How to Start a Car After Filling With the Wrong Fuel
Lift the hood/bonnet., Drain the fuel tank., Locate and remove the fuel line from the carburetor that is supplying the fuel., When the line is no longer pumping, fill the tank up with appropriate fuel and put everything back together the way you...
Step-by-Step Guide
-
Step 1: Lift the hood/bonnet.
You will need to remove the air filter housing to expose the carburetor, there may be a suitable screwdriver or ring spanner or socket and ratchet/ breaker bar needed to remove securing screws. -
Step 2: Drain the fuel tank.
You are attempting to drain the fuel tank.
All fuel tanks have at least two fuel lines attached.
One pipe sucks fuel from the bottom of the tank, the other is the return pipe it returns unused fuel from the engine.
All modern automobile engines have fuel pumps to suck fuel up to the engine.
You need to determine whether your engine uses a mechanical or electrical fuel pump.
Mechanical fuel pumps are bolted onto the engine block or cylinder head.
Electrical pumps can be located anywhere but are mostly submersed in the fuel at the bottom of the fuel tank.
If you take the cover off the fuses usually located under the steering wheel and look at the sticker and see any reference to a fuse for the fuel pump then you have an electric fuel pump. , It is connected to the fuel filter that may be visible.
Since all modern cars have anti-siphon devices fitted underneath the filler cap of the fuel tank you will use the cars fuel pump to drain the unsuitable fuel.
Mechanical fuel pumps only function when the engine is turning over.
It is not advisable to turn the engine over as the battery would be well flat before the tank would be drained out the fuel line.
If the car has an electrical fuel pump you may be able to short circuit a wire from the horn or hazard warning or blower circuit into the electric fuel pump circuit after removing two fuses.
The pump will then empty our the fuel line and into a seven up or cocoa cola bottle which you will fit over the end of the line.
If this does not work then fill a bottle with petrol and make a hole with the thinnest needle you can find near the bottom.
Have a comrade crank the engine while you let the stream of petrol that leaks out the hole over the carburetor.
When the engine starts and runs on the fine stream stop cranking.
The engine will proceed to run and power the fuel pump thus draining the tank.
Obviously on engines with a mechanical pump the line would have to be disconnected on the side not hooked to the filter or the pump could not do its job. ,, Let the starter cool after each session for perhaps two to three minutes.
When the engine starts and warms up there may be a slight miss until the last vestige of contaminated fuel in the newly mixed tank is expended. -
Step 3: Locate and remove the fuel line from the carburetor that is supplying the fuel.
-
Step 4: When the line is no longer pumping
-
Step 5: fill the tank up with appropriate fuel and put everything back together the way you found it.
-
Step 6: Crank the engine until it starts for no more than twenty or 30 seconds at a time or you risk burning out the starter.
Detailed Guide
You will need to remove the air filter housing to expose the carburetor, there may be a suitable screwdriver or ring spanner or socket and ratchet/ breaker bar needed to remove securing screws.
You are attempting to drain the fuel tank.
All fuel tanks have at least two fuel lines attached.
One pipe sucks fuel from the bottom of the tank, the other is the return pipe it returns unused fuel from the engine.
All modern automobile engines have fuel pumps to suck fuel up to the engine.
You need to determine whether your engine uses a mechanical or electrical fuel pump.
Mechanical fuel pumps are bolted onto the engine block or cylinder head.
Electrical pumps can be located anywhere but are mostly submersed in the fuel at the bottom of the fuel tank.
If you take the cover off the fuses usually located under the steering wheel and look at the sticker and see any reference to a fuse for the fuel pump then you have an electric fuel pump. , It is connected to the fuel filter that may be visible.
Since all modern cars have anti-siphon devices fitted underneath the filler cap of the fuel tank you will use the cars fuel pump to drain the unsuitable fuel.
Mechanical fuel pumps only function when the engine is turning over.
It is not advisable to turn the engine over as the battery would be well flat before the tank would be drained out the fuel line.
If the car has an electrical fuel pump you may be able to short circuit a wire from the horn or hazard warning or blower circuit into the electric fuel pump circuit after removing two fuses.
The pump will then empty our the fuel line and into a seven up or cocoa cola bottle which you will fit over the end of the line.
If this does not work then fill a bottle with petrol and make a hole with the thinnest needle you can find near the bottom.
Have a comrade crank the engine while you let the stream of petrol that leaks out the hole over the carburetor.
When the engine starts and runs on the fine stream stop cranking.
The engine will proceed to run and power the fuel pump thus draining the tank.
Obviously on engines with a mechanical pump the line would have to be disconnected on the side not hooked to the filter or the pump could not do its job. ,, Let the starter cool after each session for perhaps two to three minutes.
When the engine starts and warms up there may be a slight miss until the last vestige of contaminated fuel in the newly mixed tank is expended.
About the Author
Madison Burns
Dedicated to helping readers learn new skills in creative arts and beyond.
Rate This Guide
How helpful was this guide? Click to rate: