Horror story
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 341
Likes: 2
From: Elderslie, Scotland
Horror story
Hi guys,
A C3 guy here looking for advice about a C7.
Long story short, friend of mine that does some work on my old Vette has a C7 in his shop. Client asked one of his employees to take the Vette round the gas station and fuel it up.
Employee, wait for it, fills the tank with diesel, starts the car and drives it back to the workplace wondering if the black smoke coming out the back is normal.
The shop have stripped it, drained it and cleaned it. Car it's running fine but throwing an engine management light.
Being in Scotland we don't really have access to plug in diagnostics.
What do you guys think? Cats? O2 sensors?
Any help would be appreciated.
A C3 guy here looking for advice about a C7.
Long story short, friend of mine that does some work on my old Vette has a C7 in his shop. Client asked one of his employees to take the Vette round the gas station and fuel it up.
Employee, wait for it, fills the tank with diesel, starts the car and drives it back to the workplace wondering if the black smoke coming out the back is normal.
The shop have stripped it, drained it and cleaned it. Car it's running fine but throwing an engine management light.
Being in Scotland we don't really have access to plug in diagnostics.
What do you guys think? Cats? O2 sensors?
Any help would be appreciated.
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 12,243
Likes: 97
From: Center of the Universe, Alabama
I accidentally grabbed the diesel hose once but it wouldn't fit in the filler door.
I'd start by replacing the O2 sensors, they're sooted up for sure.
I'd start by replacing the O2 sensors, they're sooted up for sure.
Last edited by grandpawmoses; Aug 6, 2015 at 03:49 PM.
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 35,749
Likes: 148
From: Northern NYs Adirondack Mountains,http://www.visitsacandaga.com.
Hi guys,
A C3 guy here looking for advice about a C7.
Long story short, friend of mine that does some work on my old Vette has a C7 in his shop. Client asked one of his employees to take the Vette round the gas station and fuel it up.
Employee, wait for it, fills the tank with diesel, starts the car and drives it back to the workplace wondering if the black smoke coming out the back is normal.
The shop have stripped it, drained it and cleaned it. Car it's running fine but throwing an engine management light.
Being in Scotland we don't really have access to plug in diagnostics.
What do you guys think? Cats? O2 sensors?
Any help would be appreciated.
A C3 guy here looking for advice about a C7.
Long story short, friend of mine that does some work on my old Vette has a C7 in his shop. Client asked one of his employees to take the Vette round the gas station and fuel it up.
Employee, wait for it, fills the tank with diesel, starts the car and drives it back to the workplace wondering if the black smoke coming out the back is normal.
The shop have stripped it, drained it and cleaned it. Car it's running fine but throwing an engine management light.
Being in Scotland we don't really have access to plug in diagnostics.
What do you guys think? Cats? O2 sensors?
Any help would be appreciated.
A serious lot of #s there but they screwed it up let them pay to fix it right. Of course if it was here in the states and not where you are I would push for a brand new car As I do not know Scottish law!
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 3,960
Likes: 1,106
Well, I would much rather deal with a gas engine that got a taste of diesel than a diesel engine run with near straight gasoline. The lack of lubricity in gasoline is hell on diesel injectors and the high pressure fuel pump and a high compression diesel can suffer some serious damage quickly from burning gasoline.
How many miles was it from the fueling station back to the shop. If it was a short distance and if the fuel system has been properly purged with fresh gas AND the engine appears to be running normally I would locate an OBDII reader (shipped in if needed) and find out what sensors are coding before throwing pieces at it. IF there was quite a bit of diesel run through it (how low was the fuel tank when it was filled?) then the cats may be contaminated and require replacement along with the O2 sensors. I seriously doubt that the engine itself was harmed in any way and outside of fresh oil it should be OK.
As many have complained in the various catch can threads the LT engine ingests and burns some oil anyway so a bit of diesel didn't turn the engine to toast.
