No, I wouldn't do it on purpose. I ask because this is alledgedly what happened to the rental car I had recently.
Last friday, I picked up a Camry from the local Enterprise Rental. Left early saturday for Maryland. Stopped on the NJ tpke to fill up. As I drove off, it immediately started to buck. Only for a moment, then it would run fine. The CE light and traction control light also came on. Also, cruise control would no longer work.
I continued down the pike. Most of the time it was fine, but, now and then it would buck. It did seem to coincide with higher throttle settings, but, not sure about that.
I got on the phone and was directed to an Enterprise in Wilmington DE.
When I got there, I shut it off and turned it back on, hoping it might clear the faults.
It didn't.
They handed me the keys to a shiny new Grand Cherokee Limited. Damn that thing was nice. It's got a hemi.
Passed everything but a gas station. Actually, at 65 in 8th gear on level ground, it would manage 26-27. Put your foot in it and it immediately went to 1.
So, I just got home last night. Dropped the GC off at Enterprise. They were informed that someone filled it with diesel.
And guess who's responsibility it is?
This is bull****.
I have a few questions.
First off, will a new gas camry, 4 cylinder even run on a 2/3 diesel/gas ratio? The receipt says it was filled (by the attendant, no self serve in NJ) with 11.17 gallons of regular. Fuel capacity is 17 gallons. It seemed to run just fine aside from the occasional sputter.
Looking back, my guess is this..... Either, there was some crud in the tank that was stirred up by the refill, causing a clog in the tank filter or the pump jockey didn't tighten the gas cap properly. I do know that a loose cap will throw a CE light, but, could it also cause a rough running condition and a traction control light?
I doubt it was fuel contamination as we are talking about a jersey turnpike rest stop pump. You don't find a place that turns over its fuel as often as this place. It doesn't sit long enough to get water in it.
Of course, being NJ, you do have to wonder about somebody watering down the stuff to pocket a few bucks.