How to determine the brand of gasoline in an affordable way. We check the quality of gasoline on our own, without leaving the gas station

10.10.2019

Unfortunately, the quality of domestic gasoline at gas stations causes a lot of criticism. Approximately half of all fuel sold on the country's market does not meet the requirements. In addition, the situation is aggravated by the fact that initially low-quality fuel undergoes changes that worsen its condition even more: it is diluted with water, combined with various additives.

When buying gasoline, what should you pay attention to first of all?

You need to refuel at gas stations only of large and well-known sellers. They tend to value their name and are unlikely to cheat. It would be useful to listen to how friends and acquaintances speak about them, what the press writes. By the way, in this way you can find a permanent place to purchase high-quality gasoline.

You need to inquire about the price. And if in the region it is significantly below the average, this should serve as a signal that not everything is safe here.

Filling with fuel, you should watch the car, listen to the running engine. From the sound and change in traction, an experienced driver is able to determine what quality of gasoline is in the gas tank of his car. With a high degree of probability, the same can be judged by the volume of fuel consumed.

And the sensor installed on modern cars, which reports by light indication about all the problems in the engine, including low-quality gasoline, completely simplifies this procedure for the driver.

2 Folk ways

In order to more accurately check the quality of gasoline, motorists in Russia, who have not trusted its manufacturers for a long time, and even more so sellers, have developed several popular ways to do this.

Consider the simplest and most accessible, but no less effective methods, the results of which do not raise any doubts about their reliability:

Foreign matter test. A certain amount of the investigated gasoline is placed on a piece of white paper. And, only after waiting for its complete evaporation, you should begin to study the contents. If the color of the paper has not changed and it is still the same white, then the gasoline is normal. The presence of foreign spots, any raids will indicate a problem with the fuel.
Control over resins and oils. To find out if there are resins in gasoline, you need to put a few drops on the glass and set them on fire. High-quality gasoline, i.e., not containing resin, burns completely, leaving white concentric circles on the glass, while the presence of brown or yellow rings convinces the opposite. But the presence of small drops indicates impurities contained in the fuel from various oils and diesel fuel.
Water is an extremely unpleasant component for gasoline. At some gas stations you can buy gasoline diluted with plain water. For such cases, there is potassium permanganate, which has a useful property, namely: dissolving in water, it colors the latter in pink or purple. It does not dissolve in gasoline, its color does not change, so nothing happens.
Hands as an indicator of quality. Here, gasoline acts as a solvent. The hand is wetted, after a while this place dries quickly, becomes clean, and dirt and oil stains disappear. But there is a feeling that the skin is pulled. All this indicates high-quality fuel.
Smell. Even gasoline, which smells not at all pleasant, if it contains hydrogen sulfide, naphthalene or liquefied gas, is unable to cope with their emissions. Therefore, a barely perceptible smell of acetone or burnt rubber indicates unclean fuel.

3 Modern science to help drivers

But the definition of quality occurs not only in the old-fashioned ways that are available in the arsenal of motorists. Modern technology has gone far ahead, offering easy-to-use, but functional devices that greatly simplify this procedure.

This is a household octanometer "Octis-2" - a very convenient and compact indicator of gasoline. With maximum accuracy, it determines the brand of gasoline, the octane number of which varies from 75 to 99.9. A similar example, designed by Shatox, provides a comprehensive answer to the question of how to check the quality of gasoline on the road.

And here is another contribution by Russian scientists from the University of Oil and Gas, who developed a tester that allows you to determine additives in gasoline. From now on, the problem of low-quality automotive fuel has received a simple solution.

The main method for the production of counterfeit gasoline, which harms the environment and the consumer, is the addition of prohibited metal-containing, as well as other additives. Their main purpose is to increase the octane number.

It is generally accepted that there is a direct relationship between it and the quality of gasoline: the higher the first, the better the second. This is wrong. The increase in octane number, which occurred by adding additives, causes its growth, but worsens the quality of gasoline. And it means only the ability of the latter to spontaneously ignite when compressed in the engine. And nothing more.

