Gasoline in a diesel Sprinter
 

Running good now after a 800 buck clean up. Could the motor have been ruined , only was half a take of gas. Actual ran OK for 100 miles. needless to say, my brother wasn't too happy.

I work on a fleet of Sprinter vans. What year was the van? Inline 5 or 3.0 V-6 diesel? We have had both types run on gasoline with various results. The 3.0 V-6 they ran till it quit. 13K for a used replacement engine for that one. The inline 5, we cleaned out the gasoline from the fuel system, filled with fresh diesel, used a fuel conditioner, changed oil and it was fine. Your results may vary. We have also had a gasoline V-8 van filled with diesel and run. Ran lousy and smelled like diesel, but no damage after fuel removal. Every van has 3 LARGE stickers telling what type of fuel to use. One big one on the gauge cluster. 1 on the fuel filler door. 1 on the driver's door. Also a label on the ignition key tag. None of these multiple warnings seem to produce 100% success.

3.0 Mercedes turbo diesel. We put a new engine in it last year after another employee ran it hot and cracked the block, yes, that job did cost 12k. The Sprinter is about 10 years old, it seems to be running OK, but a little rough. Could the motor really have been ruined if we didn't get to it fast?

Spraying volatile gasoline into a high compression diesel is a formula for detonation. The severity depends on compression ratio and percentage of gas vs diesel.

Moderate to severe detonation will kill pistons and rings and beat the snot out of bearings.

If it seems to run ok, you may have dodged a bullet.

Eric

Half the tank was filled with diesel, so it must have 'diluted the gas'. Was able to drive the Sprinter 100 miles before it started to run rough.

Gasoline has absolutely no lubrication in it and is really hard on the pump and injectors which are designed to be lubricated by the lubricity in the diesel fuel. Running it on gas, or a partial gas diesel blend will definitely shorten the lifespan on the high pressure side of the fuel system.

If you dodged a bullet now, it will probably ricochet back and at least make a partial hit sooner than later. It's akin to running an engine out of oil, if you catch it in time you might save the engine, but you definitely shortened the lifespan in the end.

The other damage Eric/Mike and others have already mentioned may not be too severe to render the engine useless, but it won't last the same lifespan it would have had the gasoline not been accidentally put in the van.

I think 2007 1/2 was when they changed from the 2.7 I5 to the 3.0 V-6 CDI engine. The 3.0 is a weak, delicate little engine. Very expensive and difficult to work on. The 2.7 I5 was much more of an industrial engine and much tougher. About all you can do is use fuel additive to improve the lubricity of the fuel in the next dozen tanks of fuel or so. Keep an eye on oil consumption and hope for the best. There really isn't anything else to do at this point other than put it up for sale. If it's not making any unusual noises and not burning oil, I would just drive it and keep an eye on the mechanicals.

Thanks guys. Good stuff

If it seems to run ok now, I think this pretty well sums it up.

Eric

Not to mention gasoline will destroy the injector pump and injectors with prolonged use.