I am the most stupid person in the history of the world ever

Diesel in a petrol just won't run, but shouldn't damage anything. Once sufficiently diluted, it will run with some extra smoke. It's not like a T2 has got a catalyst to ruin!

The problem with modern diesels is the pressure pump - they run at high pressure and tight tolerances, using the diesel to lubricate the pump. Petrol doesn't lubricate like diesel (especially when it has ethanol in it, as is common now) so the pump gets damaged. This is the expensive bit to replace.

The reason that diesel doesn't wax up in the winter these days is that it is a better quality formula than in the old days, designed to work down to lower temperatures.

 

yes owen bang on, i remember when i started my 1st job in the early 80's working on the lorries we used to go out to the breakdowns in the cold and light a fire under the diesel tank to warm the fuel up lol

 

I don't think anyone has said it yet Gumbo: yes you are

 

ha, nice one birdy, but i reckon there's plenty in the running for that prize.

 

I've done this once - many moons ago. Diesel in petrol makes a lot of smoke :-[

And if you run it more than a few hundred yards, and your engines not that new, you can get diesel seeping past the piston rings and in to the oil - ask me how I know :-[

The engine ran fine for the rest of the time I had the van, but I did need to do an oil change as the oil level was way up and smelt of diesel.

 

I wouldn't drain it mate - leave it in and fill it with petrol to dilute it, it will run fine but smoke a lot. Change your fuel filter afterwards though
;D

 

It's well sorted now ... And looking great 8) lol

 

you need one of these:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/VW-Westfalia-T2-74-79-Dashboard-Pop-top-warning-decal-/120760445423?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item1c1de229ef#ht_500wt_922

 

oops how stupid am I!!

 

you can join the TLB numpty circle with me and that other crazy fool if you like