What Happens If You Add Low-Quality Gasoline?
4 Answers
Cars filled with low-quality gasoline may exhibit the following symptoms: difficulty starting or even failure to start; engine shaking at idle after starting; noticeable body vibration; foul-smelling exhaust gases; noisy valves; poor acceleration and high fuel consumption; gear shifting with impact. The vehicle maintenance plan after adding low-quality gasoline is as follows: 1. If the vehicle can currently drive normally without symptoms, completely drain the remaining fuel in the tank, refill with high-quality gasoline, clean the fuel injectors, clean the combustion chamber, and replace the fuel filter. 2. If the vehicle drives normally but the engine shakes slightly at idle, completely drain the remaining fuel in the tank, refill with high-quality gasoline, clean the throttle body, clean the fuel injectors, clean the combustion chamber, and replace the fuel filter and fuel pump. 3. For vehicles that are difficult to start, fail to start, have engine shaking, poor acceleration, gear shifting impact, or noisy valves, stop driving immediately and request assistance from a 4S shop. Measure cylinder pressure; if the cylinder pressure is normal, disassemble the cylinder head for cleaning, completely drain the remaining fuel in the tank, refill with high-quality gasoline, clean the throttle body, clean the fuel injectors, clean the combustion chamber, and replace the fuel filter and fuel pump.
Last time I accidentally filled up with substandard gasoline, and my car immediately had issues. The engine shook like a sieve, felt powerless even when flooring the accelerator uphill, and fuel consumption suddenly surged by 15%. Later at the repair shop, I learned that the impurities and moisture had completely clogged the fuel injectors, and the spark plugs were coated with thick carbon deposits. The most troublesome part was the gummy sediment in the fuel tank, which cost over 800 yuan to clean. This type of fuel burns incompletely and can cause black smoke from the exhaust pipe, definitely harming the engine in the long run. Now I only refuel at reliable major stations like PetroChina, since repair costs are much higher than the little savings from cheaper fuel.
Using low-quality gasoline is like feeding your beloved car with gutter oil. In the short term, you might only experience acceleration stutters or an illuminated engine warning light. But gradually, you'll notice difficulties with cold starts and pungent exhaust fumes. This is due to the excessively high sulfur content in the fuel, which corrodes the oxygen sensor and catalytic converter. Last time, a friend of mine tried to save money by filling up at a shady gas station, and ended up replacing the entire fuel system after just 20,000 kilometers, costing thousands. Remember, if you feel anything unusual right after refueling, don't hesitate—drain the tank immediately. Otherwise, gum deposits will become increasingly difficult to clean. It's advisable to regularly use fuel system cleaners, which are far more cost-effective than repairing the damage later.
The most deceptive aspect of inferior gasoline is the impurities and additives mixed in. I once experienced a situation where the dashboard kept giving false alarms after refueling, and it took four or five attempts to start the engine. The mechanic said this type of fuel had excessive water content, which not only caused engine knocking but also produced acidic substances in the fuel system that corroded metal components. Later tests revealed the anti-knock agents were also substandard, leading to abnormal cylinder pressure. Now, I always smell the gasoline before refueling—genuine gasoline has a faint petroleum odor, while counterfeit fuel has a pungent chemical smell. It's best to add a bottle of fuel system cleaner after the first two refills to minimize engine wear.