The test strip is coated with a special substance. The inventors keep its composition in the strictest confidence. When combined with heavy metals, lead or iron, it changes color. This happened, which means gasoline with impurities. Cheap additives are not uncommon.

The use of such unpretentious methods will avoid many problems associated with low-quality fuel.

And knowing how to identify good gasoline can save you a lot of time and money.

When developing a car, companies provide for a certain mode of operation, indicating the optimal values for various characteristics in the documentation that comes with the car. The documents contain information on how to keep the vehicle units in working condition as long as possible. Drivers are also given recommendations on what kind of fuel is better to fill in the car's gas tank. The manufacturer notes only the octane number of recommended gasoline, since this is the only parameter that is indicated at gas stations when selling fuel.

As experiments show, gasoline with a single octane rating can differ from gas station to gas station. Most often, drivers choose their preferred fuel company, and refuel the car only on it. However, how to check the quality of gasoline and make sure that the filling station is selected correctly? This will be discussed in our article.

How can you tell if your car is filled with bad fuel?

The quality of gasoline is a relative issue, and the fuel that Russian cars can handle perfectly can cause problems in the operation of German foreign cars. Gasoline sellers do not have the right to sell low-quality goods, but the lines of additives that they are required to introduce into fuel are rather blurry. Each fuel company strives to ensure that their gasoline is as cheap as possible in production, and at the same time meets all standards.

Bay of low-quality gasoline, an experienced driver can always determine this by the following parameters:

Unusual knocks during engine operation due to low octane;
Increased vehicle fuel consumption in standard driving mode;
Lowering the "sharpness" of the car - less acceleration and poor responsiveness to the gas pedal;
The engine starts with difficulty;
Spontaneous jumps in idle speed.

The symptoms described above do not necessarily indicate problems with the quality of gasoline, but if they were detected after refueling at a new station for the driver, you should take this fact into service and next time choose another fuel company to purchase fuel.

What problems can arise with a car due to low-quality gasoline?

Bad fuel is a doom for a number of car systems if it is poured regularly. Drivers with little experience have little idea of what dynamic characteristics a car should show when driving. They do not pay attention to the “extra” engine knocks or problems with excessive consumption of gasoline, and then they find out at the service center that they have to replace an expensive element due to bad fuel that is regularly poured into the car.

Most often, low-quality gasoline leads to the following breakdowns:

Quick failure of spark plugs. If, when replacing candles, you find a red coating on them, this may signal regular refueling with low-quality fuel;
Problems with the performance of the catalyst;
Malfunction of fuel system elements - fuel pump, injectors, filters, sensors.

In fact, it all depends on how low-quality gasoline is caught at a gas station. Some fuels can slowly damage engine and exhaust system parts for months, while others will force the owner to take their car to the service in just a few days.

Attention: If you refueled with low-quality gasoline, be sure to drain it, and then flush the tank, fuel line and clean the nozzles. If there is a check for gasoline, the car owner has the right to request an examination of the purchased sample, and if the low quality of the fuel is confirmed, the gas station is obliged to cover all damage, both moral and technical.

Choosing your favorite gas station is not an easy task and should be approached wisely. Feel free to take samples from several stations where it would be convenient for you to fill up your car regularly, and then test the gas yourself at home. Moreover, the verification procedures are very simple and do not require expensive equipment or special knowledge.

Smell check

The easiest way to identify low-quality gasoline is to smell foreign odors in it. Even with a lot of additives, car fuel should not smell like oil, chemicals or gas. High-quality gasoline has a pronounced smell, which is difficult to confuse with something.

Checking gasoline for low-quality impurities

You can check gasoline for the presence of low-quality impurities right at the gas station, before pouring it into the car. To determine the presence of low-quality impurities in gasoline, you need to drop it on your hand. It is known that when interacting with the skin in air, gasoline evaporates very quickly. Fuel that is mixed with low-quality additives will leave an oily trail on your hand after evaporation. Such gasoline should be avoided, otherwise it will quickly lead to failure of the catalyst.

