diesel in the gas tank

[Arkman]

i was at the pump this weekend and there was someone there with a newer mercury maybe in the 90hp range. he filled up his tank with 5 gallons of diesel, I would have stopped him because I have done that same thing with my little 6 gallon tank but I pulled in after he did it. I just got rid of mine, but he was asking what to do. He was all the way empty and only put in 5 gallons, and one of his buddies on the phone said fill the other 20 gallons up with normal gas and it should be fine.

What should have he done? To me is seems like a bad risk to take with a nice motor like that but maybe it wasn't a big deal.

 

[Eshaw150]

Re: diesel in the gas tank

bad idea to run any amount of deisel in a gas motor eats up the seals thats why there called gasoline motors and not deisel/gas he should have emptyed the tank out

 

[CharlieB]

Re: diesel in the gas tank

Drain it.

When in doubt, pour it out.

Seriously, combustion characteristics are WAAYYYYYYY wrong, it will rattle, clatter and spark knock. It is possible to get away with it on a WHEELED vehicle as those engines do NOT work very hard, turning a prop is REAL WORK, and a good way to crack a piston, leading to a rebuild from the detonation.