Drivers who filled up at the Chevron gas station on Lake Mendocino Drive last week should be aware that one of the station's "Plus" pumps had diesel fuel in it, which could cause engine problems.

Chevron employee Bernice Ramirez said the delivery company, Redwood Coast Fuels -- right next door to the gas station -- dumped diesel into a gasoline tank on Wednesday.

Redwood Coast Fuels has so far been paying for any repairs customers needed as a result, she said, which, according to some sources, can be in the hundreds of dollars it could cost to drain diesel from the engine, tank and fuel lines of a gasoline-powered vehicle.

Answers vary regarding whether such a mix-up could cause permanent engine damage, but most sources agree that, depending on the ratio of diesel to gasoline in a vehicle's tank, a gas-powered engine would not ignite the diesel, and the engine either would not start, would slow down or would stop running until the diesel is removed.

According to, diesel is a light crude oil product made to self-ignite under certain pressure and temperature conditions, while gasoline, a highly-refined crude oil derivative, is ignited by spark plugs and is designed to avoid self-ignition. The differences between the two fuels can cause problems when diesel is put in a gasoline-powered engine.

"Most likely, a gasoline engine will simply not run at all in this situation," according to eHow.


com. "The diesel fuel is likely to clog the fuel lines, fuel filters and fuel injectors. If the engine does run, it will likely give very poor performance. Because the cylinders in a gas engine do not produce the same temperatures and pressures as those in a diesel engine, the diesel fuel will not ignite properly, and can damage the engine's timing cycle and cylinder linings."

The website recommends either siphoning the diesel from the gas tank, refilling the tank with gasoline and letting any remaining diesel come out as additional smoke in the exhaust, or having the fuel system professionally drained and flushed. In either case, according to, a mechanic should check the car for any permanent damage to the fuel system or engine.

Ramirez on Friday was taking down the information for customers who were reporting problems with their vehicles, but no further information was available by the close of business about what had caused the mixup or what had been done to correct it.

Redwood Coast Fuels was not available for comment.