Another way to check gasoline for low-quality impurities is to carefully examine its color. Quality gasoline has a pale yellow tint or is completely colorless, while various additives can make it reddish or bright yellow. Most often, at gas stations, when asked why gasoline has a very yellow color, the attendants answer that this is due to a special set of additives developed by the seller company. Believe it or not - each motorist can decide for himself, but real high-quality gasoline should be pale yellow or have no color at all.

Checking gasoline for oil

A very simple experiment can be done at home to determine if purchased fuel contains oil or not. To do this, take a clean white piece of paper and drop some gasoline on it. Wait until the fuel has completely evaporated from the leaf, and then take a look at the results. If there is a greasy stain on the paper or it has changed color, it means that gasoline contains oil or other undesirable additives. Ideal gasoline does not leave marks on paper.

Checking gasoline for water

Determining that gasoline is diluted with water is very simple using a chemical experiment. To do this, you need to take a small transparent container and pour gasoline into it. After that, add a little potassium permanganate to the fuel and look at the reaction. Clean gasoline without water should not turn pink, while fuel with water has enough potassium permanganate to turn pink.

Attention: Do not pour (do not fall asleep) too much potassium permanganate, otherwise even gasoline can be stained, and you will get incorrect results of the experiment. A fuel to potassium permanganate ratio of 20 to 1 or higher is recommended.

Checking gasoline for tar

Check the fuel for the presence of resins should be on the street away from the gas station and other flammable objects. To check gasoline, you need to get a transparent glass and pour some fuel on it. After that, set fire to the experimental sample and wait until it burns out completely. When the gasoline stops burning, check what trace of it remains on the glass. Clean fuel leaves a white mark, while burning gasoline with tar leaves brown or yellow stains.

The quality of gasoline is a question that directly concerns every driver, whether it be a professional or a simple motorist. It is superfluous to explain how important it is for the normal and productive operation of the engine.

1 Primary methods for determining the quality of gasoline

When buying gasoline, what should you pay attention to first of all?

Purchase of high-quality fuel at gas stations You need to inquire about the price. And if in the region it is significantly below the average, this should serve as a signal that not everything is safe here.

And the sensor installed on modern cars, which reports by light indication about all the problems in the engine, including low-quality gasoline, completely simplifies this procedure for the driver.

2 Folk ways

Checking the quality of gasoline

Consider the simplest and most accessible, but no less effective methods, the results of which do not raise any doubts about their reliability:

Foreign matter test. A certain amount of the investigated gasoline is placed on a piece of white paper. And, only after waiting for its complete evaporation, you should begin to study the contents. If the color of the paper has not changed and it is still the same white, then the gasoline is normal. The presence of foreign spots, any raids will indicate a problem with the fuel.
Control over resins and oils. To find out if there are resins in gasoline, you need to put a few drops on the glass and set them on fire. High-quality gasoline, i.e., not containing resin, burns completely, leaving white concentric circles on the glass, while the presence of brown or yellow rings convinces the opposite. But the presence of small drops indicates impurities contained in the fuel from various oils and diesel fuel.
Water is an extremely unpleasant component for gasoline. At some gas stations you can buy gasoline diluted with plain water. For such cases, there is potassium permanganate, which has a useful property, namely: dissolving in water, it colors the latter in pink or purple. It does not dissolve in gasoline, its color does not change, so nothing happens.
Hands as an indicator of quality. Here, gasoline acts as a solvent. The hand is wetted, after a while this place dries quickly, becomes clean, and dirt and oil stains disappear. But there is a feeling that the skin is pulled. All this indicates high-quality fuel.
Smell. Even gasoline, which smells not at all pleasant, if it contains hydrogen sulfide, naphthalene or liquefied gas, is unable to cope with their emissions. Therefore, a barely perceptible smell of acetone or burnt rubber indicates unclean fuel.

3 Modern science to help drivers

Tester for determining additives in gasoline The main method for the production of counterfeit gasoline, which harms the environment and the consumer, is the addition of prohibited metal-containing, as well as other additives. Their main purpose is to increase the octane number.

