Ouch! To bad!

Just to do a preliminary test, draw a sample from the fuel line so you
getting the same fuel your engine was getting. You could do this by
disconnectin the fuel pump discharge line and operating the hand priming
lever.

Put it in a clear glass jar and then go get some marine diesel a the fuel
dock and compare the two.. You should be able to tell from the color, if it
was deluted to 50/50. Of course the marine diesel should have a purple
color.. If you got the fuel at a highway gas station, the the diesel will be
almost clear in color..

If your still not sure, then pour a little out into an open pie tin and toss
a match in to it. If it flashes right up, then it's most likely it has gas
in it.. The straight diesel will just burn like kerosene (may even put the
match out).

If you ran your engine for even 8-10 min even with straight diesel at 280,
you are in trouble. It's a wonder it didn't seize. If she kept oil pressure,
the bearings may be ok but your cylinders may be scored. The fact that you
estimate a 50/50 mixture, may be enough to have saved them.. However if your
able to establish the liability of the fuel dock, then your fuel injector
pump and injectors will need to be tested by a shop and rebuilt or
replaced..

Good luck and hope for the best.

Steve
s/v Good Intentions

Ouch! To bad!

Just to do a preliminary test, draw a sample from the fuel line so you
getting the same fuel your engine was getting. You could do this by
disconnectin the fuel pump discharge line and operating the hand priming
lever.

Put it in a clear glass jar and then go get some marine diesel a the fuel
dock and compare the two.. You should be able to tell from the color, if it
was deluted to 50/50. Of course the marine diesel should have a purple
color.. If you got the fuel at a highway gas station, the the diesel will be
almost clear in color..

If your still not sure, then pour a little out into an open pie tin and toss
a match in to it. If it flashes right up, then it's most likely it has gas
in it.. The straight diesel will just burn like kerosene (may even put the
match out).

If you ran your engine for even 8-10 min even with straight diesel at 280,
you are in trouble. It's a wonder it didn't seize. If she kept oil pressure,
the bearings may be ok but your cylinders may be scored. The fact that you
estimate a 50/50 mixture, may be enough to have saved them.. However if your
able to establish the liability of the fuel dock, then your fuel injector
pump and injectors will need to be tested by a shop and rebuilt or
replaced..

Good luck and hope for the best.

Steve
s/v Good Intentions

Hi! I need your expertise or opinion.
I have diesel engine Volvo Penta MD3 on my sailboat .Just after refueling in
one of the marina(in 10 minutes) engine reached temp 280 F
I had to run the engine for another 8-10 minutes to drop the anchor and I
shut off the engine which was red hot.I suspect that they pumped 20 gal
gasoline instead of diesel.Capacity of the tank is 40 gal.I still have this
fuel in the tank.How can I check if gasoline is in the tank,mixed with
diesel ? Is it any method,way to analyze or find out.Maybe I should find the
lab or place that can be determine what this fuel consists.
If they pumped the gasoline accidentally or not the engine is probably
damaged.Thank You For Your Help.
Ytter

Steve wrote:
Ouch! To bad!

If your still not sure, then pour a little out into an open pie tin and toss
a match in to it. If it flashes right up, then it's most likely it has gas
in it.. The straight diesel will just burn like kerosene (may even put the
match out).

Steve, have you ever done this? I've seen this from a distance of 50 yards with
the fire set by Fire Department personnel, and it was impressive. I'll tell you
this: Anyone close enough to have "toss(ed) a match in to it" would have been
burned seriously.

Not trying to one-up, but that advice scares the Hell out of me.

Steve wrote:
Ouch! To bad!

If your still not sure, then pour a little out into an open pie tin and toss
a match in to it. If it flashes right up, then it's most likely it has gas
in it.. The straight diesel will just burn like kerosene (may even put the
match out).

Steve, have you ever done this? I've seen this from a distance of 50 yards with
the fire set by Fire Department personnel, and it was impressive. I'll tell you
this: Anyone close enough to have "toss(ed) a match in to it" would have been
burned seriously.

Not trying to one-up, but that advice scares the Hell out of me.

What? You've never used gasoline as charcoal starter? ;-)

Seriously, the amount of fuel needed for this test is pretty small. If it
flares up, you have a pretty good answer.



"Chuck Bollinger" wrote in message
news:8Ev0c.426400$I06.4802346@attbi_s01...
Steve wrote:
Ouch! To bad!

If your still not sure, then pour a little out into an open pie tin and toss
a match in to it. If it flashes right up, then it's most likely it has gas
in it.. The straight diesel will just burn like kerosene (may even put the
match out).

Steve, have you ever done this? I've seen this from a distance of 50 yards
with
the fire set by Fire Department personnel, and it was impressive. I'll tell
you
this: Anyone close enough to have "toss(ed) a match in to it" would have been
burned seriously.

Not trying to one-up, but that advice scares the Hell out of me.

