Well... Wednesday was one of those days I shouldn't got out of bed.

After a lousy morning, I stopped at the gas station with my mind elsewhere and manage to fill my TDV6 tank with 55 litre of gasoline before I notice the mistake.

Before filling up, my tank had left about a 1/4 of diesel inside. I never turn the engine on and immediately called the LR dealer.

This is when things start to be even more awkward. They told me that this was a very complex situation and that I should tow the car there and they where going to see what they could do about it.

I had a similar experience several years ago with a Mercedes ML, and everything was very fast and efficient. The 24h support car went directly to the gas station and purge the fuel right there. I was ready to go in an hour or so.

When I arrived to the LR dealer they seemed very concerned and told me that eventually they had to take of the fuel tank to purge the gas. I found this to be completely absurd. Surely there must be some easier way to get the fuel out.

Now I’m still waiting to know what they are going to do, but I’m not buying this tank out thing.
Does any body here had a similar problem? Any ideas to what should be done, considering that I never turn the engine on and there was plenty of diesel inside the tank so gas shouldn’t have got to any tube or engine part.

Any help is appreciated….

I'd have thought it could be pumped out easily enough

Me also, but apparently there’s some kind of device inside the tank feed tube that prevents a burglar from pumping out gas. This is a clever idea… as long you design some other way of purging the fuel out, besides taking out the whole tank!

If you haven't started the car, then you can get the tank drained, there are specialist vans in the UK that do nothing apart from sorting out the problem.

However, if you have started it, they won't drain the fuel on the spot but can arrange to take the car to your dealer, and if you are especially lucky, they will be able to drain the tank and clean the hoses, purge the fuel from pumps and replace the filters.

If its gone through to the engine........grovel to your insurance company, they may look kindly upon you because you may end up with a bill for as much as £4k. ('') .

There is absolutely no substitute for a genuine lack of preparation.


Tasmod's SS bits, TV, ipod/USB, vase of daffs on the back shelf, tropical fish collection in the centre console, hamsters in the spare tyre and finally sheep on the passenger seats.....for weight distribution, what else??

.

Thanks RAD,

I didn’t start the engine. I even took extra car to turn the key just to turn off the park brake, and immediately turn it off to prevent some kind of pre-pumping or something like that.

Has you said, there must be some kind of drain mechanism.
The LR dealer hover here is known for their lousy service. Everyone complains about it. There are even some ppl that drive more then 100km to go to another dealer. I just want to be informed so I don’t take any crap from them.
So if anyone had this problem, please tell me what you did to solve it.

Once again, thank you all.

Bad luck Tay_Pt - this can happen to the best of us. At least you didn't start the engine - so you face the least amount of work/money to get it sorted. I'm not sure of the RRS, but I know of a friend's Freelander 1 that this happened to (although he did run the engine before realising what he'd done) and that cost him a LOT of money to rectify. 

Cost is usually a new fuel system and engine because LR reckons that the benzine in the gas ruins the seals in the common rail diesel system, which operates at some hugely high pressure so they start you from scratch with new mechanicals and fuel system. A Carbon Footprint is the mark a lump of coal makes when it's dropped on the ground.

TDv8 HSE - Stornoway Grey with ebony and straight grain walnut wood-a-like interior with towpack, Tasmods. The best car I have ever owned
Now departed - Giverny Green TDv6SE with Aspen and Parchment interior - nearly the best car I have ever owned
Staying - Epsom Green Defender 90 for playing off road

This is on the Service Bulletin that was issued on 13 June 2006..

Accidentally Filling Diesel Vehicles with Gasoline


Vehicle incorrectly fueled and the ignition switch has not been turned to the 'on' position:

1 . Referring to relevant section in the workshop manual, drain the fuel tank.
2 . Remove the fuel tank assembly.
3 . Remove pump/sender module and invert to drain excess fuel.
4 . Remove all traces of residual fuel within the tank using clean absorbent cloth/paper.
5 . Flush pump/sender module with clean diesel
6 . Reassemble pump/sender module to fuel tank and install to vehicle.
7 . Fully fill fuel tank with clean diesel.
8 . Road test the vehicle.
9 . Return vehicle to customer.

...not sure if there's anything recent. Malaysia Boleh!
4.2SC Chawton White, Stormers
Tasmod's Sills, Wind Deflectors, LR Sills
Clear Side Repeaters, Towbar
Larini Sports Exhaust, K&N Air Filter

Note that it isn't a case of starting the engine, it says above "turned to the ON position" That is position 1 in the sart procedure, as the high pressure fuel pump starts then in anticipation of the driver starting up. A Carbon Footprint is the mark a lump of coal makes when it's dropped on the ground.

TDv8 HSE - Stornoway Grey with ebony and straight grain walnut wood-a-like interior with towpack, Tasmods. The best car I have ever owned
Now departed - Giverny Green TDv6SE with Aspen and Parchment interior - nearly the best car I have ever owned
Staying - Epsom Green Defender 90 for playing off road

Tim in Scotland wrote:

Note that it isn't a case of starting the engine, it says above "turned to the ON position" That is position 1 in the sart procedure, as the high pressure fuel pump starts then in anticipation of the driver starting up.

Okay. If he has turned the key BUT did not start the vehicle...

Vehicle incorrectly fueled and Ignition switch has been turned to the 'on' position:

1 . Referring to relevant section in the workshop manual, drain the fuel tank.
2 . Remove the fuel tank assembly.
3 . Remove pump/sender module and invert to drain excess fuel.
4 . Remove all traces of residual fuel within the tank using clean absorbent cloth/paper.
5 . Flush pump/sender module with clean diesel.
6 . Remove fuel filter and discard.
7 . Disconnect fuel supply to high-pressure pump.
8 . Flush fuel housing and all fuel lines (inc. fuel return) with clean diesel.
9 . Reassemble pump/sender module to fuel tank and install to vehicle.
10 . Install new fuel filter.
11 . Fully fill fuel tank with clean diesel.
12 . Road test vehicle checking for normal engine operation and no stored diagnostic trouble codes are logged.
13 . Return vehicle to customer

Hope this will clear up any doubts. Malaysia Boleh!
4.2SC Chawton White, Stormers
Tasmod's Sills, Wind Deflectors, LR Sills
Clear Side Repeaters, Towbar
Larini Sports Exhaust, K&N Air Filter

Well thank very much guys for all the info. It was exactly this I was searching for.

Indeed they charge me the fuel tank disassembly, tubes cleaning and a new fuel filter.

The total cost was 247€ + 21% vat... totaling 300€!

This will certainly keep me very concentrated every time I go to the gas station for the next years!

Glad to hear you got it sorted Tay_pt
At least you had the good sense not to start the engine - It could have been much more expensive if you had!  Range Rover Sport - 2.7 TDV6 HSE - Java Black - Privacy Glass - Dealer Superchipped - a set of swanky TASMOD sill plates & Body Colour Matched SC Grill & Side Vents.

Porsche Boxster S - 3.2 - Black

300 Euro is a lot better than 10x that if you needed a new engine etc... good outcome  

Good result TBH - could have been a lot worse. RRS 2.7 TDV6 HSE Zambezi silver,Alpaca.
On Order - LRX expected 2010
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