The use of such unpretentious methods will avoid many problems associated with low-quality fuel.

And knowing how to identify good gasoline can save you a lot of time and money.

How to check the quality of gasoline at home

It is important for every driver that his car works one hundred percent and can serve him for a long time. To do this, it is necessary to monitor not only its technical properties, but also much depends on the quality of gasoline. It is on him that the operation of the motor depends. The bad thing is that even the most famous companies do not guarantee that high-quality fuel will get into the tank, and not a fake. Bad fuel can in a short period of time lead to the failure of the entire fuel system of your car. This leads to engine overhaul. Right now, during the period of a sharp rise in gasoline prices, it is worth being extremely careful.

How to check the quality of gasoline at a gas station

As soon as you arrive at the gas station you need, before pouring fuel into the tank, remove the fuel filling nozzle and before inserting it into the tank neck itself, touch the place that comes into contact with the fuel being filled with a finger. So, if gasoline is diluted with diesel fuel or an octane-enhancing impurity, then the surface of the rim will be oily. If there is no greasy and sticky feeling on the fingers, then the gasoline is good and you can safely use it for the car.

You can try to get fuel in a transparent bottle or canister and look at the light. Good fuel should not contain any impurities. The fuel should have a pale yellow tint.

How to detect water in gasoline :

- Availability of water in fuel you can check as follows: add a solution of potassium permanganate. If it starts to turn pink, then there is water there.

- Drop some fuel on a tree and if it does not evaporate or rolls into a ball, then this is also a sign of water in the fuel.

Also try taking a white sheet of plain paper and dampening it lightly with gasoline. Wait for it to evaporate. Focus on the color of the sheet. If it remains snow-white, then gasoline is of high quality, a greasy spot indicates the presence of kerosene in the fuel. A drop of water on a leaf - avoid such fuel at all.

In order to determine on the presence of unnecessary resins , take the glass and drop gasoline on it. Set it on fire. White circles after combustion - fuel of excellent quality, spots of yellow or brown color - it means that there are resins. This can lead to engine or fuel system problems.

How to determine the quality of gasoline by smell

Bad gasoline can be immediately smelled. It will have sharp and unpleasant odors that are not at all characteristic of petroleum products. This indicates that the fuel was diluted with naphthalene, or hydrogen sulfide, or mercoptan sulfur.

Determining the quality of gasoline at home - tactilely

Drop gasoline on your hand. A good and undiluted product should dry out the skin on the arm. If the fuel is smeared with greasy spots, then it contains impurities of diesel fuel.

In order to protect yourself from low-quality fuel, refuel only at proven gas stations. If there are doubts about the quality of the fuel, ask the sellers at the gas station for all the relevant documents for the fuel, which confirm the quality and reliability of this type of oil product. True, this cannot guarantee a 100% guarantee that this fuel meets all standards. But such protection can help save your car from engine failure.

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Modern cars are very sensitive to fuel quality, so most drivers prefer to refuel at well-known gas stations that have a whole network of similar stations throughout the country. But even at such gas stations, gasoline is not always of high quality. Suffice it to recall what a variety of gasoline is now and twenty years ago, there were only a few types. If you fill a foreign car with poor quality gasoline, then you will definitely have to clean the fuel system (read about fuel system maintenance), the injector will definitely have to.

The best and at the same time the oldest way is to check gasoline for smell and color. Since there were very few filling stations before, gasoline was more often poured into canisters and other containers than into a tank, because of this, its color was visible, and there was a smell. There was no point in forging gasoline in the old days, since the plants were state-owned, GOST was strictly observed, and the price of gasoline “did not bite”.

The photo shows gasoline AI-95 (class Euro 5) - the test was successful

Next, we will check gasoline on potassium permanganate. Usually this test is carried out to find out if there is water in gasoline or not. We collect a little gasoline in a jar or transparent container, add potassium permanganate and stir, if the fuel has become pinkish, then it is clear that there is water in the fuel. It is better to immediately change the gas station, as sooner or later such impurities will make themselves felt.

