What Would It Take To Convert Your Diesel Engine to Run on Gasoline?
(And, what can we learn from the conversion?) VIDEO Link Below!

Are you wondering, is it even realistically possible to convert a diesel engine over to run on gasoline?
Yes, realistically possible but, not a quick or simple change. The folks at Garage 54, who have a growing reputation for pushing the automotive experimental limit, took on this madcap challenge in the video we’ve linked below.

If you understand the primary differences between a diesel engine and a gasoline engine, then you can imagine (in advance of watching this video) the challenges they faced for this venture such as:

· Lowering the compression ratio
· Adding spark plugs
· Adding a distributor and coil to ignite the spark plugs
· Lowering and stabilizing the air to fuel ratio

Now, take a look to see how this plays out. We hope you find this worth the quick 15 minutes to watch!




If you’d like to refresh your memory on the core differences between diesel and gasoline engines, you can re-read our editor’s article on pages 5-8 in the Turbo Diesel Register Buyer’s Guide: “Why a Diesel?” https://s3.amazonaws.com/cdn.genosgarage.com/downloads/TechPDF/TDRBG.pdf

Finally, what is the practical “what can we learn from the diesel to gasoline conversion?”

Is it okay to answer a question with a question? Here goes: “Haven’t we all wondered if you (or others) make a mistake at the fuel island and add gasoline to your tank? As we know, the gasoline easily mixes with the diesel and, because of the diesel’s higher compression ratio, the gasoline ignites really well.

Too well.

So, again, how much gasoline in your tank is too much? We polled all of the Geno’s staff. None of us admit to making this mistake. Seriously. None of us. However, we’ve all heard the stories of others. Our consensus: If you have a pre-1998 truck with a mechanical fuel system, no more than 5% gasoline. Throttle lightly. Continue to refill with diesel to dilute the mixture. If you go more than 5%, find a way to drain or pump out the gasoline/diesel mixture.

If your truck has electronic fuel injection (98.5 or newer) all bets are off. The electrical components are too expensive to chance.

Next up, I polled some of the TDR’s writers.

Again, as a group they were fortunate to have never made the gasoline-in-the-tank mistake. The one response where there was experience: “An employee put a gallon of gas into a company truck. I can’t recall how full the tank was, but I believe it was fairly full. The engine rattled like crazy.”

Whether a mechanical fuel injection (1998 or older) or electronic, the writing staff all recommended that you not start the engine and purge/remove the gasoline from the tank.

Do you have any gasoline-in-the-tank stories you can share with us? If so, please post them in the comments section.

A side note about the video: Garage 54 is located in Siberia and the speaker’s voice throughout the video is actually a high quality translation service. (Although at first it seems otherwise, it’s not one of those robot translations we’ve all had to endure on some YouTube videos).