Bad Gas in Car: Check Engine Light

If you’re driving and suddenly your check engine light comes on, it can be a scary experience. One of the possible causes of a check engine light is bad gas. Bad gas can damage your car’s engine and other components, so it’s important to get it fixed as soon as possible.

What is Bad Gas?

Bad gas is gasoline that has gone bad. This can happen for a number of reasons, including:

Evaporation: Gasoline evaporates over time, especially when it is exposed to air. This can cause the gasoline to lose its octane rating and become less effective.
Oxidation: Gasoline reacts with oxygen in the air to form gums and varnishes. These can clog your car’s fuel system and cause problems.
Contamination: Gasoline can be contaminated with water, dirt, or other chemicals. This can also cause problems with your car’s fuel system.

Symptoms of Bad Gas

There are a number of symptoms that can indicate that you have bad gas in your car. These include:

Check engine light: This is the most common symptom of bad gas.
Poor engine performance: Your car may run rough, idle poorly, or stall.
Increased fuel consumption: You may notice that you are getting fewer miles per gallon than usual.
Hard starting: Your car may be difficult to start, especially when it is cold.
Knocking or pinging noises: You may hear knocking or pinging noises coming from your engine.

What to Do If You Have Bad Gas

If you think you have bad gas in your car, it’s important to get it fixed as soon as possible. Here are a few things you can do:

Drain the gas tank: This is the most effective way to get rid of bad gas. You can do this yourself or have a mechanic do it for you.
Add a fuel additive: There are a number of fuel additives that can help to clean your fuel system and improve engine performance.
Replace the fuel filter: The fuel filter can become clogged with bad gas. Replacing it can help to improve fuel flow and engine performance.

Preventing Bad Gas

There are a few things you can do to help prevent bad gas from getting into your car:

Buy gas from a reputable gas station: Gas stations that sell high-quality gasoline are less likely to have bad gas.
Keep your gas tank full: This will help to prevent evaporation and oxidation.
Add a fuel stabilizer: A fuel stabilizer can help to prevent gasoline from going bad.

Conclusion

Bad gas can damage your car’s engine and other components, so it’s important to get it fixed as soon as possible. If you think you have bad gas, drain the gas tank, add a fuel additive, and replace the fuel filter. You can also help to prevent bad gas from getting into your car by buying gas from a reputable gas station, keeping your gas tank full, and adding a fuel stabilizer.