The easiest and most affordable way is to touch, put a couple of drops of gasoline on your fingers, let it evaporate completely. If there is a greasy spot, there is no dryness of the skin to the touch, then the quality is low, if there is dryness, then the quality is good. Since that time, it is not in vain that gasoline has been used to remove contaminants not only on clothes, but also on various surfaces.

The photo shows signs of quality gasoline

When purchasing fuel at oil depots, the buyer conducts a test on plain paper. The meaning of this test is to find out if there are oil impurities in the fuel. We need a plain white sheet of paper. Put a few drops on the leaf and let it dry. If there are no oil stains and other dark shades left, this is an indicator that the gasoline is of high quality. Otherwise, you will immediately see a rainbow on a sheet of paper.

As for the engine idling, it is worth looking at the tachometer, the speed can jump spontaneously without pressing the gas pedal. In this case, uneven operation of the engine will be heard, respectively, an indicator that fuel is being burned unevenly. The exhaust pipe will emit black smoke with soot. With high-quality gasoline, the exhaust pipe will be gray or brown.

It is worth remembering that bad gasoline can not only bring the engine out of working condition, but also significantly increase fuel consumption, disable the injection system. Flushing the injector now costs from 1200 to 5000 rubles. Therefore, it is better to choose high-quality fuel and change gas stations for refueling from time to time.

Are many eminent car companies in no hurry to bring their modern engines to the Russian Federation? The reason for this is quite banal - problems with fuel. Equipped with a direct injection system, super-economical and super-powerful engines simply “can’t stand” domestic fuel. With diesel engines, things are a little better, although even now you can easily earn significant problems after 30,000-40,000 km of run if you fill the tank at a dubious gas station.

Unfortunately, the quality of domestic fuel leaves much to be desired. And everyone is perplexed (except, of course, those in power, who have their own financial interest in this matter) why the government of the "oil" state allows its oil magnates to produce some kind of fuel on a residual basis. The situation is also aggravated by the fact that gas stations are additionally diluting this most obviously low-quality fuel with water and additives that have a negative effect on engines, and also experimenting with density.

I am glad that recently large chain gas stations control the quality and frankly will not fill with low-grade fuel, but there are exceptions to all the rules. Also, independent gas stations are a separate category (it is especially dangerous to refuel at gas stations in deep provinces). And no matter how sad it is to admit, but for the time being, drivers have a need to recognize whether it is possible to refuel with what they offer. Most of the methods for determining the quality of fuel with your own hands are offered for home conditions, but sometimes you can find out about the components of the fuel without leaving the gas station.

What should you pay attention to first of all?

First of all, it should be determined what indicator factors may indicate that the fuel is doubtful.

An important, but not indicative factor in the quality of fuel is its price. All motorists approximately know what the cost of "fuel" in a particular region. And therefore, passing by the gas station and seeing an unprecedented "price tag", before throwing yourself at such a discount, you need to think: why such an unprecedented generosity on the part of the manufacturer?

The smell of the fuel is very important. Many people think that the pronounced “flavor” of gasoline cannot be confused with anything, but if the manufacturer added too many oils and additives to the liquid, then the final product acquires a sharper smell that gives off household chemicals and burnt rubber.

And, of course, the most important indicator that the “fuel” is of poor quality is the operation of the engine (after refueling, the engine is unstable, stalls, troit and at the same time consumes more fuel). True, in such situations, the technical serviceability of the car should not be in doubt: the fuel pump, coils and candles are in order. If it's not the car, then you should definitely change the gas station.

So, you already understand that something is wrong with the fuel of the gas station closest to you. A home “chemical laboratory” will finally help to confirm this assumption, but if there is a desire and a little free time, then you can make several experiments on fuel without leaving the gas station. All the methods listed below can be considered old-fashioned, but their result is beyond doubt.

