Running a diesel out of fuel is certainly far worse than running a gas engine out, but don't let that spook you. The older diesels would require that the injectors be somewhat unscrewed so that the fuel pump could purge the system once fuel was put back in the tank, then tightened back down. Some of the not-so-old diesels came with push plungers that would purge the lines in case this happened. Neither was a big deal, but still worse than just filling it up with gas and cranking the starter for a bit. I'm not sure about anything newer than, say, 1990 however.

It only happens once unless you are the type that learns the hard things the hard way...lol.

Fish on!,
Noel