What to Do If Your Car is Filled with Poor-Quality Fuel?
3 Answers
Solutions for cars filled with poor-quality fuel vary depending on the situation: 1. If the car can currently run normally: Immediately and completely drain the remaining fuel in the tank, refill with high-quality gasoline, clean the fuel injectors and combustion chamber, and replace the fuel filter; 2. If the car can currently run normally but the engine idles with slight shaking: Completely drain the remaining fuel in the tank, refill with high-quality gasoline, clean the throttle body, fuel injectors, and combustion chamber, and replace the fuel filter; 3. If the engine cannot start, no cylinder pressure is measured, and there are severe impact marks on the pistons: Completely drain the remaining fuel in the tank, refill with high-quality gasoline, clean the throttle body, fuel injectors, and combustion chamber, and replace both the fuel filter and fuel pump.
That time I accidentally filled up with low-quality fuel at a roadside gas station, and my car started shaking noticeably with poor acceleration. Scared, I immediately pulled over and turned off the engine. When I called the 4S店 for help, the mechanic warned me not to restart the car, saying it could damage the engine. After towing it to the shop, they cleaned the fuel lines and tank, replaced the filters and spark plugs, and it took most of the day to fix. Since then, I've made it a habit to only refuel at reputable gas stations, checking the fuel quality report before filling up, and topping up when the tank is a quarter full to avoid being cheated by unreliable stations. If you ever find yourself in this situation, don't try to save money by handling it yourself—professional cleaning is the way to go for peace of mind.
After refueling last time, the engine sounded like a tractor within 500 meters, and the steering wheel vibrated so badly at idle that my hands went numb. I immediately turned on the hazard lights and coasted to a safe area before shutting off the engine. The mechanic diagnosed it as clogged fuel injectors due to excessive impurities in the fuel, costing 400 yuan for a thorough fuel system cleaning. He specifically warned to check the catalytic converter, as low-quality fuel can easily damage this component. Now I use a gas station rating app on my phone to check reviews before refueling. If the engine light comes on, don't hesitate—go straight to the repair shop to read the fault codes for safety.
