Petrol in a Diesel Volvo 440, and You've Driven It
If you have driven on petrol in a diesel Volvo 440, pull in once it's safe, switch the engine off and keep it off. We can still put it right where you've stopped, and if it is spotted early, lasting damage is very rare.
Your Volvo 440 can remain where it has stopped, as Petrol in Diesel travels out to it, drains its tank on the spot then clears its fuel system of petrol. By the time we leave, it's running again on fresh diesel.
When petrol in a diesel 440 reveals itself
You may go a few miles without noticing anything wrong, because petrol inside the fuel tank frequently leaves a diesel 440 driving normally to begin with. Drivers normally spot the following when there's petrol or AdBlue in the tank:
- the motor is short of power, particularly when it has to pull
- rough running, or an uneven idle
- smoke from the exhaust, more than normal
- the dash shows warning lights
- the engine cuts out and may not start again
Any of these starting after you fuelled up is a reason to check your receipt and see what went in.
How far wrong fuel in your Volvo 440 goes when you drive
Wrong fuel in your Volvo 440 sits in your tank till the engine pulls it out, and driving is what pulls it through the fuel filter, your injection pump then the fuel injectors. Diesel lubricates your fuel pump and the fuel injectors as it passes through them and petrol dilutes it, so the further the 440 is driven, the more of the fuel system the mix gets to.
So completing the trip is a poorer choice than stopping the moment you can. Travelling a long way on tainted fuel is what can do harm, and if a motor is stopped soon, draining and cleaning are normally all it requires.
If you have the 440 Turbodiesel or another version of the 440, nothing is different.
We come to wherever you have stopped
There is no need to take the 440 anywhere. The side of the road and outside your home are both places we come to, so it does not need restarting or a tow.
A safe place, away from the traffic, is the place to wait if you are beside a busy road, with your hazards on.
Call 0333 366 0103 and tell us where you are, what 440 it is and about how far you have driven. If the badge gives the version, such as the 440 Turbodiesel Relax, that helps too.
Fuel drain on your Volvo 440 after it has been driven
Once it was driven, a fuel drain on your Volvo 440 takes one step more than one on the forecourt. After the fuel tank is emptied, the fuel lines are opened and rinsed through along with the filter, which leaves no petrol anywhere from the fuel tank to the motor. Clean diesel goes in, your fuel system is primed, and we start the engine to confirm it runs properly.
Once it has run: AdBlue in a diesel Volvo 440
If you have AdBlue in a diesel Volvo 440 and you have driven on it, the signs are normally uneven running, smoke and warning lights, and your car might cut out. Sinking to the bottom of the tank, where your fuel pump picks up fuel, AdBlue gets into your fuel line quickly, and it doesn't burn or lubricate. Urea crystals build up in the lines and your filter once its water dries out.
AdBlue removal from a diesel Volvo 440 after it has run
AdBlue removal from a diesel Volvo 440 that has been run means emptying your tank and then clearing the crystals from your fuel lines and your filter, and we change the filter if it needs it.
A separate AdBlue tank, if your 440 has one, is left alone. The job is about liquid in the diesel tank, and doesn't mean taking out or turning off an AdBlue system.
The Volvo 440 fuel tank capacity and its engines
Every version of the Volvo 440 in our figures comes with a diesel fuel tank of 60 litres.
| Version | Fuel tank |
|---|---|
| Volvo 440 Turbodiesel | 60 litres |
| Volvo 440 Turbodiesel Relax | 60 litres |
The cost of a fuel drain on the Volvo 440 after driving
The price of a fuel drain on the Volvo 440 after it has been driven depends mostly on how far it went and where it has stopped, and whether it was petrol or AdBlue makes a difference too. We can tell you what the work will involve when you call with those details.
Questions after driving with petrol in a diesel Volvo 440
Is my 440 ruined?
It's very unlikely to be. If the car is stopped early, draining and flushing the system is what we do wherever you have pulled up, and harm that lasts is rare after that.
Is it all right to drive it home first?
Our guidance is not to. We can drain the 440 right where it stands, so it does not need moving, and every mile driven on tainted fuel would take it further through your system.
What do I do if it has stalled and will not restart?
Leaving it alone is wiser than trying again, since each try draws the mixture further through. We prime your fuel system and start it for you after it has been drained and rinsed and clean diesel is in.
Does it matter which 440 I own?
There are 2 diesel versions of the 440, and the badge on the tailgate says which one you have. Knowing that assists us when you call.
Wrong fuel in my Volvo 440: does insurance cover it?
We still come out whichever way your policy goes, and some do include misfuelling cover, so checking yours once the car is sorted out is worth doing.