Can Gasoline Mixed with Diesel Still Be Used?
3 Answers
Gasoline and diesel cannot be mixed for use. Some drivers attempt to reduce fuel costs by blending a certain amount of diesel into gasoline, but this practice is not advisable. The resulting issues include widespread difficulties in starting the engine, black smoke from the exhaust, insufficient power during uphill driving and acceleration, and sometimes even knocking. Below is an introduction to gasoline: 1. Physical and Chemical Properties: Gasoline is a colorless to light-yellow, easily flowing liquid at room temperature, hardly soluble in water, and highly flammable. Its distillation range is between 30°C and 220°C. When the air contains 74 to 123 grams per cubic meter of gasoline vapor, it can explode upon contact with fire. 2. Production Methods: Gasoline is produced through the fractional distillation of crude oil and the cracking of heavy distillates. During crude oil processing, units such as distillation, catalytic cracking, thermal cracking, hydrocracking, catalytic reforming, and alkylation all produce gasoline components, but with varying octane numbers. For example, straight-run gasoline has a low octane number and cannot be used alone as an engine fuel. Additionally, the sulfur content in impurities varies, so gasoline components with high sulfur content require desulfurization refining. Subsequently, these gasoline components are blended, and high-octane components may be added if necessary, ultimately resulting in gasoline products that meet national standards.
Last time I misfueled, mixing diesel into gasoline, and the car wouldn't start at all. Gasoline engines rely on spark plugs for ignition, but diesel self-ignites prematurely, causing knocking and severe damage. I still remember the towing fee and repair bill from that incident - the engine internal cleaning alone cost over a thousand. If you realize you've misfueled, never attempt to start the engine, or the pistons and fuel injectors might be ruined. The best approach is to call a tow truck to take it to a repair shop, where professionals will drain the tank and clean the fuel system. When refueling daily, I always check the color coding on the fuel nozzle - blue for diesel, green for gasoline - to avoid confusion. Especially when driving rental cars or borrowed vehicles, it's easier to be careless, so double-checking before finishing refueling is the safest approach.
Never use a mixture of gasoline and diesel. Diesel has a higher density and lower ignition point than gasoline, and it doesn't match the spark ignition point in gasoline engines, which can cause engine shaking, power loss, or even stalling. I once saw a similar case at a repair shop where the owner insisted on driving, resulting in the engine needing a major overhaul. In such situations, the first response should be to turn off the ignition and not start the engine, then have a mechanic drain the mixed fuel and replace it with fresh gasoline. The whole process is time-consuming and costly, but it's better than ruining the entire car. Some older models may also clog the fuel filter, adding extra problems. It's recommended to pay attention to pump classifications or use a mobile app to record gas station types to reduce the chance of mistakes.
