Proving Fuel Contamination Once And For All

Conclusive diagnosis of a fuel system problem is crucial to proper fuel system repair, contaminated diesel fuel specifically with gasoline is extremely damaging to the modern diesel fuel system. Using this simple trick can save you a lot of guesswork.
#science #testing #doitright #diesel #dieseltrucks

[@MotorsportDiesel]

I build common rail Diesel pumps and injectors, as well the testing benches for a living. I have had CP3 pumps sent in to be replaced that have had gasoline mistakenly filled into the tank. When the pump was inspected the odor was obvious, that it was indeed induced with gasoline. Not sure how long it ran, but it definitely did pump virtually straight gas. When the same pump was later tested, it showed "0" wear. I had a friend gas up his 2014 6.7 Ford on accident, he continued to drive it with it making a knocking sound (long trip). After 2-3 tanks of fuel he realized what he had done to begin with by putting gas in it. He had no issues with it once he got to the point that it essentially was all Diesel in the tank again. Thousands of miles later, he reported it still started and ran fine, and I am sure he was being honest, otherwise I would have had his pump and injectors in for testing. On a side note DEF in Diesel fuel will ABSOLUTELY destroy the entire system if ran much time at all. We have saved some pumps and injectors but corrosion will quickly build up and cause pitting of the metal.

[@RogueWrenching]

CP3s seem to be fine with flushing the system with clean fuel and I always like to do some addive to help out. CP4s tear themselves apart. I never open them up beyond pulling the fuel control solenoid off the inlet and it is usually full of metal. That's interesting thank you for your insight.

[@BigPanda096]

Frankly DEF is not needed. Proper Regen systems work just fine especially since diesels are on the lowest end of producing greenhouse gasses and the such. Regular gasoline engines edge out diesels in contaminants, and the real producers are shipping companies. These big polluters dumping their responsibility on the every day consumer just so they can save a few bucks is truly insidious. They have tricked the populace into thinking they have to individually be responsible or the world will end, where we are in a situation that if every citizen on earth did this, we would reduce are footprint by MAYBE 3%. If regulations world wide were put on companies and theeaayrea were stopped largely against citizens that number jumps to 42% reduction. The problem is not my old 7.3, the problem is not me driving my car to the store. The problem is companies enmass producing pollution and being told it's okay, they have to make money after all. We will make the citizens shoulder your responsibility then blame them when it inevitably starts going to shit because it's literally not their fault. They have built entire secondary industry off milking the consumer for profits that reduce nearly no pollution footprint what so ever. It's infuriating.

[@RogueWrenching]

@Oonada That's why I'm a big fan of the idea of deletes. I DO NOT do them for myself or others, but I'm always a tad envious when I see a deleted truck come through. No more "speed limit 5mph see dealer" messages.

[@MotorsportDiesel]

@@RogueWrenching CP4 was designed to fail. I was told by Bosch engineer that they lost so much money on the CP3 as it was so durable, that they had to build a defective pump to compensate. The CP4 has noting to keep the roller tappets from rotating inside their bores. Unlike their over-the-road counterparts which have a locating pin and a grooved tappet to accept the pin to maintain alignment. If they tried that same mindset on those pumps they would get class action sued instantly. Don't ask me how all of that continuous scamming works. Once the roller on the end of the CP4 tappet rotates inside the bore it inherits a flat spot and quits going roundy round in a circle, then you get metal into EVERYTHING. It is not a matter of if, but when with those CP4 hand grenades.

[@RogueWrenching]

@Motorsport Diesel That's fascinating. Thank you for sharing. One of these days, I'll take a CP4 apart and learn about the internals.

[@dirtygarageguy]

Drop a piece of styrofoam into the cup, you don't have to spill fuel everywhere. It dissolves because of the presence of acetone and benzene. Be careful though, because some biodiesels have been found to contain benzene and other Ketones.

[@sigmasquadleader]

So don't put gasoline in a diesel engine, got it.

