What the Tank Holds: Petrol in a Diesel Volvo XC90
If you have put petrol in a diesel Volvo XC90, the capacity of its tank is among the earliest things worth knowing, since it determines how much of the fuel in there is now petrol. The tank size and the engines are given on this page for each Volvo XC90 version which we keep data for.
No matter what the figure is, there's a single piece of advice after the event. Ring Petrol in Diesel with the motor switched off. We will come out to you and empty it right where it is.
Version by version: Volvo XC90 fuel tank capacity
The diesel tank on the Volvo XC90 holds between 70 and 80 litres, depending on what version you own.
Our figures put the largest tank on the XC90 D3 and the smallest on the XC90 D5 AWD.
| Version | Fuel tank |
|---|---|
| Volvo XC90 D3 | 80 litres |
| Volvo XC90 D4 | 80 litres |
| Volvo XC90 D5 AWD | 70 litres |
A couple of litres of wrong fuel in your Volvo XC90, and what they mean
The share of petrol rests on how full your tank was before you filled up. That's because wrong fuel in your Volvo XC90 mixes with whatever diesel is already in there. Up to 80 litres fit in the tank. Topping up an almost full one with a couple of litres of petrol leaves just a small share of petrol in the total, while the same quantity in an almost empty tank is much more of what the engine would take in.
Drivers often ask how much petrol counts as too much. It is more useful to know if the motor has run, because a running engine is what takes the mixture out of your tank and through the pump and the fuel injectors.
Whatever the share, the sensible thing is to get it emptied, and with a modest volume a fuel drain is usually all your XC90 needs.
Diesel XC90 engines and the badges
The version name on the badge shows us which motor your XC90 has, and so it is worth reading before you ring.
Our figures cover AWD versions of the XC90 as well.
Not knowing which version you own does not matter. Call all the same, then we'll work it out with you.
AdBlue in a diesel Volvo XC90
Where AdBlue is concerned, your tank size counts differently. With AdBlue in a diesel Volvo XC90, the diesel already in the tank does not dilute it. Being mostly water, AdBlue stays separate from the diesel and sinks to the bottom, which is where your pump draws from. Even a tiny quantity gets into your fuel lines.
AdBlue gives your pump no lubrication and will not combust. Its water evaporates as it stands, leaving urea that forms crystals in the filter and the fuel lines, where it eats into the metal it touches.
On some diesel cars, AdBlue has a second tank of its own, and its filler frequently sits alongside the diesel one under the same fuel flap. Where your XC90 has an AdBlue filler, its filler cap is normally blue and fits a slimmer nozzle than the diesel filler.
A fuel drain on your Volvo XC90, step by step
The whole tank is emptied in a fuel drain on your Volvo XC90, however large it is in your version, without the car moving from where it stands. Fresh diesel is put in once the contaminated fuel is pumped out and the lines and your filter are rinsed, and then your system is primed and the motor started.
Whether your XC90 is still on the forecourt or left on your drive does not change a thing. After we finish the drain, the vehicle is running on clean diesel and free to drive away.
AdBlue removal from a diesel Volvo XC90, explained
Clearing your tank totally is how AdBlue removal from a diesel Volvo XC90 starts, because AdBlue doesn't blend in and collects at the bottom instead. Where your engine has run, we rinse the fuel lines and the fuel filter through as well and change the fuel filter if it needs it.
What this covers is AdBlue that ended up in your diesel tank, not taking out or switching off the AdBlue system on the vehicle.
Pricing a fuel drain on the Volvo XC90
We do not list a fixed price, since two jobs on the same model can be rather dissimilar. How much was put in against the size of your tank, petrol or AdBlue, and the car's location all count, but whether the XC90 has been driven or only started affects it most.
We can explain what is involved in the job if you ring with those details.
Your tank queries on petrol in a diesel Volvo XC90
How many litres is the Volvo XC90 fuel tank capacity?
It depends on the version, from 70 to 80 litres, and the table above has each one.
Does a bigger tank make petrol less of an issue?
The petrol is still there in a bigger tank, and still reaches the pump once your engine runs, even though a couple of litres form less of the total. With your XC90 switched off, a drain clears all of it.
Diesel versions of the XC90: how many do you cover?
Our data cover 3 diesel versions of the XC90, all listed in the table above, and so you can pick out yours there by the name shown on its badge.
What counts as wrong fuel in my Volvo XC90?
Everything except diesel in your diesel tank, which means petrol of every type, super unleaded too, or AdBlue meant for its own dedicated tank.
Do you come to the Volvo XC90 to drain it?
We do. The vehicle doesn't need to be shifted or switched on, because we travel to it whether it is still at the forecourt or left on your drive.