What are the consequences of adding diesel to a gasoline car?
3 Answers
Gasoline engines have an ignition system. If the vehicle starts, the igniter will directly ignite the diesel. The following is an introduction about diesel: 1. Introduction: Diesel is a light petroleum product, a complex mixture of hydrocarbons, and is the fuel for diesel engines. 2. Composition: Diesel is mainly composed of diesel fractions produced by processes such as crude oil distillation, catalytic cracking, thermal cracking, hydrocracking, and petroleum coking. It can also be made from shale oil processing and coal liquefaction. 3. Types: Divided into light diesel and heavy diesel, widely used in large vehicles, railway locomotives, and ships.
That time I accidentally put diesel into a gasoline car, it felt absolutely terrible. At first, I didn't notice the labels when refueling, but when I drove on the road, the engine suddenly started rattling, emitting black smoke, and the car was shaking like it was about to fall apart, completely unable to drive normally. After towing it to the repair shop, I learned that the diesel's viscosity was too high, clogging the fuel injectors and fuel lines. It took a lot of effort to clean them out, costing me over a thousand dollars. The worst part is that doing this long-term could potentially burn out the engine internals, leading to massive losses. Since then, I always double-check the pump colors—green for gasoline, yellow or red-labeled for diesel—so I don't make the same careless mistake again. One wrong step can lead to everlasting regret.
The consequences of using the wrong diesel fuel are quite severe, and I've personally witnessed many similar cases. Gasoline engines rely on spark ignition, while diesel engines use compression ignition. Mixing diesel into a gasoline engine can make it difficult to start or completely prevent ignition. Even worse, it can clog the entire fuel system, leading to injector damage or fuel line ruptures. Repairing such issues is not only time-consuming but also requires a complete fuel system flush, doubling the costs. It's advisable not to force-start the engine if you realize the mistake; instead, turn it off immediately and arrange for towing to prevent further damage. Developing a habit of double-checking fuel labels is a simple yet effective safety measure.
