​​Can You Fuel a Diesel Engine with Gasoline?​

You probably heard of someone who has fueled their diesel-powered vehicle with regular unleaded gasoline. Perhaps that one time when you were low on fuel and the nearest gas station didn’t sell diesel, you even considered doing this yourself. This usually happens only once, but there have been reports of more frequent occurrences of putting the wrong fuel type into a vehicle. You are probably asking why anyone would put gasoline in a diesel-fueled vehicle?

First, consider the difference between gasoline and diesel-fueled engines. The main one comes down to the method of ignition. Gasoline engines use spark plugs for ignition, while diesel engines rely on an extreme level of compression. The result of its high compression is that diesels work harder to deliver heavier loads, while turning in better fuel efficiency. Due to these operational differences, it is not advisable to put unleaded gasoline into a diesel-fueled vehicle.

Diesel fuel is made of a dense compound that has more oil in the mix. It is specifically created to match the higher compression of the engine. This helps to maintain the durability and toughness of a diesel engine. For the most part, diesel fuel costs more at the pump compared to regular unleaded gasoline. The makeup of diesel fuel is developed to lubricate the high-pressure fuel pump and injectors. If you add gasoline into the fuel system of a diesel engine, you will experience knocking, misfiring, stalling, rough idling, and poor performance.

Unleaded gasoline is lighter in its composition, which allows it to evaporate faster and deliver less energy per volume compared to diesel fuel. Even with premium-grade unleaded fuel, the compound mix simply does not meet the needs of a higher-compression diesel engine.

Fueling up with unleaded gasoline can cause potential catastrophic failure of key components. These include fuel pump failure, injector damage, problems with the cylinders and pistons, and clogged filters.

What should you do if you end up putting the wrong fuel in your diesel-powered vehicle? Immediately, do not start the vehicle. That will initiate the sequence of failures and feedback that ignites the engine. It is better not to attempt to drive it, even for a short distance. Instead, get a tow to the nearest mechanic. Then, have the fuel tank and lines drained of all fuel and replace the fuel filter.
If you encounter these issues, have your diesel-fueled Chevrolet brought to McFarland Chevrolet’s Service Department. Better still, schedule an appointment with us so we can get your diesel engine running with the proper fuel again.