One time I saw a lady at a gas station filling her truck up with unleaded. I told her that she wasn't using diesel, and she said that she knew but that unleaded was cheaper. The sound it made when she drove off was terrible!

To everyone who keeps saying "Aaawwww OP it's the thought that counts!" Do you have any idea of what a costly "thought" that OP has made? Diesel cars or trucks are extremely expensive to fix. The fuel filter alone is almost $100.00 bucks possibly much more now since it has been a while since I worked in the Parts Department for Ford Motor Co. OP it does suck that you made that mistake but I hope that you have a lot of money set aside to pay for the damages that were caused. Good luck to you and I hope your brother is a little understanding. And even if the vehicle is under the original manufacture warranty it more then likely will not be covered.

One of my dad's workers did the same thing to his truck. Thankfully he told him about it before he started the truck. I believe it cost a few 100$ but they did get it fixed

I am not sure I believe this one. Gas pumps are designed so a diesel nozzle will not fit in a gasoline filler neck and vice versa. You would need to use a funnel to avoid major spillage. If you were stupid enough to fill his truck with gas cans then you get what you deserve.

Did you not see the indication (on the dash by the fuel gauge or by the tank opening) that says "DIESEL FUEL ONLY"? Most diesel fueled cars/trucks have these so as to prevent such things from happening....if not you can always tell by the exhaust smell &/or the smell when you unscrew the fuel cap.

fire?

Well, now you're going to have to help him buy a new truck.

bye-bye engine!

horneychic - Yes, I oversimplified it. And apologies if by referring to the upstroke and downstroke I offended you! But to most people that's easier to understand than compression and power stroke. In diesel engines there's still a time lag between injection of the fuel and combustion. If the timing is off, which it would be if petrol is injected, then it's a form pre ignition. But I suppose you're right, that's not what it's referred to in diesel engines.

Yea I can tell your a parts guy at a dealer no actual mechanic would ever recommend that. I can't count how many tanks I've flushed with no problems. The last time the gas company ****** up put the wrong fuel in our whole fleet even Volvo didn't recommend going that far to preserve warrenty they just said change the pumps and injectors which we did for warrenty but our out pf warrenty trucks have put more the 100k miles on since then with only a flush