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Can you get fuel sensors to detect the right kind of fuel for a car?

I know someone who has filled up his diesel car with petrol twice, and I think it would be a good idea to put a sensor in the tank that would stop him driving off and wrecking his engine. There may be an after-market market for this.

The least it should do is sound a warning alarm. Are there cars with this already?

There may be safety considerations to stop the sensor working when it the car is being filled, since the car is meant to have ignition off when filling up.

Converting pump nozzles to be smart pump nozzles is one idea, but it would need standardization to be effective, and by the time all the petrol stations had converted, they would probably be selling hydrogen, biodiesel or LPG anyway.

Reply to
dwickford
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I think if he / she can't tell the difference ( anyone actually *can* - they just need to use that thing called a brain ) it would be easier and probably better for road safety if they didn't drive a car. Maybe they can't tell green from red either ?

Graham

Reply to
Pooh Bear

As "The Bear" said, the best sensor is the human brain. Since you used the word "petrol" I will assume you are not in the USA. In the USA, the filler areas clearly state "Diesel Fuel Only" and its not that hard to read "Diesel" on a pump.

So, after my rant, the sensor would add considerable cost to the vehicle for a purpose that is not necessary. The key words to this particular situation are "filled up his diesel car with petrol twice", notice the "twice". Tom

Reply to
Tom Biasi

It seems like a good idea to me. A sensor that can tell the difference between petrol and diesel that quickly closes a valve to prevent it even getting into the tank would be a good idea.

There are gas sensors used in boats to detect vapors to prevent them reaching a level where there could be an explosion.

The "brain" as a sensor, as a suggested by two other posters has not proved all that reliable.

When we changed from leaded to unleaded petrol the size of the nozzle and inlet where made smaller so you couldn't accidentally use leaded fuel.

-- JC

Reply to
jgkjcasey

Can't you smell the difference?

--
Service to my country? Been there, Done that, and I\'ve got my DD214 to
prove it.
Member of DAV #85.

Michael A. Terrell
Central Florida
Reply to
Michael A. Terrell

It's reliable for 99.999% of ppl.

Graham

Reply to
Pooh Bear

You should know.

Reply to
kell

My sister was borrowing a diesel truck from a neighbor - as she was preparing to leave, she says "I'll get a full tank of gas before I bring it back". I turned to her and said DIESEL! NO GAS! - and made her repeat it back. A lot of people go to the "gas station" and get "gas". To them, diesel is something exotic used in those big loud trucks with all the extra wheels. Reading the notices and signs isn't in their program. So maybe a sensor - if not too expensive - would be a good addition.

Arch

Reply to
Archilochus

(snip)

Did this person damage his engine after he filled the tank with petrol, twice? As I understand it, the petrol is not that hard on the engine, but causes higher than normal wear on the injector pump, since it isn't nearly as good a lubricant as diesel is.

I think he might just carry a quart or two of 2 cycle oil (the kind you mix with petrol to lubricate 2 cycle engines). After he notices that he has added petrol to his tank, he just has to add the appropriate amount of lubricating oil, and smell funny till that tank of fuel is burned.

Reply to
John Popelish

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