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Petrol added to a diesel car - what's the damage?

Petrol has been added to my diesel Nissan Note. The tank has been drained and a new filter change. The car will start but is very sluggish and does not seem to have any power. The turbo will also not engage and black smoke comes out of the exhaust. What's the damage?

Asked on 25 September 2013 by WW

Answered by Honest John
Bad news: the injection pump must have been damaged by the lack of lubricity in the petrol. You can get away with putting petrol in a diesel if the petrol floats on top and isn't delivered to the engine. But not if it get's pumped through to the injection pump.

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