Diesel-powered S2000

Zach Hill · **Posted:** Mon Sep 16, 2013 3:24 pm

Last Tuesday, I filled up my S2000 from bone dry to full tank of 93 grade gas from the Mobil station near my house. I have been getting most of my gas from this place for the past year or so and never had a problem. Later that day, I began having serious issues keeping the car running and it was not making much power at all. I limped it home where I pulled the spark plugs and found all 4 of the plugs' electrodes were black with sludge that I thought was engine oil ("OH NO, SHOT PISTON RINGS!" I thought). I did a compression test and the numbers were outstanding (PHEW!). Aaron pointed out that the cylinders and the exhaust smelled like diesel fuel, so we siphoned all the gas out of the tank and refilled it with premium from a different gas station along with some octane booster/fuel stabilizer. Popped in some new spark plugs, drove it around, and it started working just fine again.

I went to the gas station and they confirmed that they did in fact have diesel contamination in their tanks on the Tuesday I filled up. They claim that they identified the problem on Wednesday, and spent the next 3 days cleaning the tanks and that they did not sell any gas during that time. They also claim that I was the first person to report any issue with their car (maybe everyone else's cars is still sitting at the mechanic's being diagnosed?) On Sunday, I filled out some very brief paperwork (my name, phone number, date of fillup) and finally spoke to the district manager today. He said they are processing the paperwork to their insurance department and they will be "in touch soon."

My car seems to be running fine now, but I suppose only time will tell if any other damage has been done. I know items that may have been damaged include: spark plugs (already replaced), catalytic converter (potentially clogged with diesel crap), O2 sensor(s). Anything else?

Also, any advice for dealing with the fuel company's insurance department?

Thanks!

Richard Casto · **Posted:** Mon Sep 16, 2013 3:57 pm

My first concern would be the cat. But if it didn't really run, it may not have caused damage. I guess you could monitor the output of the O2 sensors to see if they are very much in the middle of normal.

Found this old thread that seems interesting (especially the back and forth regarding cat/o2 damage)...

http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/sho ... p?t=294541

Bottom line, if there is real or anecdotal evidence that this type of mistake can cause cat damage, I would want them to fork over money for a new cat even if yours is currently seeming to work OK. Or at least I would try that. However Google is telling me that you have mostly already done what needs to be done (I am sure you have already Googled this to death).

Given the diesel wasn't burning, but was being injected into the cylinders, do you think much washed down into the sump? Oil change? New fuel filter?

You also did the diagnostic and fuel system purge work yourself. You need to be compensated somehow for your time.

Good luck!

Richard

Steven Carter · **Posted:** Mon Sep 16, 2013 4:26 pm

Close call!

Don't you run a high-flow cat? Not sure if that makes a difference or not as to whether it would help protect the engine....

I think you should be compensated for at least an oil change, spark plugs, new O2, new cat, fuel filter/pump, cost of fuel (bad tank and replacement) as well as $200 in free gas (provided you want to go back there).

Save your receipts! edit: take pics or save the plugs as well.

Also, maybe document that you took it to a shop to get it checked over?

BTW, was there a determination as to what caused the mistake? I was always under the impression that the in-ground tanks have different colored caps for each grade of gas....and that the piping connectors (from truck to inground tank)would be different as well, much in the same way as the gas pump nozzles are different-sized?

Good luck!

BriceJohnson · **Joined:** Thu Apr 13, 2006 7:33 am **Posts:** 2230

Dang Zach, I know your car has no torque, but attempting to convert it to diesel? That sounds pretty desperate.

Richard Casto · **Posted:** Mon Sep 16, 2013 9:43 pm

BriceJohnson wrote:

Dang Zach, I know your car has no torque, but attempting to convert it to diesel? That sounds pretty desperate.

I have to admit, when I saw the thread title I was expecting to see a Youtube video of some crazy S2000 turbo diesel conversion launching down a drag strip with a bunch of soot blowing out the tailpipe!

Richard

Scott Johnson · **Posted:** Tue Sep 17, 2013 11:35 am

Which Mobil station?

JamesShort · **Posted:** Tue Sep 17, 2013 11:49 am

Probably near the intersection of Latta/Infinity and Roxboro Rd.

Zach Hill · **Posted:** Tue Sep 17, 2013 1:17 pm

Scott Johnson wrote:

Which Mobil station?

Intersection of Guess and Umstead:
5100 Guess Rd, Durham, NC 27712

Zach Hill · **Posted:** Fri Sep 20, 2013 1:05 pm

The issue has been resolved. My car is running well now and I have been compensated by the oil company responsible for the mixup (they say it was delivery driver error) through a private settlement. I must commend them, they stuck by their product, were easy to work with, and promptly reimbursed me fully. :thumbsup:

I can't figure out if this makes me want to continue going there for gas because the company has high integrity and they probably wouldn't ever allow the mistake to happen again, or not to go back there because they did make the mistake...

DickRasmussen · **Posted:** Fri Sep 20, 2013 1:34 pm

Zach Hill wrote:

The issue has been resolved. My car is running well now and I have been compensated by the oil company responsible for the mixup (they say it was delivery driver error) through a private settlement. I must commend them, they stuck by their product, were easy to work with, and promptly reimbursed me fully. :thumbsup:

I can't figure out if this makes me want to continue going there for gas because the company has high integrity and they probably wouldn't ever allow the mistake to happen again, or not to go back there because they did make the mistake...

Stuff happens. We all make mistakes. What counts is how we or they deal with mistakes.

Dick
Made a "few" mistakes in my life. Hopefully learned enough from them to not make the same mistake again.

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Diesel-powered S2000

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