I am at the mercy of this forum for help within the next 2 hours... so hopefully someone can give some quick advice. I purchased a 2001 Honda Accord in Germany where I am stationed and yesterday my wife filled up the tank half way full with diesel while it was almost empty. Needless to say, we all know what happened next, it ran rough and died.

I had it towed to a garage, and now am at the mercy of a non english speaking french mechanic shop to flush out the fuel system to get normal petrol back into the car. I wish I had my tools with me, a container to put the diesel in, jacks for the fuel tank, ect... but I feel screwed and I will more than likely be out hundreds of euros for them simply to pump out diesel and put in normal gas.

Can someone please help explain to me an easy way to disconnect the fuel lines from the filter and let the fuel pump do its job to flush the fuel out, so I can put a gallon of normal gas back in, and then flush again so they dont try to screw me over? I will be watching the whole time, and trying to translate exactly what I need to be done so that they dont try to lie to me and make up stories and charge me for something that isnt even necessary or even wrong with the car. I have little information that I can find on how to let the pump flush the car out, and I have to be back to formation by tomorrow morning which is only 24 hours away or else they will count me AWOL!!!

I am not making this story up, and I would really appreciate some quick advice on how I might be able to flush this out and be on my way ASAP, so thank you anyone for reading this and I am at your mercy!!!

 

Im sure the French mechanic will try to take me for way more than what the job is worth, so I am just basically asking for the easiest way to get the car up and running without them doing a total fuel system flush and charging me alot of euro.

I have a feeling that if I can learn how to get a rough idea on how to let the fuel pump drain the tank, then repeat with a gallon of petrol one more time to get most of the remaining diesel out of the tank, that I should be able to drive it running rough until all the diesel in the lines burns off. When I do make it back to Germany, I will go ahead and pull the spark plugs and clean them... try to replace the fuel filter if that is even a possiblility, and then try to put some fuel injection cleaner in a fresh full tank of gas.

Am I correct in my manner of thought? I seriously wouldnt want to rent a car, drive the family back today, then have to drive all the way back out here to France to pay for a 200 Euro towing bill, garage fees/storage for a week, repairs for the fuel system, gas for both ways on my truck to drive back here or a rental instead... ect

This adds up to alot of money either way, and I pray that its going to work smoothly today pending if they have time to get around to working on the car or not. This is one of the most helpless feelings I have ever had in my life!!! I mainly just feel bad for the Wife and my boy... I could care less if I get in trouble for being out of ranks or AWOL for a day or two, but I need to get them back home today either way because this is not a good experience for either one of them or myself, and we were just on our way back from a wonderful trip to Paris for the weekend, but this has just ruined our entire experience!!! Im not mad at her though... you live and you learn.

Funny thing is though, not to me but for all of you... the whole reason she used diesel is that the pump that says diesel in french reads GAZOLE... and my wife didnt stop to think that the nozzle didnt fit inside the tank, she proceeded to get a funnel and pump the tank half way full!!! I wish I would have stayed outside instead of going in and pumped the damn gas... I cant do anything but sit back and laugh about it a little bit now, but I dont look forward to dealing with a french mechanic that might be looking to screw me over today on what might be a somewhat easy and cheap fix... my luck really SUCKS!!!

 

There's actually a drain bolt at the bottom of the tank where you can drain all the gas out.

 

My FSM says use a hand pump, hose, and container to draw fuel from tank. I doubt there is a drain plug.

 

I feel lucky, the shop will only charge 50 euro for the labor and then the price for filling it up with 20 liters of gasoline... hopefully there is no catch!

 

I'm not sure how much different that fuel tank is than mine but this is what I got off my alldata

1. Relieve fuel pressure.

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  1. Disconnect the battery negative cable from the battery.
  2. Remove fuel filler cap.
  3. Use a box end wrench on the 6mm service bolt at the fuel rail, while holding the special banjo bolt with another wrench.

Fuel System Service Bolt

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  1. Place a rag or shop towel over the 6mm service bolt.
  2. SLOWLY loosen the 6mm service bolt one complete turn.

1. Block the front wheels. Jack up the rear of the car and support with jackstands.
2. Remove the drain bolt and drain the fuel into an approved container.
3. Disconnect the 3P connector in the trunk.
4. Remove the two-way valve cover and the fuel hose protector.
5. Disconnect the hoses.