(Updated on April 20, 2022)
Fuel for vehicles, whether gasoline or diesel, is refined specifically for the purpose of operating a vehicle’s engine. There cannot be any contamination of the fuel whatsoever or else the engine’s performance will suffer as a result.
Contamination could mean virtually any outside substance that does not belong in the fuel, such as water. Out of all the reasons for fuel to go bad, the number one reason that car owners experience is water getting into their gas tank and contaminating their fuel.
There are a few reasons to explain how water gets mixed in with fuel, with condensation being the top reason. If you live in a cold environment, then it is common for condensation to occur inside the gas tank.
Also, there could be water in the gas pump when you fill up your tank at the gas station. Sometimes a gas station may have a damaged water filter in their pump which does not do a good job of filtering out the water from their fuel.
There is nothing you can do to prevent this obviously because it is the gas station’s responsibility. Aside from water, fuel can go bad by simply leaving it unused for months and years at a time too. Disposing the gas is often the best course of action.
Top 5 Signs of Bad Fuel In Your Gas Tank
If you are unsure whether your fuel has gone bad, there are at least five signs that you can watch out for to see if this is the case. These signs are clear indicators that your fuel is either contaminated or just really old.
In most cases, you will need to have all the fuel drained from your gas tank and then replaced with fresh uncontaminated fuel. That is often the only way to remedy this situation.
If there is only a small amount bad or old gas in the tank, you may be okay by simply filling up with good quality fuel, preferably high octane, so the effects of the bad gasoline is lessened.
1) Acceleration Issues
If you step on the gas pedal and do not accelerate right away, then you are experiencing hesitation from the engine. This hesitation could be the result of bad fuel in the internal combustion chamber.
It will either take your vehicle a few seconds to respond to the gas pedal before it accelerates, or it won’t accelerate at all. The faster you try to go, the more apparent this symptom will be.
2) Abnormal Speed Changes
Aside from issues accelerating, bad fuel can also cause spontaneous changes to the speed that you are driving. Even if you barely have your foot on the gas pedal or not at all, you may notice that your driving speed will change drastically for no apparent reason.
This is another indicator that you have bad fuel in your gas tank and cylinder.
3) Damaged Fuel Filter
The fuel filter is responsible for ensuring that dirt and debris do not make their way into the gas tank and mix with the fuel. This could cause devastating results for the performance of your engine.
So, if you have a damaged fuel filter, this would explain why your fuel has gone bad. Periodically check your fuel filter to ensure that it is in good condition.
4) Engine Stops Running
You may be driving along and then your engine will suddenly stop running. This can happen when you have bad fuel because the internal combustion process will not be able to generate the necessary power to sustain the demands placed on the engine.
This will cause the engine to stop running as a result.
5) Trouble Starting Engine
If you have an excessive amount of water or other contaminants mixed with your fuel, then you will have difficulties with starting your engine. There could be numerous reasons for experiencing trouble like this.
But if you have experienced any of the other symptoms, then you can attribute it to bad fuel.
Our Ram kept stopping and so it was towed to the garage where they thought it was the tranny. My husband took the 5 gallon of gas in the back of the pickup and put it in our 95 Jeep. Within 20 minutes the jeep was stopping. Our son told us to beat on the gas tank and then it would run but start to lose power. We got home and he ordered a filter and gas pump. He took the rest of the gas in the can when we got home and put it in my FJ. So now my FJ keeps running as long as my foot is on the gas, but when I stop it will not move even floored. I back off and then it will go. Interesting huh? Is it just me or is it the gas? He doesn’t think so.
So you used the same gas in three vehicles, and all of them acted up? That sounds like it could be bad gas to me.
Newer cars past 2000 are not designed for the cheap gas you see lining streets now days. I have a 2010 Acura. I can only use 91. I use the less expensive gas stations. That stuff is terrible in my car. It makes a really loud noise when I start it. It’s not the alternator or starter. I had both checked & one replaced at $1,000 & it didn’t solve the problem. The area I live in has a lot of cheap not good gas stations. I have to spend the $5 per gal. right now to flush it out & see if I can use a cleaner in my gas tank in hopes that very loud scary noise will go away when I start my car. So far the only issue I’ve had is the hesitation. Once it stopped in the middle of a busy freeway years ago. That was scary! Bad gas can cause serious engine damage that can result in your replacing the engine. So do the cheap gas with caution. Be sure to fill up your tank at least once or twice with the good gas to give it the oxygen it needs to run properly. New engines can be $1,000s with your car out of commission for a long time. So cheap low quality gas isn’t worth doing everyday. You should never put grades below manufacturer recommendations in your car unless you can afford to replace it. Anything below 2000 was built to do that, the newer cars can’t handle bad gas for long periods.
I have a 2012 Chevy Malibu. I’ve been having difficulty accelerating for over a month and thought it was my pedal or throttle body. I was waiting to get it looked at until I got the money. However, I was driving one day and all of a sudden my car engine just shut off on me and I was stopped in the middle of the road. I had every single thing on this list happen to me. I had to get my car towed to the dealership and they told me it was from contaminted fuel. I have no idea how it happened, but if you suspect it don’t let it get worse unitl your car won’t even start. This list is very accurate.
Check engine light came after buying gas at go mart. I put bottle stp gas additive and it cleared up no more go mart gas for me
Could the gas cap have been opened slightly before you put the additive in? That will definitely trigger a check engine light.
My car was starting up and running fine until I got gas yesterday. My car is a 2014 Volkswagen Beetle and within two hours my car started hesitating to start.
Did you fill up with the correct fuel? Any check engine light codes?
How did you fix it
I have a 2020 Chevy Impala, & I think I have bad gas…my check engine light came on, I left my car on to walk in the house &came bk out and it had cut itself off…it rides a little rough…And I only have 62,000 miles on it…
If the tank is low, fill it with good gas. The good stuff should dilute the bad stuff enough to run properly. If the tank is almost full and you think the gas is bad, it may be worth draining the tank first.