In order to check gasoline for excessive presence of clearly harmful additives and chemical additives, you will need an ordinary white paper sheet. It is necessary to drop a little gasoline on it and wait a bit. When the gasoline evaporates, the paper should not change its white color. This will mean that at the gas station with the gasoline you are checking, they did not “chemically”. Foreign impurities do not evaporate, and therefore, if they are present in gasoline, then an “acid” color spot will appear on the paper. Sometimes a greasy spot remains on the sheet, which indicates that excess oils are present in the fuel.

Checking for excessive "oiliness" is also quite simple. You will need a convex glass, which should be dripped with gasoline and set on fire. If the fuel is of high quality, then it will burn almost without a trace. Ideally, white rings should remain on the glass. In turn, the stains of brown and yellow remaining on the surface of the glass will indicate the "brute force" of resins.

Often (sometimes even excessively often) at unscrupulous gas stations, ordinary water is added to gasoline. Potassium permanganate, which does not dissolve in pure gasoline and does not change its color, will help to identify this kind of "mukhlezh". If the fuel is diluted with water, a purple tint will appear.

Human skin will also help to indicate the quality of gasoline. Often gasoline is used as a solvent and degreaser. When applying gasoline, a feeling of dryness, tightness is created, and there are no oil stains. Make a simple experiment: smear a small area of \u200b\u200bthe palm with oil or dirt, and then wipe it with gasoline. If the soiled area has been cleaned, then the high quality of gasoline is beyond doubt.

The article is really relevant - such low-quality fuel that I'm generally surprised how the engines withstand. I will experiment with a white sheet in any way.

With my twenty years of experience, I knew about a sheet of paper and about testing gasoline with my hands, but for the first time I heard about potassium permanganate, for which I am grateful. I’m not too lazy, I’ll buy a little at the pharmacy and I’ll carry it with me to check.

I'm afraid that in search of potassium permanganate you will have to run a lot and sweat more than once, since this drug was on the list of "prohibited goods".

The article is certainly relevant and useful. But I am a pessimist in this regard. If someone needs to sell you low-quality gasoline, he will do it anyway.

Completely agree with you. Sometimes I refuel for months at branded gas stations, sometimes up to a month the car eats gasoline at a discount of 1 ruble. It's not about saving, but I'm just too lazy to specially go to the gas station. I always fill up along the way.

This is undoubtedly a very important and useful article for all motorists, but I can not imagine it in my life. Are you going to stand in line at a gas station with a white sheet of paper or potassium permanganate and check it ?? This knowledge will help if you buy gasoline in cans or bottles for a reserve, but not at a gas station))

The article is very useful, it's a pity there is often no time to experiment with fuel, I prefer to refuel at gas stations of large well-known sellers and never refuel on the highway.

I agree with the previous commentator, I also prefer to refuel only at proven and reliable gas stations. Although, I think, even on them, no one is 100% insured against bad gasoline. We are in Russia, gentlemen))

As they say, gasoline can also be checked for quality. The best way would be to check the smell and the operation of the engine. If the engine runs well and does not stall, then there is no doubt about the quality of the fuel!

The problem with fuel quality exists not only at domestic, but also European gas stations. For example, when we traveled by car in Spain and refueled with diesel at a variety of gas stations, the engine often began to work with anguish. The suggested simple ways to check the quality of gasoline will undoubtedly be useful to every motorist. I would also like to come up with a way to check the meter at a gas station: it often turns out that a lot more fuel is placed in the gas tank during refueling than it can hold at all. There can be only one conclusion: state control over the quality of fuel at gas stations, as well as the accuracy of meters installed at the pumps, should be strengthened.

I just had a problem with low-quality gasoline. The car just stalled in the middle of the track, I had to call a friend for help.

I try to fill up at proven gas stations, but sometimes you have to call in new ones if you go far. Then even if the quality is not very good, you will still refuel, you have to get home.

It so happened that many automakers do not want to equip cars intended for the Russian market with the most modern engines. And in the technical specifications, it is indicated that the version of the machine is adapted for the Russian Federation. This is due not only to the quality of roads and harsh weather conditions, but also to the unsatisfactory quality of domestically produced gasoline. It is worth noting that diesel fuel in our country is an order of magnitude better than gasoline, but even in this case, you can get into an expensive repair of a diesel engine.

