It is important to know the fuel type required to operate your motor home engine. Diesel engines are often referred to as a 'loader type' engine due to its distinctive sound. Gasoline engines generally run much quieter.

Gasoline engines require an ignition source, such as a spark plug, to burn the fuel. Some newer gasoline engines are designed with a combination fuel injector and spark plug system to create the spark necessary to ignite the fuel.

Diesel engines do not require a spark to ignite the fuel. Instead, diesel engines rely on fuel injectors to spray atomized diesel fuel into the cylinder. The rapid high compression in the cylinder then ignites the fuel. Literature distributed by Cummins Diesel Engine warns the user that mixing gasoline, alcohol or gasohol with diesel fuel can cause an explosion.

Putting gasoline into a diesel fuel tank damages the fuel pump and injectors due to lack of lubrication. Potential for damage is increased by the amount of gasoline that was added, and how long the gasoline was allowed to run through the system.

In the event you accidentally fill the tank with the wrong type of fuel, the engine will usually stall shortly after leaving the fuel station and it is then necessary to have the motor home towed to a service center. Listed below are the specific steps that will be performed to correct the problem.

1. The fuel tank will be completely drained. Motor homes equipped with a drain plug on the tank can be drained of fuel by removing the plug. If the motor home is not equipped with a drain plug, the whole fuel tank will need to be removed, or the technician may use a siphoning system to direct contaminated fuel to a storage barrel.
2. Next, the fuel filter is removed and the line is flushed with air, followed by fresh fuel of the correct type. A separate container is positioned under the filter location to trap fuel draining from the open site.
3. Once the lines are flushed, a new filter is installed. Some model units have more than one fuel filter, and in that instance, all the fuel filters are removed and replaced.

If the motor home is equipped with an Onan generator and you did not start the generator while the wrong fuel was in the system, it may be adequate to flush the fuel lines and change the generator filter. In the event you did attempt to operate the generator with an incorrect fuel supply, contact the nearest Onan distributor for troubleshooting and repair.

Disposal of toxic waste can be costly and may result in additional charges from the service center to comply with local regulations.