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I put the wrong fuel in my car. Help!?

I have a 2001 Saturn SL-2 with a manual transmission and a 10 gallon tank. I put 6 gallons of ethanol in it by accident. What should I do? Is it safe to fill it the rest of the way with regular fuel and run it or will that do damage to my fuel system/engine? Do I need to have my tank drained and my system flushed?

I understand that prolonged use of ethanol will damage the rubber parts of my engine. My question is will one half tank be enough to do damage? Will the ethanol really screw up my fuel injectors on contact? I'm pretty sure my car has electronic fuel injection, and an O2 sensor that adjusts oxygen to fuel mixture....

Also, I already had to start it to drive away from the pump. I moved less than 20 feet. Is that going to be a problem?

Update:

By Ethanol, I mean E-85...

6 Answers

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  • Anonymous
    1 decade ago
    Favorite Answer

    E- 85 won't hurt your car. It is 1 part ethanol and 9 parts gas. If you put another 4 gallons of gas in the ethanol content is even lower. To be safe you might want to keep filling up as you drive to add more gas in there. It will probably run a little lean and you will notice less power, but you won't hurt the car at all. It is continuous use that would degrade rubber seals, etc.

  • 1 decade ago

    I would fill it up all the way with regular gas, and try to drive as much as possible to burn through that tank as fast as possible.

    High concentrations of Ethanol may eat through the lines and other seals, but usually only prolonged exposure (time not necessarily volume).

    One tank shouldn't be bad if you can get through it quickly, and not let it sit in the system, plus diluted with the remaining 4gallons of regular is really E-50 or so.

  • glen t
    Lv 6
    1 decade ago

    with E-85 I would check with dealer they may have you drain your fuel tank it is a blend of 15% gasoline and 85% denatured fuel ethanol not 1 to 9 like was stated in a answer above

  • Anonymous
    5 years ago

    I put ethanol into my car and It only runs on regular petrol . I could tell no difference at all . Now diesel that's an iffy .

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  • 1 decade ago

    Nothing will happen but if youdont feel conferable continue useing the gas you usally use but nothing will happen you can buy an injector fluid cleaner $5 or less

  • 1 decade ago

    If i were you, i would consult your manual for the customer service number for Saturn. Who would know what the best course of action but the people who made the car?

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