Q: Ran out of gas and put in diesel by mistake. Dealership drained the gas and changed the fuel injectors. Then they cleaned the system and now it has lost compression.

asked by on January 18, 2017

I was on the highway and I ran oht of gas. my friend brought me diesel accident and we tried turning and turning it until I eventually got it towed home. at home I was confused so I decided to try to boost it and still no success. I had the truck towed to the dealership to which they drained all my gas, cleaned the system out comoletely, failed to unclog the fuel injector. after the new injectors were installed the truck just turns and turns and now it turns out that there's no compression and i need a new engine. I dont understand how this is

My car has 130000 miles.
My car has an automatic transmission.

Car is not starting Inspection $94.99 - $114.99 Get a Quote

Hi there. Take a compression gauge and put it into the spark plug holes and remove all the other spark plugs. Then disable the ignition power to the coils. Then crank the engine over with the throttle open all the way. Check to see what the compression is on the engine. If there is good compression, then the engine did not loose compression. The fuel pump may have burned up from having diesel in the fuel and left in there too long. If there is no compression on all of the cylinders, then either the head gasket is completely burned up on both banks or all of the exhaust valves are burned. I recommend seeking out a professional, such as one from Your Mechanic, to help you diagnose your engine not starting after cleaning out the fuel system from accidentally putting in diesel in the fuel tank.

The statements expressed above are only for informational purposes and should be independently verified. Please see our terms of service for more details

Get an instant quote for your car

Our certified mechanics come to you ・Backed by 12-month, 12,000-mile guarantee・Fair and transparent pricing


Experienced Mechanic?

Earn up to $70/hr

What others are asking

What does the Nissan Intelligent Key™ buzzer mean?
If your Altima is equipped with the Nissan Intelligent Key™, you’ll find that the car warns you if you’re about to lock the key in the car. If the key is left behind when you exit the vehicle, you’ll hear...
Emergency flasher won't work in 2008 Nissan 350Z
It seems that your Nissan may have an issue with the emergency flasher switch or perhaps the flasher relay itself. This is definitely both an electrical issue and safety issue that needs to be resolved as soon as possible. As...
Interior electronics don't work
It sounds as though the electrical part of the ignition switch is loosing contact internally; this will need to be verified, and the switch will possibly need to be replaced. I recommend you have a mechanic, like one from YourMechanic,...
Converting to hydro-boost braking system on a 1990 Thunderbird Super Coupe
It depends on what you want to do. If you want to keep the car, I would convert it to hydro-boost brakes. It's a better system. Forget about that ABS system. The old ABS systems didn't work all that well....
Car sputters when 1st press on gas
You should have the computer tested and fuel pressure tested to help isolate the problem. You may have a fuel or ignition related problem that needs to be isolated first. The igniter or coil may be not supplying enough spark...
Exaust smell coming through car vents, especially when idle. Engine has a clicking noise since having the spark plugs replaced.
From what you've described it sounds like there may be a loose spark plug. This would cause both of the issues you are describing. The clicking is the exhaust gas escaping through the spark plug hole, which also allows this...
What does it mean when your charging system failure light comes on out of no where while driving?
Hello, thank you for writing in. The vehicle is detecting an issue with the alternator or the battery. When supplied power from the system is too low or too high, the monitoring system will alarm you. You should have the...
My car turned off while driving and check engine light went on,oil,and battery light and after I turn on and it was all fine
After disconnecting the battery in order to service a problem you may encounter stalling or other issues while the computer relearns idle. If you continue to have running issues after a couple days of driving then you will need to...
Rpm problem
Hi Ritchie. Thanks for contacting us today. The first thing you need to do is isolate the source of the RPM increase. It is possible that a vacuum hose was not correctly attached during the service, so I would recommend...

Related articles

When Does the Gas Light Turn On in My Car?
Going Going to the gas station is a chore and many of us wait until the gas light is on and the tank is nearly empty. But waiting until your fuel tank dries up is a bad habit, and the...
5 Essential Things to Know About Gasoline
You You already know how much we depend on gasoline in the US. Even though there has been an increase in electric and diesel cars, gasoline is still the most used fuel in the US. However, there are a few...
The Best Used Cars to Buy If You're a Gardener or Landscape Architect
Gardeners Gardeners and landscape architects need to haul around quite a bit of gear. As a gardener, chances are you will need to transport a variety of mowing equipment, along with smaller implements. You may also need to move shrubs,...