What does non-standard oil mean?
4 Answers
Non-standard oil refers to specially manufactured oil products designed to meet specific working environments but do not comply with national standards. Common examples include non-standard diesel and non-standard gasoline. Taking non-standard diesel as an example, here is a detailed introduction: Production method: Imported No. 180 fuel oil is subjected to simple distillation to produce diesel, and then some additives are added to improve certain quality indicators. Initially, all quality indicators of such non-standard diesel meet the current national standards. However, the major drawback of this type of oil is that its storage period is only about 20 days, after which it rapidly oxidizes and turns black. Additionally, its sulfur content exceeds the standard. Hazards: Causes diesel vehicles to experience knocking, leading to severe mechanical wear, difficulty in cold starts, increased fuel consumption, and black smoke emissions. It also generates deposits and gums, clogging vehicle filters, forming large amounts of carbon deposits in the combustion chamber, causing piston sticking and increased wear. High sulfur content not only leads to corrosion and wear in the engine system but also generates acid rain in the atmosphere, significantly increasing particulate matter (PM) emissions, reducing the efficiency of diesel engine emission treatment systems, poisoning them, or even causing them to fail.
Non-standard fuel, to put it bluntly, refers to substandard gasoline or diesel. I remember the first time I encountered this issue was when I filled up with cheap fuel at a small gas station—my car immediately started shaking, and the power delivery became erratic. When the mechanic at the repair shop opened up the engine, the amount of carbon buildup was shocking. He explained that non-standard fuel is either subpar product from unlicensed refineries or has been adulterated with low-quality additives. These fuels contain excessive sulfur, lack sufficient cleanliness, and are prone to forming gum deposits that clog fuel injectors. Nowadays, I always make sure to refuel at reputable gas stations, even if it costs more—better to pay a little extra than to damage the engine. Repair costs far outweigh any savings from cheaper fuel. Regularly cleaning the fuel tank and fuel lines is also crucial to prevent low-quality fuel from ruining your beloved car.
I worked in an oil testing agency for eight years. Non-standard fuel, to put it bluntly, is fuel that fails to meet national standards. Domestic regulations require gasoline grades, octane ratings, and sulfur content to meet specifications, but non-standard fuel might dilute 92-octane into 95-octane for sale, or mix chemical light hydrocarbons into gasoline to pass it off as genuine. Some shady workshops even add methylal, which corrodes fuel pump filters on contact. The most deceptive part is that it may feel like the engine runs stronger in the short term, but prolonged use leads to knocking and carbon buildup. My advice is to always refuel at certified gas stations—those suspiciously cheap fuels will wreck your car.
The root cause of non-standard fuel issues lies in failing to meet environmental standards. Some small local refineries have outdated production equipment and desulfurization technologies that cannot keep up with the China VI standards, resulting in sulfur content dozens of times higher than that of standard fuel. Not only do these fuels pollute the environment through exhaust emissions, but they also tend to produce more solid particulate matter during combustion, which can clog the three-way catalytic converter. A friend of mine who modifies exhaust systems encountered a car owner who opted for cheaper non-standard fuel, only to face frequent check engine light warnings. Last year, environmental authorities shut down a site that used waste engine oil to counterfeit diesel. As consumers, we shouldn’t just focus on price—gas stations with the green environmental label are more reliable.
