While it’s true that the Ford Bronco is thirsty, you shouldn’t fill it with diesel. After a devastating fuel mixup, one Ford Bronco Badlands Sasquatch model barely limped away. Luckily, the Bronco could make a full recovery. 

Ford Bronco doesn’t get far with diesel 

According to Bronco6g, there was a terrible mixup with a Ford Bronco Badlands Sasquatch model. The owner stopped at a full-service gas station for some super unleaded fuel when a terrible mixup occurred. 

The delivery person filled the tank with diesel instead, which can be a costly mistake. The Bronco only made it about half a mile down the road when the check engine light illuminated. Then the Bronco lost power and had to be towed to a Ford dealership. 

Ford technicians suggest that the tank will need to be drained and filled with fresh fuel. The oil and spark plugs will need to be changed as well. The cost of repairs is currently unknown, but we will keep you updated. 

Luckily for the Bronco owner, the gas station is claiming responsibility for this mistake. It will cover 100 percent of the repair, towing, and fuel purchase costs. 

What happens if you fill a Bronco with diesel? 

You probably won’t make it far if you accidentally put diesel in a Ford Bronco or other gas-powered vehicles. You could make it a few miles, depending on how much gas was left in the tank. After the excess gas in the fuel line is used, your engine will shut off. 

Gasoline engines can’t efficiently combust diesel fuel, and because of the low octane content, you may notice the engine knocking or starting to run a bit roughly. Then you’ll need to get towed to an auto shop immediately. 

The fuel system will need to be drained and cleaned by emptying the gas tank, flushing the fuel lines, injectors, rail, and replacing the fuel filters. It’s a fairly straightforward process, but it can be expensive because it’s time-consuming. 

If you notice that you accidentally started filling your vehicle with diesel, don’t start your vehicle. Don’t even turn the key to the on position. This can prevent diesel from traveling further into your fuel system before having it towed. 

Is the Bronco good on gas? 

The Ford Bronco isn’t exactly the best on gas. It gets an EPA-estimated 20 mpg in the city and up to 21 mpg on the highway. The Jeep Wrangler gets an EPA-estimated 22 mpg in the city and up to 29 mpg on the highway. 

While reviewing the Ford Bronco Wildtrak Sasquatch, we averaged about 16.8 mpg. But the larger tires could impact fuel consumption. Also, it was way too much fun to drive it in sport mode instead of eco mode. 

The Bronco would be worse on fuel without the 10-speed automatic transmission and turbocharged engines. The 2.3-liter inline-four engine with 300 hp and 315 lb-ft of torque does a little better on fuel. 

However, upgrading to the 2.7-liter V6 engine with 330 hp and 415 lb-ft of torque only reduced the fuel economy by about one mpg. So, why not go for extra power? Just make sure you avoid the diesel pump.