Petrol Added to Diesel Tank - How to drain my tank

[MKings]

Hi Guys,

Firstly I'd like introduce myself. My name's Mathew and I live in Epping NSW. I'd suggest to you my wife knows more about the inners of a car than I do (which I'm soon about to confirm). I can drive though.

I've joined your site as I need some help fixing a small error which has just happened. I've filled our tank + sub with Petrol. As in I've filled them both up - I only noticed as I pulled out of the servo and looked at the docket when stopped at the lights. The price wasn't right and then I realised I wasn't at the normal pump <sigh>.

Anyway - I did panic some what and once I got home - Figured I shouldn't have driven it <2nd sigh>. It still had 1/4 tank in it when I filled it and I didn't smell nor notice anything strange on the drive home (which would be about 5km). So with that Said - Is there a manual online or on this site by chance which might explain how to drain my tanks?

When speaking with our mechanic (after he stopped laughing) he said I should be able to drain the tank, replace the filter and try cranking it over after adding some diesel.

Any help/links would be great.

Cheers,
Mat

[MudRunnerTD]

G'day Mathew and welcome to the forum mate,

Um Bugger! Need to know if its a GQ or a GU Patrol? I am not sure on the drain plug mate but someone will know. I would not be overly worried about getting it all out mate and even if you can open up your main tank and dump that and then transfer from your sub via the pump then drain again. Crawl around under it mate, if there is a bung you should come across it.

Note also that fully removing the petrol will not be paramount mate so i would not be overly concerned about your filter. The petrol will basically act as a detonator for the diesel and you will probably find you are getting a bit more bang out of your engine and has a little bit more go in it. That being said too much petrol is no bloody good at all.

My advice is go and buy a couple of jerry cans of diesel, if you cant find a bung then go to Supercheap and buy a jiggler syphon hose and suck the petrol out into something (your going to need to be able to store 100lts at least!) You've always wanted a few Jerry cans anyways haven't you...Call all your mates and gather their Jerry cans for the day and suck it out.

Transfer from your sub and get that out too, whatever you can get will be enough. Then throw in at least 40 lts of diesel and off to the fuel stop for fresh fuel. Drive away, no more to say. You will likely be able to take the contaminated fuel to the local refuse dump and they should have a vessel for old oil and such that you can dump it into then give the jerries back to your mates and tell them all the Shut Up!!!.

[MKings]

<Smirks>

Thanks for post MudRunner... I'm not sure if it's a GU or GQ.. Saying that I did down load the workshop manual for a Y61 after looking at the VIN#.

I figured if I cant find the plug I'd be getting myself some type of pump... Add to that I already have a few cans at the ready... Both for the Patrol and Oz Day ;)

As for the mates... It's the wife I need to worry about.

Thanks again for the advice - I was at first very worried that I'd buggered the thing. I'm starting to feel a little more at ease after reading around some.

Cheers,
Mat

[MudRunnerTD]

Yeah a Syphon hose will do mate, just a jiggle syphon (syphon hose with 1 brass end and a ball built into the end of it) (Jiggle it in and out and out comes the fuel.) from Supercheap will get it out of there without to much trouble.

If your car is 1998 or newer and is like the newer shape then its a GU, the old Box shape like my avatar is a GQ mate.

Obviously when transferring from your Sub to your main you will use the pump you would normally use in the Nissan via the dash switch, This pump wont care if its diesel or petrol mate. No damage will occur to that pump.

[GypsyD]

Howdy Mat, Well it has happened to me when once I filled my tank I did not know what had happened and I used about half a tank before I knew as it was allmost impossible to drive had no power at all.I had to drain tank with a hose then bleed the fuel lines through also bleed the Pump as well it took some time but that is what you have to do it seems ok now some 5000km ago I hope this helps but that is what is required .

[Rowdy1961]

I have a GU5 2008 Patrol and recently got bad fuel. I couldnt find a drain plug after I was told I needed to drain the tank. I consulted nissan who advised there is no plug and the tank would need to be removed.
I complained to Nissan corporate as to why they used to have drain plugs and now they dont. They could answer only saying its probably reducing costs.....damn !! Cost by Nissan to drain tank = approx $1000
Lucky the after refilling a few times the problem cleared itself luckily.

Sorry about your problem. Unfortunately new models do not have drain plugs on the fuel tank. God only knows why they would stop installing them.

[bazz61]

did the same here in wa xmas time , 50 odd litres of petrol on top of near empty diesel tank, had to remove rubber hose to tank , syphone out fuel , refill tank ,lucky i hadn't started the ute, bloody pump had diesel on on side petrol the other , station worker said it was not uncommon..!