Petrol in a Diesel Nissan Serena? Leave It Switched Off
The engine is safest left off if it hasn't been run since you put petrol in a diesel Nissan Serena, and that covers shifting it clear of the petrol pump. With your engine left off, that petrol remains where it is in your tank, and in the majority of cases a fuel drain is all the Serena requires.
There's no need to move your Nissan Serena off the forecourt, or from any other spot where it stopped, as this drain is carried out by Petrol in Diesel where the vehicle sits. We will go through it with you over the phone, so call us before trying anything on your own.
Your first steps with petrol in a diesel Serena
- People commonly drive away without realising something is amiss, since a diesel Serena will generally start and run on petrol and can seem fine for the first few miles. So keep your engine off.
- Leave the ignition off too. On many diesels turning it on is enough to start the fuel pump priming, which pulls fuel out of your tank to the fuel injectors.
- Filling up with diesel to thin it is a bad idea, even with super unleaded, which is petrol as well. The fuel tank in your Serena holds up to 60 litres, and each litre of diesel put in is more contaminated fuel for us to drain.
- If the vehicle is in the way of a pump, pop it in neutral then push the car clear. Forecourt attendants are generally willing to help with that.
- Phone 0333 366 0103 with where the Serena is and which one it is, the approximate volume of petrol that was put in, and whether it has run. If you can see the exact version on the badging, for example the Serena 2.3 Diesel, that is useful too.
Started your vehicle with wrong fuel in your Nissan Serena?
Wrong fuel in your Nissan Serena only begins to affect the engine once it is drawn out of your tank, which is exactly what starting the engine does. The high-pressure pump and your injectors in a diesel motor are oiled by the fuel passing through them. Petrol dilutes your diesel and takes that protection away, which is why it is driving for any distance on that mix that can do damage.
Where you have already been driving the Serena, pull over somewhere safe then turn off. We can still put it right, by emptying your tank and rinsing the pipes and the fuel filter until all of the tainted fuel is gone. Provided it is cleaned out properly after being caught early, it very rarely leaves long-term harm.
Nissan Serena fuel tank capacity
What counts is how much of the fuel in your tank is petrol. The same couple of litres matter more if you filled up with your tank nearly empty, which is why its size makes a difference.
The variant decides your tank capacity on the Nissan Serena, which ranges from 58 to 60 litres.
The Serena 2.3 SLX Diesel is the variant with the smallest tank in our data, and the Serena 2.3 Diesel is the one with the biggest.
| Version | Fuel tank |
|---|---|
| Nissan Serena 2.3 Diesel | 60 litres |
| Nissan Serena 2.3 SLX Diesel | 58 litres |
Working out which diesel Serena you drive
Check the badging on the boot lid, which normally shows the variant, then let us know what it says when you ring.
There is a single engine size across our list, 2.3 litres.
AdBlue in a diesel Nissan Serena by accident
AdBlue is a blend of water and urea that certain diesel vehicles rely on to treat their exhaust, and it has its own tank and filler. If you've got AdBlue in a diesel Nissan Serena as it went in the wrong filler, do not touch the key, even to shift your vehicle.
AdBlue sinks to the base of the tank, where your pump takes its fuel from, as it will not mix with diesel. Being mainly water, it cannot ignite and leaves the fuel pump with no protection, and the diesel in a tank holding up to 60 litres doesn't weaken it the way it would petrol.
Even a little is drawn into your fuel line. When the water has dried off, what is left is urea, which crystallises in the system, filter and injectors included, and attacks any metal it touches.
On plenty of motors the AdBlue filler is beside your diesel filler under the same flap, and if your Serena has one, it may well be there as well. You can typically tell the AdBlue lid by its blue shade and the far narrower nozzle it fits.
How a fuel drain on your Nissan Serena works
Moving your vehicle to a garage is not needed, as a fuel drain on your Nissan Serena is done right at the vehicle. We start by finding out what was put in and whether the engine has been run, then drain the tank, which on the Serena holds up to 60 litres. Next we rinse the fuel pipes and your filter and refill with fresh diesel, and the fuel system is primed before we start the car.
You can drive the Serena away once we've finished, running on fresh diesel.
AdBlue removal from a diesel Nissan Serena, step by step
AdBlue removal from a diesel Nissan Serena uses the same stages as draining petrol. AdBlue gathers at the bottom of your tank instead of blending in, and if the Serena has been started it can leave deposits in the lines, so we rinse those out as well and replace the filter if it needs doing.
AdBlue removal on this page means getting AdBlue out of your diesel tank once it has been put in the incorrect filler. It does not mean removing or switching off the AdBlue system on your car.
How much does a fuel drain on the Nissan Serena cost?
A fixed quote is not something we publish, because no two jobs involve the same work. It mostly comes down to the following:
- whether anyone has started or driven the Serena, the thing that counts most
- the capacity of the tank, set against how much was put in
- whether it was petrol or AdBlue
- where the Serena has stopped, and whether we can bring our van to it in safety
With those answers over the phone, we can let you know what the job is going to involve.
Your queries on petrol in a diesel Nissan Serena
How many litres is the Nissan Serena fuel tank capacity?
Anywhere from 58 to 60 litres, according to which variant it is. Every one is listed above.
I just put a little petrol in my Serena. Should I top up with diesel?
Filling up only cuts the proportion of petrol. None of that is taken out, so it's all still there when you drive off, which is why we wouldn't recommend it. Draining takes all of that out, and with a small quantity that is normally all your Serena needs.
Does my Serena have to go to the Nissan dealer?
You don't have to. We have no connection with Nissan or any of its dealers, being independent, and the Serena is emptied and cleaned where you are.
Does it matter which Serena I own?
Yes, it helps. Our figures include 2 diesel variants of the Serena, so let us know which one you have when you call.
Is wrong fuel in my Nissan Serena covered by my policy?
We'll still come out and drain it for you, either way. Look at your policy all the same, because not every policy has misfuelling cover.
Diesel in the AdBlue tank of my Serena: what now?
In that case, as well, leave the key out of your ignition. The AdBlue system will need emptying, and if your vehicle is driven that way, it'll most likely show an alert and drop into limp mode. Do say which tank took your fuel when you phone.
Already driven my Serena: what do I do?
Switch your engine off after you have pulled over somewhere safe, and leave it off till we get to you. Lasting harm is very uncommon when it's caught early like this, and we empty the fuel system and clean it where you have pulled over.