Author Topic: Mix Gasoline and Diesel? (Read 7548 times)

dlorimer · « **on:** February 09, 2007, 09:39:32 pm »

May be a strange question, but a friend of mine told me that you can put some regular unleaded gas in your diesel fuel to lower the viscosity and keep it from gelling. Is this accurate? If so, how much per 15 gallon tank?

jtanguay · « **Reply #1 on:** February 09, 2007, 10:20:14 pm »

only for emergencies... just buy a good anti gelling additive from the store. gas isnt a really good lubricant... very stupid to mix gas with diesel if you ask me... unless you were stranded and thats all you had to un-gel the diesel oil.

rabbid79 · « **Reply #2 on:** February 09, 2007, 11:37:17 pm »

I remember in the Rabbit owner's manual it talked about mixing something like 10% gasoline with diesel to help keep from geling. Might be better to do with #2 diesel instead of #1.

carrizog60 · « **Reply #3 on:** February 10, 2007, 03:42:27 am »

i have done it.
not mixed on diesel but on SVO.
also added a little of 2 stroke lube

burn_your_money · « **Reply #4 on:** February 10, 2007, 04:32:59 am »

It's not such a good idea anymore due to the lower amount of lubrication in the diesel now. Before the ULSD and even before the LSD it was ok to mix around 10%, I'd be worried about my pump mixing it now. Use a good anti-gelling additive instead

mdonau · « **Reply #5 on:** February 10, 2007, 07:29:57 am »

hi,

i have mixed up to 30% unleaded fuel with wvo, svo, biodiesel and normal diesel, mileage and power decreased a little.

greets, michael

Northboundtrain · « **Reply #6 on:** February 10, 2007, 07:45:24 am »

I've mixed in a little white gas (coleman fuel), maybe 5-10%, to help ungel a tank. The tank was gelled because I had too high a biodiesel ratio, so lubricity wasn't a concern. Seemed to work fine

BlackTieTD · « **Reply #7 on:** February 10, 2007, 11:29:54 am »

Quote from: rabbid79

I remember in the Rabbit owner's manual it talked about mixing something like 10% gasoline with diesel to help keep from geling. .

burn_your_money is right. this is no longer an acceptable practice as the lubrication in modern diesel is not the same as it was back then. if you are concerned throw some anti-gelling agent in the trunk just in case.

clbanman · « **Reply #8 on:** February 13, 2007, 06:25:02 am »

Quote from: rabbid79

I remember in the Rabbit owner's manual it talked about mixing something like 10% gasoline with diesel to help keep from geling. Might be better to do with #2 diesel instead of #1.

My '86 manual says " Only if neither No. 1 Diesel Fuel, nor winterized Diesel Fuel No. 2, nor Kerosene are available, use up to 30% leaded or unleaded gasoline. DO NOT USE PREMIUM GASOLINE."
Of course as previously mentioned this was with older fuel, not low sulfur.
For the kerosene, it recommended up to 50% at temperatures below -10 deg. C, or 25% from -7 to -10 deg. C.

dieselsnowmobile · « **Reply #9 on:** February 13, 2007, 09:39:04 am »

On the farm, the fuel man just adds Kerosene to the off road diesel to winterize it. I imagine that this is what is done to all diesel. Yes, the lubrication is not there for the pump, but getting jelled is sometimes much worse than less lubrication. Its a trade off.

knowtwodrugs · « **Reply #10 on:** February 14, 2007, 06:22:39 pm »

Once it starts getting pretty cold I always put about a gallon of regular in the tank and then fill up with diesel. That way it mixes pretty well. My dad told me to do it. Said it helps the engine start in the cold because gas is easier to ignite than diesel. I don't know one way or the other, but it hasn't hurt anything.

burn_your_money · « **Reply #11 on:** February 14, 2007, 06:28:29 pm »

throw in some 2 stroke engine oil or ATF if you are doing that, you pump will thank you.

jtanguay · « **Reply #12 on:** February 15, 2007, 12:04:58 am »

why mix gas with diesel though??? power service makes a really really good additive.. i've never been gelled and its nearly -20C tonight... plus it lubricates the pump, and boosts the cetane number for increased performance and better cold starts. I get less smoke when I use power service... and more power

one jug has lasted me easily a year... but i also dont drive much... :roll: