[Bark3rd]

Let's just say I had a bad day. It was storming like hell, I was travelling, and an unfamiliar Mobil station had Unleaded pumps with Green labels and handles. Was on about 1/4 tank, accidentally topped up with gas and drove 150 mi on the highway before it started running rough. It stalled as I pulled into a dealership that was on the highway and would not restart. No engine light but the code reader picked up some ignition related fault code. Filed an insurance claim and preparing for the worst. I am worried how this will go down and what the future will hold for this engine, the shop is talking about "flushing" everything- even if they get it to run I can't imagine just flushing the systems will address all of the unseen damage to piston crowns, HPFPs, injectors, etc. What if the head gasket goes at 50 k mi (34k now)? How would you handle the negotiations with the insurance co here? I have requested they inspect cylinders with a borescope, beyond that I am not sure what to do. I don't want to be constantly having future related failures. Wondering if I need to just get rid of it, although it will cost a fortune to replace it. Maybe I should buy an extended service contract and get out before 100k mi (the powertrain warranty wont cover anything but internally lubricated parts) Thanks for any advice or experience offered on this subject.

 

[CCPLady]

I'd only had my car a couple of weeks and I came so close to doing the same thing at a Exxon/Mobil station near my house because of their green handles!! I was so fortunate because I couldn't get the pump to start (strange lever configuration) and gave up. Thank goodness because it wasn't until I pulled the nozzle out that I saw the green handle was not for diesel!

I know they (Exxon) would say it's our fault, but really?? Every other station has adopted green as the diesel fuel handle color.

I'm fanatical about double checking now. I'm so sorry this happened to you.

 

[Bark3rd]

I will never, ever make this mistake again. $2000 later, flushed fuel system, runs better than it did before. No damage and I ran with about 30% diesel/70% gas for about 120 miles.

 

[Casper2]

BP station in Chattanooga (just off 75) has green left for regular and black right for premium and high test. I get up early planing to hook up my trailer and head back north and put in a half tank of regular before I realize what I'm doing. Fortunately I did not start it. Called for a tow to a local mechanic. Cost me a day and $250.00. Since the vehicle was never started a tank flush and refill was all I needed. I'm starting to think those pumps with the green handle left are now standard issue and when they are put in stations that don't have diesel they default them to regular. This bears watching and I don't plan on making that error again. Also paid cash and left no paper trail. Oh and I forgot to mention when I started this story that this happened to a friend of mine..... not me.

 

[Danncsu]

My parents had a (new at the time) ML350 diesel and pumped a full tank of gas into it. They drove about 30 miles before the engine started acting up. Long story short, the engine and all fuel lines where cleaned and it ran fine for many more years. Obviously, don't ever put gas into a diesel vehicle, but it appears if you catch the mistake quickly it should just cost you a full system flush.

 

[tizeye]

I almost did the same thing in my Passat. Saw a good diesel price on GasBuddy so chose that station. Grabbed the green handle, then realized there were not two sets of handles - one diesel the other gas. Closer look was 87 octane unleaded. Glanced around then went into the store asking where their diesel pump was, and the clerk indicated they don't sell diesel. Then noted there was no way to remove diesel from the store on GasBuddy, tried $0.00 and $99.99/gal but wouldn't accept it.