|
05-09-2018, 05:04 PM
|
#1
|
Junior Member
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: Tampa
Posts: 27
|
Diesel Owners Beware!!!
Being relatively new to owning a diesel pusher (2016 Berkshire XLT 43b, 450 turbo diesel with a 150 gallon tank), I learned a super valuable lesson yesterday I want to share with you. Everyone (ok, most people) know that you never mix gas with diesel or visa versa. Having filled my RV a number of times over the past 8,000 miles, everytime, I repeat, EVERYTIME I filled up, diesel fuel was marked by a green handle (and of course the word/sign) indicating diesel fuel. Well, as I'm believing you know where I'm going, yesterday, I pulled up to a BP Station in Columbia, S.C. to top off my tank. G-D knows what I was thinking, but I observed the green handle and simply put in my credit card and pulled the green fuel handle and punched the corresponding $3.14 button, placed it in the tank, and began fueling. After cleaning the windshield, I went back over to the pump. All of a sudden I realized that the green handle was actually for the regular gas, NOT diesel. When I immediately stopped this, I had already pumped 20.9 gallons of premium gas into my diesel tank now containing about 120-130 or so gallons. I looked it up on Google and called Freightliner. Both stated NOT to start the engine or manually move the RV...to do so would create a real engine problem. Long story short, no commercial company in the area could help me that day, but they all were quick to repeat that I shouldn't run the engine AT ALL. The ones that could help we're too busy, and most didn't have the capability to help. Bottom line was I needed to drain all of the fuel from the tank before refilling with diesel. Stuck, I spent hours at this station calling folks and trying to get a tow and someone who could help. Longer story shortened, two guys, two random guys who came to get gas came to my rescue. Brian and Ricky, who were driving a wrecker (but too small to help me) located a 250 gallon container, advanced purchased for me a portable diesel pump (from Harbor Freight), pumped out my tank holding 120-130 gallons, and stayed with me until after I refueled. This "stupid" act (even though my mind told me green handle is diesel from all of my past experiences), only cost 130'ish gallons of contaminated fuel (about $400-500), $130 for the portable pump, $412.50 for 150 gallons of new diesel fuel, $200 for my incredible"helpers," and 7 hours of unbelievable stress. But, in the end, I finally made it to my reserved campsite at Weston Lake RV Park just before dark. Today, the Berkshire drove like it always has, GREAT! Dogged I seriously big bullet of thousands upon thousands of dollars of damage to my 450 turbo diesel engine, not to mention mechanic fees, waste dump, overnight stays somewhere, loss of food, etc., etc., etc. Thanks to Brian and Ricky! No thanks to BP for the green handle on regular gas. Lastly, Freightliner told me they get calls EVERY month about regular gas being mixed with diesel, and like EVERYONE of the commercial places I talked to, knew I was at a BP Station. Another RV adventure and one I will never repeat again...I hope!!!
|
|
|
05-09-2018, 05:14 PM
|
#2
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Deland, Florida
Posts: 354
|
I see green handle pumps that are gasoline all the time. I always check. Glad it worked out for you.
__________________
Rockwood 2604WS
Ford F250 Diesel
Blue Ox Sway Pro
|
|
|
05-09-2018, 05:16 PM
|
#3
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2016
Posts: 222
|
Sorry to hear of your nightmare "RV adventure". Glad you are back on the road without the headache of running that fuel through your rig.
Thanks for the tip,I am looking to go to a diesel TV. I will be extra careful around green pump handles.
RMc
|
|
|
05-09-2018, 05:25 PM
|
#4
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: Carlisle, Arkansas
Posts: 1,387
|
Diesel Handles are YELLOW here where I come from, Plus I double check pro to squeezing the nozzle
__________________
2005 Cedar Creek 30RLBS/TrailAir Hitch/ MORryde 7K IS/Disc Brakes/ PI PT-50 EMS/ RV Flex Armor Roof
2015 RAM 3500 DRW 6.7 Cummins 3.42/ Garmin 760RV
40 Gal TransferFlow fuel tank/ TST 507
Amateur Radio W5CI 2019 Days Camping 25
2020 Days Camping 7
|
|
|
05-09-2018, 05:27 PM
|
#5
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2018
Location: Monticello, IL
Posts: 1,696
|
Glad you were able to see your problem before starting up or filling up all the way!
