What happens if you put gas in a diesel engine? What about the other way around, diesel into a gas engine? These are questions that we often ask ourselves when we fill up at the gas station. After all, it is not always easy to tell what fuel goes in which tank. However, there is a lot of confusion and misinformation out there on this topic. In this article, we will discuss both sides of the question – what happens if you put the wrong fuel in your car – and talk about some possible damage that can be done by putting the wrong fuel type in your vehicle’s tank.

What happens if you put gas in a diesel engine

Gas is primarily made with a mixture of hydrocarbons. Diesel fuel, on the other hand, consists of only hydrocarbons. When gas is poured into a diesel engine, gas particles will break down the diesel fuel, which will result in some gas particles being burned while others are not. This means some gas will be lost while others are just broken down to smoke and gas that burns.

The gas particles that are not burned will eventually clog up the engine filters. If left unchecked, this can lead to serious damage to the engine. This type of damage will usually not show up until the engine has been running for some time. Of course, gas in a diesel car can also cause an immediate problem that is easy to detect. Gasoline simply does not combust at as high of temperatures as diesel fuel, so if gas were used in a cold start situation, it would likely stall out on the first start.

What happens if you put diesel in a gas engine

When you put diesel in a gas engine, the first part of your car that will experience a problem will be the fuel pump. This is because diesel is much thicker and denser than gasoline; the fuel pump will have to work harder to move it through the system.

Your fuel filter will also be damaged because diesel will have a hard time passing through a fuel filter designed for a gas engine. Worst case scenario, diesel fuel will clog up the fuel filter. Whatever diesel that does go through the fuel filter will then clog up the fuel injectors which will force them to not work properly. You will notice that your car will seize up once the diesel hits the injectors.

While this looks bad, it’s not as dangerous as when you put gasoline in a diesel tank.

How you can prevent putting the wrong fuel in your car

It’s not always easy to figure out what kind of fuel a car uses, especially if you are not yet a seasoned driver. If you are driving an unfamiliar car, it’s always better to ask than to assume. For example, if you are driving a rental or a borrowed car, you might want to ask them first what fuel to use (or if you even need to fill it up with fuel, as it might be an electric car) before driving off the lot.

If you are already driving and you failed to ask, the next best place to ask is the fuel station. Some attendants will be more than happy to assist you and give you the right fuel for your car. Most attendants already have a vast understanding of what cars use diesel and what uses gas.

Fill Your Car With The Wrong Fuel? Ask T3 Atlanta For Help

Things happen. You might have absentmindedly filled up a gas engine with diesel. Don’t worry, if you’ve put the wrong fuel in your car, it’s not the end of the world. If the engine seized up and won’t start, you need somebody to take a look at the damage so you can find solutions.

If you’ve made this mistake, give T3 Atlanta a call right away. Our team has had the chance to look at engines damaged due to being filled up with the wrong fuel. As such, we have the experience and expertise to find out what’s wrong and to propose solutions so your car can get back on the road ASAP.

Reach out to us today!