[@RogueWrenching]

I used to live in Oregon where they don't let you pump your own fuel, and mis fuels are pretty common up there. so much for "pros" haha

[@harliethomas1378]

This will be extremely useful, Thanks

[@RogueWrenching]

Happy to help.

[@ronbot6426]

I usually burn it in a glass cup or metal tin in a control environment disel will not light but any gasoline mix with diesel will light up

[@RogueWrenching]

Yes, but I have a distaste for fire in the shop. Had a few to many close calls.

[@chilledbroccoli899]

me who puts vegetabel oil and used motor oil on the tank watching this

[@RogueWrenching]

hey good for you.

[@CraftyMangallivant]

Great video! That styrofoam test works great.

[@RogueWrenching]

Thanks!

[@AshGreen359]

How to make napalm out of styrofoam and gasoline

[@RogueWrenching]

Hush. I love my government.

[@jtcsderp9250]

My friend drives a ford Model A so he doesnt have to worry about whether it's gas or piss in his tank

[@RogueWrenching]

Fair enough 😄

[@1kreature]

Next do the same and show the small amount of gasoline you add to the diesel. Will make it much clearer...

[@RogueWrenching]

I will next time.

[@MrIrishalley]

couldnt a lighter do the same thing? ive never tried to light a diesel/gam mix so its a legitimate question

[@RogueWrenching]

Diesel will light but not as easily. A lighter is a much less safe and controlled method of testing and may be less accurate. I've seen guys "test" for gas in diesel with a lighter and it isn't very scientific, I always fall back on proving with this Styrofoam method.

[@phunkstar7347]

@@RogueWrenching As a mechanic i use the lighter method. Its easy and fast. You just need around 5-10 drops of the mixture. Its pretty safe. I dont dump the floor with fuel. Your method is quite messy i may say. But still nice to know that the Styrofoam method will work. No Diesel will not ignite on a lighter. And the only thing that burn in the mixture is the benzin/gas that is evaporating as soon as you dump it on the floor.

[@justaguycalledjosh]

@@phunkstar7347 you can always add a test piece of styro foam held with a utensil to a metal container. If it contains a solvent, the styrofoam with dissolve and start making a goo. My grandfather's go to was a bit of styrofoam on a fork.

[@RogueWrenching]

@Phunk Star I'm not saying your technique isn't viable, but I've started loads of bonfires with diesel in my younger years, so in my head if they are both flammable how do you determine which one has gas? Again, I haven't played with it much. I'm just trying to understand.

[@skurblord3401]

Certain additives can make diesel ignite easily from an open flame. Straight diesel will really not want to burn in a uncompressed environment without additional heat. It WILL burn though. A bic probably won't be enough unless its already hot. Never use a handheld lighter to ignite a accelerant. That's how you get burned, badly...

[@juangonzalez9848]

Not saying this isn’t true, but you contaminated that last cup multiple times from the straight gas.

[@RogueWrenching]

Not enough to make a difference

[@kamilhorvat8290]

this is really lame and stupid. Instead of styrofoam cups, just get piece of EPS, that is expanded polystyrene foam and add a few small balls to the fuel. No need to spill fuel everywhere in case of gasoline contamination.

[@RogueWrenching]

But it doesn't make for a cool video that way.

[@Alacritous]

You ruined the experiment with the cut. Shouldn't do that. What's the percentage mix? How much contaminate is enough to melt the cup? how long do you wait?

[@Alacritous]

@SaltyBrains none of that are answers. Would a single ml be enough? How fast would that react with the styofoam? JFC, did you go to school?

[@RogueWrenching]

If there's enough fuel contamination to damage the fuel system, it will show up using this method. The gas / diesel mix sat for about 8 and a half minutes before it started leaking through. This is KZbin so people don't want to watch a cup do nothing for 8 minutes.

[@ChemEDan]

@SaltyBrains He's as thick as the motor oil in his daily driver (never been changed)

[@vincesmith5846]

Agree, a realistic test. What ratio is detectable using this method?