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MG MGB Technical - DISASTER.....What an idiot!

Having, with your kind advice, got my car restarted
(after having left the lights on all day and run down the battery) I went to get petrol. About half a mile later and in the middle of the Clyde tunnel it started to lose power and when I pressed the accelerator it started making a loud clattering noise and the tunnel was filling up with acrid smoke. I managed to limp out of the other end, noisily and at a crawl, still spewing smoke and stopped in a side street about 50m from the exit ramp. The car would not drive and is making a terrible racket. Fuming, I left it and went to get a bus home. Then I realised what had happened. I filled it with diesel! What do I do now? Have I ruined it? What, if anything, can be done? Am I looking at a new engine? Is this the time to get an unleaded conversion? How much? Who can do it? I don't know what to do next.

Alan
Alan Dunlop

Sorry to hear about your bad day, Alan. There was recently a thread about this very subject. I'd search the archives for it.

I think that the engine will be fine after you clear the diesel out of the fuel system, and replace or clean the plugs, etc.

My advice:

Drain the fuel tank, and fill with fresh petrol. Remove the fuel hose at the carbs, direct it into a bucket, and then trun the ignition on for a few seconds to let the pump clear the diesel from the lines.

Then you have to clear the diesel fuel out of the carbs ... I just would remove the carbs, drain them, and run carb cleaner through the jets. If the carbs haven't been recently rebuilt, you might as well do it now. I doubt you will be able to clear the diesel out 'in situ' unless you have a runway and a tow car (see article in archives).

Remove the spark plugs, and clean or replace them if they are fouled. Then the car should start. After running it a while, I'd go ahead and change the oil.

That's it. If this seems too daunting, call your local mg specialist and let them do the work. The only tools you will need then are a checkbook or a credit card. I bet this isn't the first time they've seen this happen.

MB
Mark B.

This is called The Amazing Race Reverse Syndrome.
Ken R
Ken Rich

If anyone realllly beleaves Alen and his incredible day, I have some ocean front property to sell you in Lexington.
Steve C

>I have some ocean front property to sell you in Lexington ...

OK, but I don't have any cash, so can I trade you a very nice historic bridge over the East River. You could put in some toll booths and the thing would pay for itself in no time.
Mark B.

Alan ,
Take heart , I've had several customers do the same thing , follow Mark's advice except buy some new spark plugs and it'll be fine after you flush all the diesel out of it . if your engine is coked up it'll smoke for a bit but not to worry , a good hard motorway run @ 02:00 will clear that up in 1/2 hour .

-Nate
A bridge huh ? how much ? would I have to pay taxes on the tolls collected ? :-)
Nate

Alan
If you take the engine out you should be able to fit a B series deisel engine from an old Sherpa Van. The fuel you have put in the tank will then work fine. When you have used it all up you should be able to put the original engine back in.
To help you remember in future look at the colour of the hose on the pump.The green one (the same as the colour on the traffic lights for Go) is the one to put in next fill up.
Bob

Funny

Diesel fuel pumps ARE GREEN
on this here side of the pond!
DucK

>A bridge huh ? how much ? would I have to pay taxes on the tolls collected ? :-)

You're in luck. I can get you a tax exemption certificate for the bridge, but it's gonna cost you extra. How much you got?
Mark B.

I did the same thing with 2cycle gas which I had in a can for my racing go-cart. You'd think a TR3A would run but nooooo. Drained etc. - problem solved.
Fred Horstmeyer

It just gets worse! I have had estimate for towing and flushing the BGT at around £250. I will try as you are suggesting tomorrow before I resort to that. However would you believe that I suffered a puncture on my MGF on the way home from work today? What a week, I don't think I should get out of bed tomorrow! The say bad things come in threes so hopefully I've fulfilled my quota!

Alan
Alan Dunlop

Flushing? Wouldn't you just drain the tank, fill with a little gas, slosh it around a bit, run the fuel pump with the line off at the front carb, drain the tank again reconnect and refill? I would try it without removing the carbs.

As for the tow, For 1 or 2 miles I think I'd use a tow strap and a pal and do it myself.

Fred Horstmeyer

Alan

as well as draining the tank and flushing the line by pumping petrol thro, it is VITAL to get the diesel out of the carbs

if Hs type, take the chamber lids off and siphon it out with a tube ( the taste is awful so be careful and use a long tube!)

if Hif type loosen the 4 screws on the base chamber of each carb and let it drain out- u dont need to take the base plate off - its a fiddly job but can be done with the carbs in situ

this shd then have cleared the system enuf for a start and fuel flow will accomplish the rest

chris
chris

This thread was discussed between 06/11/2002 and 11/11/2002

MG MGB Technical index

This thread is from the archive. The Live MG MGB Technical BBS is active now.