“Epidemic” of damage to cars due to falsified fuel

The mass phenomenon of car damage caused by counterfeit fuel is reaching epidemic proportions, as a result of which the authorities intend to combat this harmful phenomenon, which has become more frequent at gas stations recently.

More and more citizens are becoming victims while refueling their cars at gas stations. The workshops are filled with “affected” vehicles, and the cost of damage is hundreds of euros, according to SKAI.

“There is a panic with fake fuel. Too many customers complained to me and came here because of counterfeit gasoline,” says car mechanic Spyros Logaras.

Another auto mechanic, Aris Georgalis, explains that “the first time you fill a car with adulterated gasoline, symptoms may appear that will subside as the car moves. However, the car may break down completely the second time.”

The usual cost of damage to a car can exceed 500 euros, emphasizes car mechanic Spyros Logaras.

1 in 10 gas stations sell counterfeit fuel

The Panhellenic Federation of Petrol Station Dealers (Πανελλήνια Ομοσπονδία Πρατηριούχων Εμπόρων Καυσίμων) has also sounded the alarm, discovering that almost one in ten gas stations in our country use counterfeit fuel at filling stations. Data released at the end of July showed that 30% of the fuel sold on the market is illegal, smuggled or counterfeit. This is a huge amount that passes through almost 7% of the country’s gas stations and results in a loss of up to $ 1 billion a year from the state treasury.

One fuel that is particularly vulnerable to adulteration is plain 95% gasoline, due to the addition of chemicals such as toluene or alcohols. This is one of the most dangerous types of falsification, since toluene has a corrosive effect, decomposing engine elastomers – seals, flanges and pipes. However, diesel fuel is also not immune from counterfeiting, and many cases have already been reported.

Recall that a few days ago A. Georgiadis stated that it is now very difficult to identify stations that falsify fuel, as they use complex technical methods. This, according to him, means that in order to identify such gas stations, falsification must be more than 50%!

What to do if you filled in low-quality or falsified fuel

Precisely because the damage that can be caused by using counterfeit fuel is very serious, it is important that car drivers take the necessary measures by immediately calling for roadside assistance and taking the car to a repair shop.

As noted in an extensive article on carandmotor.gr, poor quality or adulterated fuel can cause serious damage to the engine and its peripherals, so immediate action must be taken in case this occurs.

With rising fuel prices, car owners are looking for gas stations with the lowest prices for the gasoline, diesel and LPG they need to commute. This often leads to the fact that you have to refuel “it is not known where”, i.e. in “uncharted” areas, away from gas stations that drivers are accustomed to using frequently and are “tested” (i.e. car owners are well aware of the quality of the fuel they use in their daily lives).

This increases the risk of filling the tank with low-quality or adulterated fuel, which can be disastrous for the car’s engine. Fortunately, if something like this happens, the engine “warns” relatively quickly. The steps to follow are few and specific.

But let’s first let’s define the concepts of what “low-quality fuel” is and how it differs from “falsified”. These are two things that seem to be the same, but different in essence.

1. When we talk about poor quality fuel, we mean a fuel that has not been produced in accordance with the specifications set by the European Union for the health and protection of the engine and the environment. These fuels typically release more pollutants into the atmosphere, cause damage to the vehicle’s catalyst, and increase wear on the engine itself.
2. Under the term adulterated fuel we mean fuel mixed with other fuels, various chemicals, or even water to increase the profit per liter of an astute retailer or fuel supplier at a gas station.

In the event that the tank is filled with low-quality or adulterated fuel, the “reaction” of the engine will be relatively immediate: from “arrhythmia” idling, slow and unstable revolutions, or even to a stop, which can happen while driving.

The above symptoms can be more or less intense and are directly related to how bad the quality of the fuel is or how adulterated the fuel is currently in the tank. A car that has its own “protection” system can also warn with a corresponding light, which lights up (as a warning light) on the information panel. Or the information “check engine” – which should appear on the digital display of the auto screen.

In any of the above cases, the owner of the car should stop the car as soon as possible, even if it can move, and call technical assistance on the road.

Item requiring special attention

The next step is the “repair” phase, as the car will need to be taken to a workshop to have its tank emptied and cleaned, as well as the circuit that directs the fuel to the injection system.

Caution: Don’t risk diluting spoiled fuel already in the tank with gasoline at another gas station, as running the engine can cause costly damage to both the engine itself and its peripheral systems such as the catalytic converter.

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