Petrol in a diesel car!

[Vics128]

Hi, what an idiot I am. last week I managed to put 10 pounds of unleaded into my diesel without realising! drove it home (approx 5 miles) , no problems, drove to work and back over weekend (bout 2 mile round trip) no probs, try to start it tonight and it wont even start. Iv looked on the internet and the common concencus is that if I drain the tank and 'prime' the fuel pump, it should be ok. Well my question is, how do I empty the tank completely (is syphoning enough) and where do I start with priming a fuel pump! Thanks in advance

[mr rusty]

What's the car? Some will be fine, some won't...!

In general, if it's an older style mechanical pump low pressure injection system it'll be o.k. and you don't need to drain it, but if it's a new style HDi type high pressure system with electronically controlled injectors, then you really should drain it all out.

Priming varies from car to car, but modern cars self prime, because they have a seperate lift pump in the tank: older cars just had the one pump and a rubber bulb or squidgy botton to prime with. .

[Vics128]

its an N reg Golf, im guessing that means it is old and should be ok?... I will still try and drain it out, but how now do I prime a sqidgy botton.. (im a girl (you prob guessed due to the nature of the question!)) So lamens terms please!! Thanks for the glimmer of hope though!

[thundercrack]

Hi, sorry to hear about you problem, very easily done. my advice is: put a few gallons of diesel in the tank( fill up some cans) turn the engine over for about 15seconds a time.try this several times. if it does not start you could join one of the cheap internet A.A or R.A.C. type services, for about �50,.wait a couple of days then phone them up and tell them it won't start.don't say why, just say you ran out of diesel, but you've filled the tank up now but it still will not start.let them sort it. so much cheaper than calling out a garage. I must add, it would be no use priming the pump as it will still be full of petrol. I have put petrol in my diesel before now ,in my peugeot 205 xld and no problem at all, but you must fill the tank with diesel or you will never get it going, as diesel is heavier than petrol and will sink to the bottom where the fuel suction pipe is, so it will suck diesel then when you drive it should all mix together.
hope you succeed, alf.