Help! I did something stupid…1/2 bottle of DEF cleaner in my diesel tank. I’m at the station what to do???

[timothy585]

I was distracted and put half the bottle in the diesel tank before I noticed. Craaaaap!!!!!! The tank is almost full. The mix shouldn’t be in the fuel lines yet I hope. I live less than a mile away. Is it safe to drive so I can get it in my driveway to drain the tank??? Crap! Crap! Any immediate input is appreciated!!!

 

[timothy585]

I meant to add the DPF cleaner.

 

[GTyankee]

DEF is only meant to go directly into the Exhaust Pipes !!
D.E.F. = DIESEL EXHAUST FLUID
It should never go into the Fuel System
Have your truck Towed, i would not take a chance

 

[timothy585]

I KNOW it doesn’t go in the diesel tank. It was a MISTAKE. people do that sometimes. I’ll probably get it towed.

 

[Dodge 1500 4X4]

Don't panic, do not run it have it towed home and wait for others on here W/ experience on diesels for what to do.

 

[Mlarv5]

Not an expert so take this at your own risk. How big is your fuel tank? How many ounces did you pour in it. I highly doubt it was enough to hurt anything. If it was me I would fill the fuel tank, and go on with life.

 

[timothy585]

Well, a friend of a friend is a diesel mechanic. He let him know what happened and the mechanic looked up the ingredients and said if I only put about half the bottle, which I did before noticing, it should be fine. He recommended topping of the tank, run it normally, and top it off again when I get to half a tank to help dilute what's left.

Then, halfway through the next fresh tank, change the fuel filters to be safe.

I was freaking out because this is my first diesel, and its the most expensive vehicle I've ever owned. Ha. Laramie 4x4.

Anyway, appreciate the inputs.

 

[BossHogg]

I think the diesel mechanic is right. The water filter will trap the contaminant, so look for water in the fuel indicator and drain the water trap.

What piques my interest is why you would use a DEF cleaner without vetting it. DEF's composition is exact, so adding anything but DEF spells trouble. You likely have an expensive bottle of DEF with a wetting agent.

 

[Riccochet]

I think the diesel mechanic is right. The water filter will trap the contaminant, so look for water in the fuel indicator and drain the water trap.

What piques my interest is why you would use a DEF cleaner without vetting it. DEF's composition is exact, so adding anything but DEF spells trouble. You likely have an expensive bottle of DEF with a wetting agent.

DEF cleaners are meant to remove crystallization from the injector. If you pop your injector out and see a white crust on it the cleaner can help remove it.

Rislone is a well known brand. They make one you can run in every tank and another heavy duty cleaner. Some people never have a problem, others it's a frequent issue. DEF quality is hit or miss it seems. Nothing wrong with preventative maintenance on an expensive to repair system.

 

[nlambert182]

Well, a friend of a friend is a diesel mechanic. He let him know what happened and the mechanic looked up the ingredients and said if I only put about half the bottle, which I did before noticing, it should be fine. He recommended topping of the tank, run it normally, and top it off again when I get to half a tank to help dilute what's left.

Then, halfway through the next fresh tank, change the fuel filters to be safe.

I was freaking out because this is my first diesel, and its the most expensive vehicle I've ever owned. Ha. Laramie 4x4.

Anyway, appreciate the inputs.

This would be the procedure I'd recommend as well. More importantly, don't make this mistake with gasoline. You'll have pistons find their way out of the block soon.

 

[mtnrider]

I agree with your mechanic friend as well, I think you are good given the small amount added. Just change the filters like he reccomended.


.

 

[diymirage]

i've done worse

a few years ago i was on vacation in some 3rd world country, driving a rental van
it was kinda cool because most, not all, but most of their gas stations were still manned and it wasnt until the 3rd week in i had to pump my own gas

so i pull into this sketchy neighborhood, late at night and i fill her up and get out of there without waisting any time

i made it almost back up the mountian when the van started bucking, loosing power
the next day, it simply refused to start

took me a while to find out that apparently, in less developed countries it is acceptable to install diesel engines into passenger vehicles

(as everyone knows, diesel is only for agricultural use) so i didnt even consider that an option, and i dumped in about 20 gallons of gas

yeah, that one had to be towed too

 

[CanuckRam1313]

All sage advice above...

I would also be using a quality diesel fuel conditioner, like Stanadyne continually for the next while, too.

 

[rvance]

Not an expert so take this at your own risk. How big is your fuel tank? How many ounces did you pour in it. I highly doubt it was enough to hurt anything. If it was me I would fill the fuel tank, and go on with life.

Ditto

 

[jpin9b]

It sounds like everything probably worked out but maybe consider getting locking caps. Geno's sells some alloy caps that are expensive but nice. I see them as an extra obstacle to jerks who might want to try something "funny" but also, I'd have to be doing something VERY wrong to unlock and remove a color coded cap and STILL put the wrong fluid in...

 

[Sandevino]

You’re fine. I’ve seen much worse. Keep the yank topped up for the next few hundred miles and go drive it.