Unfortunately, so far. The quality of fuel sold at Russian gas stations leaves much to be desired. And no one knows when this situation will change for the better, perhaps, except for the oligarchs themselves who sell low-quality fuel. Also, the question remains why the state will not take responsibility for quality control of the fuel sold. Not only of poor quality from the factory, but also diluted at the gas stations themselves.

But it is worth noting that recently, large networks of gas stations monitor the quality of their goods, but sometimes there are exceptions. Also, there are many single gas stations, especially those located in the outback, that can fill your tank with a frankly dangerous liquid for a car engine.

Therefore, even modern drivers are supposed to know how to independently check the quality of gasoline. True, many methods are suitable for testing at home, but for testing a new gas station, they are ideal.

The first signs of quality inconsistency

To begin with, it is necessary to remember the first, most obvious signs of poor fuel quality, for a kind of express eye test.

It is worth noting that the very first sign, but not mandatory, is the cost of fuel. As they say - "free cheese is only in a mousetrap", and here. A suspiciously low fuel price should be a serious signal and alert a potential buyer. First of all, because the cost of gasoline and diesel fuel is almost the same at all gas stations in a particular region. Therefore, too low a price is a sign of inconsistency in quality or various impurities (even water).

Also. It is necessary to pay attention to the smell of fuel, every car owner remembers this unique aroma. But if it seemed to you that the smell is very different, or it is dominated by shades of burnt rubber or other chemicals, then this is a sign of the excess content of various oils and additives.

The most important symptom. But unfortunately, after the fact, this is the work of the power unit and the car itself after refueling. If the engine starts to work differently, and possibly unstable, and the car has sharply lost several points in dynamics and power, then you should urgently change the gas station. But first of all, make sure that there are no problems with your car.

Methods for self-diagnosis of gasoline

If your suspicions are not enough for you and there is a desire to verify your assumptions, then you can use the old proven methods. But it is worth noting that it is desirable to carry out many checks at home, but for some persistent people, they are also suitable for checking at a gas station. These methods will be presented below in the article.

Checking for additives and impurities in fuel

This is one of the simple and quick ways to determine the excess amount of additives or impurities. To conduct the experiment, you need some fuel and a white sheet of paper. The experiment itself is to drop fuel on a white sheet, and wait for the gasoline to completely evaporate. If the gasoline was of high quality, then there will be no traces or streaks on the sheet of paper. The thing is that gasoline is a volatile substance, and evaporates in full, but additives and heavy substances remain.

Excess oil check

This check will help check for the presence of oily impurities, which should not be present in good quality gasoline. To do this, you need to drop gasoline on a convex glass, and then set it on fire. As with paper, there should be no marks or wet spots on the glass, and if white stains remain, then this is a sign of good quality. In the case of yellow or brown traces, this is a consequence of the presence of excess impurities, and it is advisable to refuse such fuel.

Water addition test

The easiest way to check is to check with ordinary potassium permanganate. The fact is that potassium permanganate does not dissolve in gasoline, and, accordingly, gasoline does not change its color. Accordingly, if the potassium permanganate has dissolved and the liquid has acquired a pinkish tint, then with a high probability it can be argued that there is water in the fuel.

Skin check

You can check the quality of gasoline "by touch", do not be afraid to get your hands dirty in gasoline, this type of fuel is often used as a degreaser. Therefore, there should be no oiliness on the hands, and the gasoline itself feels “dry” and tightens the skin.

How and where to complain

It is worth noting that it is possible and necessary to complain about the quality of fuel. To do this, you should apply with a statement to Rospotrebnadzor. This state structure has the right to conduct fuel examinations at automobile filling stations, but only once every three years. But if a large number of consumers apply for a certain gas station, the authority is obliged to respond to complaints, so it is necessary to complain.

But even this measure may not have an impact on unscrupulous entrepreneurs, since Rospotrebnadzor is obliged to notify about an inspection three days before it is carried out. This gives time for the preparation and provision of reference samples of gasoline and diesel fuel.