Diesel & gas mix ?

[deepNdirt]

Got a call from the father-in-law last night, seems he mistakenly used the wrong nozzle when putting fuel into his RV, He's getting on up in some age and not paying attention to what he does sometimes, plus he has been a life long truck ( Big Rig ) driver and I suppose was a habit for him to reach for the diesel, anyway he pumped $30.00 = 8 gal. of diesel in almost empty tank, he's estimating he had about 2/3 gal. of gas left in tank,
he left the RV at the station and I'm supposed to meet with him today to help remove the diesel out from the tank,
My question is... what would this diesel be good for now? would it be possible to use it in a diesel engine? say if were to mix more diesel to it,
the mix ratio as is would be something like 2 parts diesel to 1 part gas,
if he were to mix another 5 gallons of diesel to this it would then be 13 gallons diesel to 3 gals gas, 4 to 1 mix, how much diesel should be added to in order to use this fuel in a diesel engine?
or should he simply cut his losses?
Thanks

BTW- Happy Fathers day to all You Pop's out there:thumbsup:

 

[284 International]

You could keep it to clean parts/filters, start brush piles on fire, or things like that. It may be that if left open in the sun for a few days the gas will evaporate off, but I don't know.

Were it me, I would use it to clean anything I could, then take it to the oil recycling center. It's not worth saving $40 to me to endanger my engine.

 

[clemsonfor]

Got a call from the father-in-law last night, seems he mistakenly used the wrong nozzle when putting fuel into his RV, He's getting on up in some age and not paying attention to what he does sometimes, plus he has been a life long truck ( Big Rig ) driver and I suppose was a habit for him to reach for the diesel, anyway he pumped $30.00 = 8 gal. of diesel in almost empty tank, he's estimating he had about 2/3 gal. of gas left in tank,
he left the RV at the station and I'm supposed to meet with him today to help remove the diesel out from the tank,
My question is... what would this diesel be good for now? would it be possible to use it in a diesel engine? say if were to mix more diesel to it,
the mix ratio as is would be something like 2 parts diesel to 1 part gas,
if he were to mix another 5 gallons of diesel to this it would then be 13 gallons diesel to 3 gals gas, 4 to 1 mix, how much diesel should be added to in order to use this fuel in a diesel engine?
or should he simply cut his losses?
Thanks

BTW- Happy Fathers day to all You Pop's out there:thumbsup:

Im no expert but i would not run it in a deisel. I would however run it in an old gas carborated engine like my old K10 at a low ratio say a gallon per full tank. Or I would save it to burn in trash piles.

 

[deepNdirt]

Thanks! so how much gas would have to be added to the diesel in order to run it in a gas engine? if this were the so chosen thing to do?
he has an old ford pickup truck,

 

[Itsme Ole Earnest T]

DnD I would get the sifering hose out and fill the tank. Should be fine. Had customers that has done it before yrs. ago.

 

[deepNdirt]

I just heard back from him, Someone had suggest for him to finish filling it with premium octane gas, ... its an older 80's Ford RV with Carburetor and must have a 30 gal tank, he said he put 18 gallons of gas in it and it started up and seems to run OK, although he hasn't got it home yet 4 miles away, is On the way there now,
so basically it now has a ratio of 1 parts diesel 33% and 2 parts gas 66% roughly saying, I still advised him to try and get out more of the diesel/gas mixture and ad more pure gas, whats the worst can happen? smoke or fowl the plugs? what a mess!

 

[clemsonfor]

With that old motor i would say that he prolly will be allright. But to be safe i would rather see him pull out 10-15 gallons and fill up again then latter cut the tank with what he has pulled out. Some wont agree but old gas engines are crude. The worst will be if it ignited early but with deisel its flashpoint is higher so i dont think that would happen, but you could hav spark knock which is not good for an engine, you may want to also buy one of those octane boosters with a 33% deisel in it. The cyls even if it dosent fire which should not hurt anything. It may fowl the plugs.

You can pour 2 gallons of water in with this ethonol gass and it absorb most of it and then still run, it might not have as much power and sputter but it will run.

I would rather not see it over 20% buts thats in my head has nothing to do with reasearch or anything. And im a forester by trade not a mecanic, although im pretty handy.

 

[Ginormous]

Trying to run a diesal engine with part gas mixed in seems more dangerous than the other way around. I know in a kerosene heater (which is similar to diesal fuel) having even a trace amount of gasoline mixed in can lead to an explosion. In a diesal engine, this could lead to the fuel detonating before the cylinder is compressed enough leading to the possibility of serious engine damage. My prediction at least... I wouldn't chance it.

 

[tomd999]

Hi,

Not an expert by any means however running a Diesel/gasoline mix in a Diesel is more problematic than a gasoline engine.

In a Diesel, the gasoline could damage the injector pump because it is abrasive compared to Diesel fuel. Also, if the gasoline ratio is high enough, they just won't run, it doesn't burn correctly for the engine to run well enough to stay running.

In a gasoline engine you could almost think of it as a 2 stroke mix, it will smoke, have less power, possibly clog the EGR system, foul O2 sensors and overheat and destroy the converter. If the engine has little emission controls on it, it will just smoke and such, otherwise, it will most likely cause damage to the emission components.

My advice, drain it out, keep it in a can parts cleaning or burnpile starting.

Tom

 

[284 International]

If it's running, siphon more out, even 5 gallons worth, then fill with gasoline, and just use it. He should be fine once it's refilled. Use the siphoned fuel cut into the fuel later, or in small doses in a mower or ATV or whatever, until it's gone.

Diesel has quite a low octane rating, even though it isn't as volatile as gasoline. Octane measures a fuel's ability to resist auto-ignition. Diesel engines work on the principle of auto-ignition. Cetane measure the tendency to auto-ignite, so the additives that increase cetane ratings let the fuel burn sooner and thus more completely.

On those old gasoline smog-era engines, it was common for them to "diesel" if they were shut off after being really worked hard, as the fuel mixture would auto-ignite, even without the ignition being turned on. Premium fuel may not be a bad idea, but just dilute is as much as possible, and be gentle on it for another tankful of gas.