines and your filter are rinsed through as well, and your fuel filter is replaced if necessary.
Removing or switching off the AdBlue system on the car is not what this is about. It's about AdBlue that has got into your diesel tank.
What a fuel drain on the Mercedes CLK costs
Two jobs on the same model can be rather different, and so we don't list a fixed price. Whether the CLK has been run or driven affects it most. After that it rests on how much was put in against the tank size, whether petrol or AdBlue went in, and the car's location.
Ring with those facts and we can explain what the job will involve.
Petrol in a diesel Mercedes CLK: tank questions
How many litres is the Mercedes CLK fuel tank capacity?
It takes 62 litres, and each version we have figures for shares that tank.
With a bigger tank, is petrol less of a problem?
Less of the total is petrol if a couple of litres go into a bigger tank, but it is still there, and running your engine still carries it to your pump. With your CLK switched off, a fuel drain clears all of that.
Diesel versions of the CLK: how many do you cover?
Our data cover 4 diesel versions of the CLK, all listed in the table above, so you can spot yours there using the name shown on its badge.
What counts as wrong fuel in my Mercedes CLK?
Petrol counts whatever the type, super unleaded too, and so does AdBlue that was intended for its own dedicated tank. Anything other than diesel in your diesel tank is wrong fuel.
Can you drain the Mercedes CLK wherever it is?
Yes, wherever it is. Sitting at home or still at the pump, your car remains put and is not started, as we travel to it.