What are the harms of using private gasoline for cars?
2 Answers
The impact of using private gasoline on a car depends on the quality of the fuel. If the fuel quality meets the standards, there will be no negative effects on the car. However, if the fuel contains a high level of impurities, it can easily lead to carbon deposits and fail to maintain engine cleanliness. Additionally, the fuel's octane rating must meet standard requirements. The octane rating represents the fuel's anti-knock properties, primarily determined by the proportion of isooctane. If the standard proportion is not met, the anti-knock performance will be lower, leading to knocking during operation. Frequent knocking can damage the engine. The application and operational monitoring for opening private gas stations are very strict. Legitimate private gas stations must register their fuel sources and archive all purchase, sales, and inventory records for inspection. In most cases, the fuel quality is relatively guaranteed, but in rare instances, there may be issues with substandard fuel quality.
I used to drive at construction sites and often refueled at roadside private gas stations to save some money on fuel. As a result, in less than half a year, the engine started shaking. When the mechanic opened it up, it was full of black carbon deposits, and he said the fuel had too many impurities and was even mixed with water. What's more annoying is that the fuel consumption didn't decrease but instead increased—a full tank would run out 100 kilometers sooner. The most dangerous moment was on the highway when the car suddenly lost acceleration power, almost causing a rear-end collision. Fixing the fuel injectors and catalytic converter cost over 3,000 yuan, and in the end, all the money I saved on fuel went into repairs. Now, I only dare to refuel at Sinopec and PetroChina—it’s more expensive, but at least it’s worry-free.
