Petrol in a Diesel Volvo 940: What the Tank Holds
If you have put petrol in a diesel Volvo 940, the size of its fuel tank is among the first points worth knowing, since it settles how much of what is in there is now petrol. The tank and the engines are given on this page for every Volvo 940 version that we keep figures for.
Whatever the size, the guidance is no different now that it has happened. With the engine left off, call Petrol in Diesel and your car will be drained where it is.
How every version compares on Volvo 940 fuel tank capacity
Depending on which version you have, the diesel tank on the Volvo 940 holds somewhere from 60 to 75 litres.
Of the versions in our figures, the 940 Turbodiesel has the biggest tank, with the smallest on the 940 GL Turbodiesel.
| Version | Fuel tank |
|---|---|
| Volvo 940 GL Turbodiesel | 60 litres |
| Volvo 940 GL Turbodiesel Estate | 60 litres |
| Volvo 940 Turbodiesel | 75 litres |
| Volvo 940 Turbodiesel Estate | 75 litres |
What a couple of litres means with wrong fuel in your Volvo 940
Wrong fuel in your Volvo 940 mixes with whatever diesel is still in your tank, and so the proportion of it that's petrol rests on how full the tank was when you refuelled. In a tank that takes up to 75 litres, a few litres of unleaded added to a nearly full tank makes a small part of the whole, and the same few litres going into a tank that was nearly empty makes up a far bigger share of what the motor would draw.
People frequently wonder how much petrol is too much. It is more useful to find out if the engine has been run, because a running motor is what carries that mixture out of your tank and through your pump and your injectors.
Having it drained is the sensible course whatever the share is. If the amount is modest, your 940 generally needs no more than that.
Which engines the diesel 940 came with
The version name on your badge tells us which motor your 940 has, and so it is worth checking before you phone.
The figures also cover Estate versions of the 940.
If you are not sure which version you own, call all the same and we'll work it out together.
What goes on with AdBlue in a diesel Volvo 940
With AdBlue, fuel tank size plays out differently. AdBlue is mainly water and doesn't blend with diesel, and so with AdBlue in a diesel Volvo 940, your diesel around it does nothing to weaken it. As it sinks to the base of your tank, where the fuel pump pulls from, even a tiny amount gets into your fuel line.
Nothing in AdBlue ignites, and your pump gets no lubrication from it. After its water evaporates, urea is left in your lines and the filter as crystals, and the metal next to it corrodes.
A separate tank with its own filler carries the AdBlue on certain diesel vehicles, commonly beside the filler for diesel under the same fuel flap. Where your 940 has an AdBlue filler, its cap is normally blue and accepts a slimmer nozzle than the diesel filler.
What a fuel drain on your Volvo 940 involves
Whatever size the tank is on your version, a fuel drain on your Volvo 940 clears the lot, right where your car is standing. Fresh diesel goes in once the tainted fuel is pumped out and your fuel lines and the fuel filter are rinsed, and then the system is primed and your engine started.
Still at the station forecourt or parked on your drive, your 940 can be drained just the same. You can drive it away once this drain is finished, and it'll be running on clean diesel.
What AdBlue removal from a diesel Volvo 940 takes
AdBlue removal from a diesel Volvo 940 starts with emptying your tank totally, because AdBlue gathers at the base rather than blending in. A motor that has been run means flushing the fuel filter and lines through too, plus replacing your fuel filter if it needs it.
AdBlue that has gone into your diesel tank is the subject here. Turning off or taking out the car's AdBlue system isn't part of it.
The price of a fuel drain on the Volvo 940
We don't list a fixed price, because two call-outs on the same model can be very different. What changes it most is whether the 940 has been started or driven, and beyond that how much was put in compared with the capacity of your tank, whether it was petrol or AdBlue, and where the car is now.
Phone with those facts and we can let you know what the job will take.
Petrol in a diesel Volvo 940: tank queries
Fuel tank capacity of the Volvo 940: how much does it take?
From 60 to 75 litres depending on the version, and every version is listed in the table above.
Does petrol matter less in a bigger tank?
In a larger tank, petrol is a smaller part of the whole, yet it has not gone anywhere, and it reaches your pump once the motor runs. All of that comes out with a drain, as long as your 940 is turned off.
How many diesel versions of the 940 do you list?
We hold data for 4 diesel versions of the 940, and you can find yours in the table above by the name on its badge.
Wrong fuel in my Volvo 940: what does that cover?
Just diesel belongs in the diesel tank. Petrol of every type, super unleaded too, is wrong fuel, and so is AdBlue, which belongs in a tank of its own.
Do you come to the Volvo 940 to drain it?
There is no reason to shift or start the vehicle. Whether it is left at home or still on the forecourt, we travel to it.