BlueTec Owners - Diesel Nozzle Converter?
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 60
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2002 Porsche 911 Carrera 4 Cab
BlueTec Owners - Diesel Nozzle Converter?
Hey,
I was talking to a friend who owns a diesel X5 and he advised that sometimes he would need to use some type of nozzle converter for his car when refueling at a highway gas station. The reason being that the diesel nozzle's at highway gas stations are usual larger to accommodate the bigger opening on an 18-wheeler's tank.
Anyone else familiar with this? Will I run into an issue with my E BlueTec?
I was talking to a friend who owns a diesel X5 and he advised that sometimes he would need to use some type of nozzle converter for his car when refueling at a highway gas station. The reason being that the diesel nozzle's at highway gas stations are usual larger to accommodate the bigger opening on an 18-wheeler's tank.
Anyone else familiar with this? Will I run into an issue with my E BlueTec?
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jan 2011
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From: Central Pennsylvania
2012 S350 Bluetec 4Matic, Diamond White, P2
I have used the larger nozzels with my Bluetec. Just be careful becuase the larger nozzels also pump more fuel faster. I have not had an issue. In all of my diesel driving, I can count on one hand the number of times I could not find a regualr automotive pump nozzel.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 60
Likes: 0
2002 Porsche 911 Carrera 4 Cab
Thanks. So you're saying that the larger nozzles fit in the tank opening? Or did you just try and maneuver it for it to fit a little?
Super Member
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 507
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'11 E350BTC P2 Leather
60 seconds of googling "diesel pump nozzle size" will tell you that:
Gasoline pumps are 13/16" nozzle
Car diesel pumps are 15/16" nozzle
Truck diesel pumps are not standardized, but can be 1 1/4" or 1 1/2"
Obviously this keeps the knuckle heads from pumping diesel fuel into their gasoline tank.
Even going to a "truck stop" diesel pump, I have found that they always have at least one car-sized pump, and they ask you to move to it.
I just measured the inlet hole of my fuel tank, and it appears to be slightly larger than 1". I don't think you could get a 1 1/4" nozzle in it.
The big ones obviously pump faster because the 18-wheeler diesels can have tanks up to 200 gallons, so it would take forever to fill with the car-sized nozzle.
Gasoline pumps are 13/16" nozzle
Car diesel pumps are 15/16" nozzle
Truck diesel pumps are not standardized, but can be 1 1/4" or 1 1/2"
Obviously this keeps the knuckle heads from pumping diesel fuel into their gasoline tank.
Even going to a "truck stop" diesel pump, I have found that they always have at least one car-sized pump, and they ask you to move to it.
I just measured the inlet hole of my fuel tank, and it appears to be slightly larger than 1". I don't think you could get a 1 1/4" nozzle in it.
The big ones obviously pump faster because the 18-wheeler diesels can have tanks up to 200 gallons, so it would take forever to fill with the car-sized nozzle.
Last edited by mikemargolis; May 29, 2012 at 10:32 AM.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Dec 2009
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From: Connecticut
2018 BMW 540d
Having owned both a BMW *and* Mercedes diesel the BMW's fuel filler port is designed differently than that of the Mercedes.The BMW came with a special plastic adapter (which I kept at trade in) which came in very handy on one or two occasions at "truck" diesel pumps.I've used it once with my Bluetec and the key is to pump *slowly* to avoid the spill that would happen at normal pressure.In three years of driving diesels I've only run into an "unconventional" pump three times...all in the Midwest,as it turns out.
