Gasoline in my new Diesel truck - READ ONLY

17 messages, Last post on Apr 23, 2003 at 8:34 PM

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#9 of 17 damage estimate by p100 Apr 22, 2003 (12:15 pm)
I came across this forum by accident and would like to make a few comments: In order to avoid damage to a diesel engine when running gasoline through it, it must be designed for this purpose. I happen to own an old 69 Army Deuce and a half with a 6 cylinder multifuel diesel. This engine will run on diesel, kerosene, turbine fuel, gasoline, or any comination of these fuels. However, diesel is recommended as the primary fuel and use of other fuels as emergency fuels. This engine has several features that make it suitable for running on gasoline: 1. Fuel density compensator built into the diesel injection pump 2. Swirl combustion chamber effect caused by specially designed intake manifold 3. Built-in hemispherical depressions in tops of pistons to control the fuel burn The engine has 22 to 1 compression ratio and is a true diesel engine. I ran this engine on gasoline only once for about a mile when I accidentally ran out of diesel due to defective fuel gauge, and could not find diesel at the nearest gas station. The engine ran smooth without any adverse effects. (Having a multifuel engine sure comes in handy at times! Pushing a 16,000 lb truck off the road is not an easy task.) I also own an 83 Mercedes 300 SD with a 5 cylinder turbo diesel engine. I would be very concerned with engine damage if I ran gasoline in this engine. In fact, I was told by a mechanic that running gasoline in this engine will surely damage it.
#10 of 17 the military does plan for all contingencies... by swschrad Apr 22, 2003 (4:54 pm)
contrary to some reports. I would not expect a market price sensitive item like a civilian car to have the expensive additional design factors in its engine that your gruntwagon has.
#11 of 17 Reply to # 10 by p100 Apr 22, 2003 (5:25 pm)
Of course, nobody would build a multifuel engine just to protect it from inadvertent abuse, such as using wrong fuel. But maybe they could come up with some sensor ahead of the injection pump that would recognize wrong fuel and shut down the engine or at least turn on a warning light. After all, these trucks are expensive - I recently saw a Chevy 3500 LT Dually 4X4 crew cab with almost $ 50K sticker price. This is no longer pocket change for most of us. (Note: Supposedly Al Capone carried about $ 50K with him at all times for pocket change. This was in the 1920's, when one dollar was worth probably $ 20 today).
#12 of 17 well, there IS supposed to be a sensitive anti-abuse device by swschrad Apr 23, 2003 (9:39 am)
called the "user." one is supposed to be knowledgeable enough, upon buying a diesel, to see that you can darn near push a rabbit through that huge pipe under the fuel cap... and on seeing that the diesel pump nozzle is similarly the size of a cannon barrel, deduce that only this nozzle is supposed to go into this fill hole. the dealer pinhead who put a 3/4-inch filler into a 1-1/4-inch (I have not measured these, this is my impression of the relative sizes on first discovery of the size of that hippo-maw of a fuel line) diesel pipeline was unqualified to be doing that work. the green "DIESEL FUEL ONLY!" sticker all tar-burners have on the filler door should also have been a tip-off... even if the pinhead couldn't read, he ought to be able to match the colors... even colorblind, green ain't red or orange. I'm amazed the regular nozzle didn't fall out and spray the ground, the poor dupe must have had to stand there and hold it. as a result, I would think a court would plainly see that the dealer is responsible for abuse, and should bear all costs whatsoever in making the situation right for the customer. it would be a darn difficult job to make a liquid density probe that recognizes diesel #1 with antigel, for instance, and passes it while blocking gasoline, all within a fraction of a second, continuously in flowing liquid. it would not be a $15 part.
#13 of 17 by Mr_Shiftright HOST Apr 23, 2003 (9:50 am)
You can run a little bit of gasoline in a diesel engine. The Russians did this to great effect in World War II to start very cold and very gooey tank engines. I'd imagine no more than a few percent gasoline, and only in an emergency, such as if you have to launch a 1,000 tank offensive at work or something.
#14 of 17 yeah, and the State depends on it by swschrad Apr 23, 2003 (10:08 am)
it's not a recommended antigel trick, however, at least not with the non-diesels that GM converted from a 350 gas-engine block, and not with the 6.2 Liter DDA we had in an old suburban. used to be they'd recommend adding a quart of diesel to a clattering gas engine as a top-lube, too. part of it is fear of lawsuits, I suspect -- somebody who thinks, "one part good, so two parts must be better," is going to blow the heads off his tar-burner and get mad instead of get smart.
#15 of 17 by Mr_Shiftright HOST Apr 23, 2003 (10:48 am)
I actually remember reading in the Mercedes service manual that it was okay to do this, but it's probably not in the manuals for new cars, for the reasons you've stated. In Alaska, the solution was to just leave your truck running all night while you slept. At 40 below, not a bad idea.
#16 of 17 Reply to #13 by p100 Apr 23, 2003 (7:40 pm)
German WW II tanks had gasoline engines, so that they were easier to start in cold weather. On the other hand, the fuel economy was terrible and when hit, they would burn quickly and fuel tanks would explode. Some statistics I read about the Tiger III 12 Cylinder Maybach engine - the fuel mileage was something like 0.5 miles per gallon. One favorite trick to start diesel truck engines in cold weather was to build a fire under the engine oil pan to heat the oil first. The winter of 1942 in Russia was so severe that oil froze in the oil sumps of many vehicles overnight.
#17 of 17 by Mr_Shiftright HOST Apr 23, 2003 (8:34 pm)
Some tanks get 5 gallons a mile, so that's not too bad for a V-12 gasoline tank. I think Italian tanks got great gas mileage but you could poke your finger through them, so it was a trade off.