How many miles was it from the fueling station back to the shop. If it was a short distance and if the fuel system has been properly purged with fresh gas AND the engine appears to be running normally I would locate an OBDII reader (shipped in if needed) and find out what sensors are coding before throwing pieces at it. IF there was quite a bit of diesel run through it (how low was the fuel tank when it was filled?) then the cats may be contaminated and require replacement along with the O2 sensors. I seriously doubt that the engine itself was harmed in any way and outside of fresh oil it should be OK.
As many have complained in the various catch can threads the LT engine ingests and burns some oil anyway so a bit of diesel didn't turn the engine to toast.
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Drifting
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 1,944
Likes: 339
From: Mesquite, Nv
Did that in my motorcycle once. Couldn't for the life of me figure out why the things started running like crap....and it didn't take long. Long story short, I siphoned everything out, cleaned the tank with new fuel (easy on a bike / difficult on a car), changed the plugs, and then ran it as normal. No issues.
As someone eluded, diesel is much better on a gas engine than the opposite scenario.
As someone eluded, diesel is much better on a gas engine than the opposite scenario.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 981
Likes: 157
How is the MAF going to get contaminated when the fuel is injected directly into the cylinder? If fuel doesn't even get on the intake valves, there's no way it can get on the MAF.
I'd say at the most you'll need to replace the catalytic converters and O2 sensors, but only if the OBDII shows codes for problems with them. If you clear the codes after driving a bit, the CEL just might go away.
I'd say at the most you'll need to replace the catalytic converters and O2 sensors, but only if the OBDII shows codes for problems with them. If you clear the codes after driving a bit, the CEL just might go away.
Pro
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 624
Likes: 91
From: Dewitt New York
I'm with Airmed2, and for the same reason he mentioned. I have driven motorcycles for 50 years, and have a number of friends who have "fueled up" with diesel. Not a big deal, at least not on a bike...swap out the fuel, perhaps add a fuel system cleaner like Techron, and drive it!
Ken
Ken
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 3,941
Likes: 499
From: Northern Virginia
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 3,940
Likes: 42
From: shavertown Pa.
I bet all that did was kill an O2 sensor and if the car is running decently they might not have killed anything at all.
The light will go out on it's own after so many run cycles, if they keep that guy away from fueling corvettes they should be fine in the future.
The light will go out on it's own after so many run cycles, if they keep that guy away from fueling corvettes they should be fine in the future.
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 208
Likes: 40
From: Las Vegas NV
I am confused why an auto shop does not have a code reader? I am a shade tree mechanic that purchased my own hand held code reader for under $500. I brought it with me to the Middle East where I used it for over 2 years reading codes on my own cars as well as friends. I am not sure I would trust my C7 or C3 to a garage that doesn't have a hand held code reader.
As for running Diesel in a C7. First, I hope the under educated person that put diesel in the C7 is regulated to sweeping the floor and not driving a high dollar exotic sports car to the service station. Second, I would have the fuel receptacle replaced. It should not have accepted a Diesel nozzle. Next drain all the diesel and wash out the system with clean fuel. Then run a code reader and replace all the parts effected. Its the shops fault not the owners. The owner should not have to pay to fix a repair shops mistake.
As for running Diesel in a C7. First, I hope the under educated person that put diesel in the C7 is regulated to sweeping the floor and not driving a high dollar exotic sports car to the service station. Second, I would have the fuel receptacle replaced. It should not have accepted a Diesel nozzle. Next drain all the diesel and wash out the system with clean fuel. Then run a code reader and replace all the parts effected. Its the shops fault not the owners. The owner should not have to pay to fix a repair shops mistake.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 2,903
Likes: 315
From: Cedar Falls Iowa
I agree with the O2/cat converter comments. Probably a good idea to see exactly what the code(s) are, but it might just be one of those things where the fix is as simple as running a couple tanks of fuel through it and doing an Italian tune up here and there.