Indeed, the handle color doesn't mean anything. I also make it a point to make sure the handle in the diesel pump is connected to the diesel hose since, apparently, some jokers like to mess with them and put gas pumps in the diesel slot (or so I hear). It's pretty obvious to me that the diesel nozzle is diesel...it's got grimy diesel all over it! And the nozzle itself is larger than the gasoline nozzles.
If you're new to diesels there is a bit of learning/muscle memory to adjust, generally folks that make mistakes such as yours never make that mistake again. Enjoy your travels!
__________________
2017 GMC Canyon - CCLB, 4x4, 2.8L Duramax, ARE Z-series shell
2013 Shamrock 21SS
|
|
|
05-09-2018, 05:36 PM
|
#6
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2016
Posts: 198
|
VW
Best friends wife did the same thing at BP in ohio to her new VW. As with you she realized it after it was to late but before she started the engine..
__________________
Retired Air Force
Side Kick: Karma
Tipp City, Ohio
|
|
|
05-09-2018, 05:57 PM
|
#7
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2013
Posts: 128
|
Years ago the fire department bought a mini-pumper. The only gasser in a building full of diesels. The new guy (no, not me) decided to top off the vehicles during his shift. Diesel in them all. The new mini-pumper made it about a block from the pumps. It was out-of-service for some time and repair costs were high for the taxpayers.
Again, it wasn't me, but everyone at the station learned from the event.
__________________
Ride Safe, Wave, I'll Wave Back.
Retired Paramedic, Emergency Dept. Director.
2014 Work and Play 38RLS, Black, no decals.
2012 Ram 3500, diesel, 4X4, dually, black, de-badged.
1994 Harley Heritage Softail, black.
2014 Honda Pioneer, not available in black.
|
|
|
05-09-2018, 05:59 PM
|
#8
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 5,406
|
Glad you caught the mistake and found two good Samaritans to help you!!!!!
__________________
2017 River Stone Legacy 38mb
2001 Kenworth T2000
2016 Smart for Two on deck
|
|
|
05-09-2018, 06:03 PM
|
#9
|
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2017
Location: Western Montana
Posts: 881
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by W5CI
Diesel Handles are YELLOW here where I come from, Plus I double check pro to squeezing the nozzle
|
Most of the yellow diesel handles I see in the West are bio-diesel. I've never seen a green gas handle out here.
__________________
Mike and JoAnne
Montana Summer / Arizona Winter
2016 Prism 24G /2002 HitchHiker 38LKTG
ACME EZTowing a 2015 Chevy Sonic RS Hatchback
|
|
|
05-09-2018, 06:13 PM
|
#10
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: Texas
Posts: 781
|
Drive a diesel RAM, so green is the "norm" for me. Just took a trip to Ireland, and the rental car was a diesel. But the pump handles are reversed over there. Black is diesel & green is gas. Every time I stopped for fuel, I was SLOW & DELIBERATE about which hose to use.
Very sorry about what happened. Thanks though for the warning. I'll be keeping a more careful eye on which hose I use here.
Tuckerdog1
__________________
2016 RAM 2500 Cummins SLT Lone Star 4X4 LB
2016 Windjammer 3029W Platinum
I'm not an expert. But I play one on the internet.
You live & learn or you don't live long.
If you don't punish your children, life will.
|
|
|
05-09-2018, 06:17 PM
|
#11
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2017
Location: Portage wi
Posts: 668
|
Don’t feel bad about 3 months ago we got a call later in the evening from my mother in law. Late enough it made us wonder what was wrong. They were calling because they did the same thing and weren’t sure what to do.
The only place around here I have seen green for dsl is Costco everywhere else is yellOw they normally fill at Costco but had stoped at a Bp because they had a discount
__________________
2011 gray wolf 25rb
|
|
|
05-09-2018, 06:19 PM
|
#12
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2018
Location: Monticello, IL
Posts: 1,696
|
__________________
2017 GMC Canyon - CCLB, 4x4, 2.8L Duramax, ARE Z-series shell
2013 Shamrock 21SS
|
|
|
|
Thread Tools |
|
Display Modes |
Linear Mode
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
|
» Recent Discussions |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|