Mixing Gasoline With Diesel Fuel
Mixing Gasoline With Diesel Fuel
At one time information was released suggesting that a small amount of gasoline mixed with diesel fuel for use in cold weather was an acceptable practice. This information was eventually retracted due to conditions that may result from such a mixture.
First and foremost is a safety factor. The gasoline fumes from gasoline are very rich and there is not enough oxygen available for a spark generated at the filler neck to ignite these fumes. The diesel fumes are too lean and will not ignite. A mixture in the right proportion could create fumes volatile enough to ignite from a spark generated at the filler neck.
Second, all injection pumps and injectors utilize the lubrication in diesel fuel to keep internal parts lubricated. Gasoline cuts down on this lubrication and can lead to premature injector and pump wear or even failure.
Although accidentally mixing a small percentage of gasoline with a tank of diesel fuel may not result in an immediate problem, it could still result in shorter pump and/or injector life. The only safe action would be to drain the mixture and start from scratch. While this may seem costly, it could save you from more costly repairs in the long run
Diesel Bomber
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 3,529
Likes: 169
From: Summerfield,Florida
...thank god for the edit button huh?That reminds me though, today we went to get feed. We stopped at an unfamiliar fuel station on the way back. The pump was marked really weird and the diesel handle was black and the gas handle was green (bunch of numbnut employees) but I pulled an old Whitmore trick and sniffed the nozzle to see and went about my marry way.
Super Moderator
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 14,872
Likes: 764
From: Houston, Tx
Diesel Bomber
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 3,529
Likes: 169
From: Summerfield,Florida
