Petrol in a Diesel Volvo V50, and You've Driven It
Leaving the engine off is what matters after you have driven with petrol in a diesel Volvo V50, which means you should pull in as soon as it's safe and then turn the engine off. It is very uncommon for permanent harm to result when it's caught soon, while it can still be dealt with where you've stopped.
Once Petrol in Diesel comes out to wherever your Volvo V50 has stopped, the petrol is cleaned from the system and your tank emptied. When we leave, it is running again on clean diesel.
Petrol in a diesel V50: the signs to watch for
You might go a couple of miles before spotting anything, as petrol in the tank often keeps a diesel V50 driving as usual to begin with. Motorists usually notice the following if there's petrol or AdBlue in the fuel tank:
- power falls away, particularly as you ask the engine to pull
- lumpy running, or an erratic idle
- the tailpipe puts out more smoke than normal
- a warning lamp comes on
- it stalls, then may refuse to restart
Look at the receipt if one of these started after filling up, as it will show which fuel went in.
Wrong fuel in your Volvo V50: what driving on it does
Wrong fuel in your Volvo V50 sits in your fuel tank till the engine pulls it out, and driving is what draws it through the filter, the high-pressure pump and your injectors. Petrol weakens the diesel fuel that lubricates the fuel pump and the fuel injectors as it passes through them, and driving the V50 on brings that blend into more of your fuel system.
Stopping the moment you can is wiser than finishing the trip for that reason. Damage, where it occurs, comes from a long journey on contaminated fuel, and draining and cleaning are usually all a car requires when it is stopped early.
If yours is the V50 D3 or another version of the V50, nothing changes.
Just where you pulled over
There's no need to move the V50 anywhere. The side of the road and outside your home are both places we come to, and so it doesn't need restarting or a tow.
With your hazard lights on, stand away from the traffic somewhere safe when the road beside you is fast.
Ring 0333 366 0103 and say where you are, what V50 it is and roughly how far it has been driven. It also helps when the badge shows the version, such as the V50 D2.
Fuel drain on your Volvo V50 after it was driven
Once it was driven, a fuel drain on your Volvo V50 involves one step more than a drain at the forecourt. Once the fuel tank has been drained, the lines are opened and rinsed through along with the filter, which leaves no petrol anywhere from the fuel tank to the engine. Fresh diesel goes in, the system is primed, and our technicians start the motor to confirm it runs properly.
Emptying the fuel tank comes first, and on the V50 D5 automatik it holds 62 litres.
AdBlue in a diesel Volvo V50 that has been driven
Rough running, smoke and warning lights are the usual signs after you've driven on AdBlue in a diesel Volvo V50, and the vehicle might then stall. Sinking to the bottom of your tank, where your pump picks up fuel, AdBlue reaches your fuel line fast, and it does not burn or lubricate. The urea crystallises in your fuel filter and the lines once its water evaporates.
AdBlue removal from a diesel Volvo V50
We replace the fuel filter if it needs it during AdBlue removal from a diesel Volvo V50 after it's run, when your tank is drained and the crystals are cleared out of your filter and your fuel lines.
Nothing here means switching off or taking out the AdBlue system. It deals with liquid in the diesel tank, and a dedicated AdBlue tank your V50 has is left alone.
Volvo V50 fuel tank capacity and engines
Across the versions of the Volvo V50, diesel fuel tanks run from 52 litres in the V50 1.6D DRIVe to 62 litres on the V50 D5.
For example, the V50 2.0D holds 55 litres.
| Version | Fuel tank |
|---|---|
| Volvo V50 1.6D | 52 litres |
| Volvo V50 1.6D DRIVe | 52 litres |
| Volvo V50 2.0D | 55 litres |
| Volvo V50 D2 | 55 litres |
| Volvo V50 D3 | 60 litres |
| Volvo V50 D4 | 60 litres |
| Volvo V50 D5 | 62 litres |
| Volvo V50 D5 automatik | 62 litres |
The cost of a fuel drain on the Volvo V50 after a drive
How far it travelled and where it has stopped are what mainly settle the cost of a fuel drain on the Volvo V50 after a drive, and petrol or AdBlue makes a difference as well. Those details are what we need when you phone, and with them we can explain what the job will involve.
Common questions after driving with petrol in a diesel Volvo V50
Has the petrol ruined my V50?
The chance of that is very small. We drain and clean your fuel system wherever you have stopped, and if your car has been stopped early, permanent harm is uncommon.
Can I finish the drive home first?
We'd sooner you did not. We can drain the V50 right where it stands, which means it does not need shifting, and every mile driven on contaminated fuel would carry it further through your system.
It has stalled and won't restart. What should I do?
Please leave the car rather than trying again, as each attempt pulls more of the blend through. With it emptied and rinsed and clean diesel in, we prime your system and get it started for you.
Do you need to know which V50 I have?
There are 8 diesel versions of the V50, and the badge on the boot says which one you have. Knowing that assists us when you call.
Insurance and wrong fuel in my Volvo V50: am I covered?
Some policies include misfuelling cover, and so it is worth looking at yours once the vehicle is sorted out. We come out either way.