> >Hi! I need your expertise or opinion.
> >I have diesel engine Volvo Penta MD3 on my sailboat .Just after refueling in
> >one of the marina(in 10 minutes) engine reached temp 280 F
> >I had to run the engine for another 8-10 minutes to drop the anchor and I
> >shut off the engine which was red hot.I suspect that they pumped 20 gal
> >gasoline instead of diesel.Capacity of the tank is 40 gal.I still have this
> >fuel in the tank.How can I check if gasoline is in the tank,mixed with
> >diesel ? Is it any method,way to analyze or find out.Maybe I should find the
> >lab or place that can be determine what this fuel consists.
> >If they pumped the gasoline accidentally or not the engine is probably
> >damaged.Thank You For Your Help.
> >Ytter
> >
>
> Steve's suggestion of putting a sample in a jar is good. I'd also suspect that
> the sample would separate after a few hours...gas on top, diesel on the bottom.
>
> You mention above that the engine was "red hot" after shut-down. What were
> the indicators? The temp gauge only? "Frying" noises and smell of a hot engine?
> Smoke/smell from hot paint? Could a stuck-closed thermostat be the problem?
>
> One thing I'm curious about is how the engine ran with a 50/50 mixture. I'd
> think that since gas has a much lower flash point (it does, doesn't it?), it
> would have ignited earlier in the compression cycle, and made a heck of a racket,
> and that power would be low. Also, I'd think the exhaust would be quite smoky.
>
> Good luck...hope your mechanic says all's well.
> Norm
>