What? You've never used gasoline as charcoal starter? ;-)

Seriously, the amount of fuel needed for this test is pretty small. If it
flares up, you have a pretty good answer.



"Chuck Bollinger" wrote in message
news:8Ev0c.426400$I06.4802346@attbi_s01...
Steve wrote:
Ouch! To bad!

If your still not sure, then pour a little out into an open pie tin and toss
a match in to it. If it flashes right up, then it's most likely it has gas
in it.. The straight diesel will just burn like kerosene (may even put the
match out).

Steve, have you ever done this? I've seen this from a distance of 50 yards
with
the fire set by Fire Department personnel, and it was impressive. I'll tell
you
this: Anyone close enough to have "toss(ed) a match in to it" would have been
burned seriously.

Not trying to one-up, but that advice scares the Hell out of me.

On Sun, 29 Feb 2004 15:28:58 -0800, "Ytter" wrote:

Hi! I need your expertise or opinion.
I have diesel engine Volvo Penta MD3 on my sailboat .Just after refueling in
one of the marina(in 10 minutes) engine reached temp 280 F
I had to run the engine for another 8-10 minutes to drop the anchor and I
shut off the engine which was red hot.I suspect that they pumped 20 gal
gasoline instead of diesel.Capacity of the tank is 40 gal.I still have this
fuel in the tank.How can I check if gasoline is in the tank,mixed with
diesel ? Is it any method,way to analyze or find out.Maybe I should find the
lab or place that can be determine what this fuel consists.
If they pumped the gasoline accidentally or not the engine is probably
damaged.Thank You For Your Help.
Ytter


Steve's suggestion of putting a sample in a jar is good. I'd also suspect that
the sample would separate after a few hours...gas on top, diesel on the bottom.

You mention above that the engine was "red hot" after shut-down. What were
the indicators? The temp gauge only? "Frying" noises and smell of a hot engine?
Smoke/smell from hot paint? Could a stuck-closed thermostat be the problem?

One thing I'm curious about is how the engine ran with a 50/50 mixture. I'd
think that since gas has a much lower flash point (it does, doesn't it?), it
would have ignited earlier in the compression cycle, and made a heck of a racket,
and that power would be low. Also, I'd think the exhaust would be quite smoky.

Good luck...hope your mechanic says all's well.
Norm

On Sun, 29 Feb 2004 15:28:58 -0800, "Ytter" wrote:

Hi! I need your expertise or opinion.
I have diesel engine Volvo Penta MD3 on my sailboat .Just after refueling in
one of the marina(in 10 minutes) engine reached temp 280 F
I had to run the engine for another 8-10 minutes to drop the anchor and I
shut off the engine which was red hot.I suspect that they pumped 20 gal
gasoline instead of diesel.Capacity of the tank is 40 gal.I still have this
fuel in the tank.How can I check if gasoline is in the tank,mixed with
diesel ? Is it any method,way to analyze or find out.Maybe I should find the
lab or place that can be determine what this fuel consists.
If they pumped the gasoline accidentally or not the engine is probably
damaged.Thank You For Your Help.
Ytter


Steve's suggestion of putting a sample in a jar is good. I'd also suspect that
the sample would separate after a few hours...gas on top, diesel on the bottom.

You mention above that the engine was "red hot" after shut-down. What were
the indicators? The temp gauge only? "Frying" noises and smell of a hot engine?
Smoke/smell from hot paint? Could a stuck-closed thermostat be the problem?

One thing I'm curious about is how the engine ran with a 50/50 mixture. I'd
think that since gas has a much lower flash point (it does, doesn't it?), it
would have ignited earlier in the compression cycle, and made a heck of a racket,
and that power would be low. Also, I'd think the exhaust would be quite smoky.

Good luck...hope your mechanic says all's well.
Norm

Don't be fooled by this. You can sometimes, most times, toss a match
into an open can of gas and the match will go out. It is hard to get a
fire going that way.
It will flash if you have agitated the gas and there is a strong vapor
in the air above the open gas.

You could have mostly gas and it may or may not light.

regards
Gary

On Sun, 29 Feb 2004 19:50:53 -0500, "Jeff Morris"
wrote:

What? You've never used gasoline as charcoal starter? ;-)

Seriously, the amount of fuel needed for this test is pretty small. If it
flares up, you have a pretty good answer.



"Chuck Bollinger" wrote in message
news:8Ev0c.426400$I06.4802346@attbi_s01...
Steve wrote:
Ouch! To bad!

If your still not sure, then pour a little out into an open pie tin and toss
a match in to it. If it flashes right up, then it's most likely it has gas
in it.. The straight diesel will just burn like kerosene (may even put the
match out).

Steve, have you ever done this? I've seen this from a distance of 50 yards
with
the fire set by Fire Department personnel, and it was impressive. I'll tell
you
this: Anyone close enough to have "toss(ed) a match in to it" would have been
burned seriously.

Not trying to one-up, but that advice scares the Hell out of me.