Petrol in a Diesel Volkswagen Sharan: Already Driven It?
As soon as it's safe, pull over and switch the motor off, then keep it off. Driving on with petrol in a diesel Volkswagen Sharan just takes the petrol further in. It's very uncommon for lasting harm to follow if it's spotted early, while it can still be dealt with wherever you have stopped.
When Petrol in Diesel comes out to wherever your Volkswagen Sharan has ended up, the petrol is cleaned from your fuel system and the fuel tank emptied. We go when it is running again on clean diesel.
Petrol in a diesel Sharan: the symptoms to watch for
You may drive a couple of miles without noticing anything, because petrol in the fuel tank frequently leaves a diesel Sharan driving as usual to begin with. If the tank has petrol or AdBlue in it, people usually spot the following:
- less power, especially whenever the engine is asked to accelerate
- lumpy running, or an erratic idle
- smoke from the tailpipe, more than usual
- a warning light comes on
- the motor stalls then may not start again
Look at the receipt if one of these started after you filled up, because it shows which fuel was put in.
How far wrong fuel in your Volkswagen Sharan goes once you drive
The fuel tank holds wrong fuel in your Volkswagen Sharan where it is till it's drawn out by the motor. After you drive, it goes through the injectors, the fuel filter and the injection pump. Petrol thins the diesel fuel that protects the pump and the fuel injectors as it flows through them, and driving the Sharan further carries the mixture into more of the system.
So completing the journey is a poorer choice than stopping as soon as you can. A vehicle that is stopped soon normally needs nothing more than a drain and a clean. What can cause harm is covering a long way on contaminated fuel.
We come to where you have pulled up
You do not need to move the Sharan anywhere. The side of the road and outside your home are both places we come to, so it doesn't need starting or towing.
On a busy road, turn on your hazard lights, then find somewhere safe to wait clear of the traffic.
Before you call 0333 366 0103, have your location ready, along with the distance you travelled and which Sharan it is. If the badge gives the version, such as the Sharan 1.9 TDI 4motion, it helps as well.
Fuel drain on your Volkswagen Sharan once you've driven it
There is one step more to a fuel drain on your Volkswagen Sharan after it was driven than to a drain on the forecourt. No petrol is left between the fuel tank and the engine by the end, so your fuel tank is emptied first and the fuel lines are then opened and rinsed through with your fuel filter. With fresh diesel in and the system primed, we start the engine and make sure it runs properly.
When the engine has run with AdBlue in a diesel Volkswagen Sharan
If you have AdBlue in a diesel Volkswagen Sharan and have driven on it, the symptoms are usually uneven running, smoke and warning lights, and your car may cut out. AdBlue does not burn or lubricate, and it drops to the base of your tank where the fuel pump picks up fuel, and so it gets to the fuel line fast. As its water evaporates, the urea crystallises in the fuel lines and the filter.
AdBlue removal from a diesel Volkswagen Sharan after it has run
Draining the fuel tank comes first in AdBlue removal from a diesel Volkswagen Sharan that has been run, then the crystals are cleared out of the lines and your filter, with the fuel filter changed if it needs it.
Only the diesel tank is dealt with here. If your Sharan has an AdBlue tank of its own, it is left alone, and nothing here involves taking out or switching off the AdBlue system.
The Volkswagen Sharan fuel tank capacity and its engines
Of the Volkswagen Sharan versions, the Sharan TDI has the biggest diesel tank, at 75 litres, and the Sharan 2.0 TDI the smallest, at 70 litres.
Diesel Sharan versions have TDI badging.
The Sharan 2.0 TDI 4Motion has the largest engine at 2.0 litres, and the Sharan 1.9 TDI has the smallest, at 1.9 litres.
The list includes 4MOTION versions.
| Version | Fuel tank |
|---|---|
| Volkswagen Sharan 1.9 TDI | 70 litres |
| Volkswagen Sharan 1.9 TDI 4motion | 70 litres |
| Volkswagen Sharan 2.0 TDI | 70 litres |
| Volkswagen Sharan 2.0 TDI 4Motion | 70 litres |
| Volkswagen Sharan TDI | 75 litres |
What a fuel drain on the Volkswagen Sharan costs after a drive
How far it travelled and where it has ended up are what largely decide the price of a fuel drain on the Volkswagen Sharan after a drive, and petrol or AdBlue makes a difference as well. We can explain what the job will need when you ring with those details.
Common questions after driving with petrol in a diesel Volkswagen Sharan
Is my Sharan ruined?
It's very unlikely. Permanent harm is rare when the car is stopped soon and the fuel system is emptied and flushed, and that's what we do where you've stopped.
Can I drive it home first?
It's wiser not to. We can empty the Sharan just where it stands, which means it does not need moving, and every mile driven on contaminated fuel would carry it further through your fuel system.
It has stalled and will not restart. What should I do?
Please don't try a second time. Leave it as it is, since every attempt pulls more of that mixture through. We prime the fuel system and start it for you once it has been emptied and rinsed and clean diesel is in.
Which Sharan I drive: does it matter?
There are 5 diesel versions of the Sharan, and the badge on the tailgate shows which one you have. Knowing that assists us when you call.
Insurance and wrong fuel in my Volkswagen Sharan: am I covered?
Misfuelling cover is offered in some insurance policies, so do check yours after the car has been dealt with. Either way, we come out.