When the check engine light, that small but enigmatic indication on your car’s dashboard, suddenly illuminates, any driver’s pulse skips a beat. It indicates that something is wrong under the hood.
But may something as simple as contaminated gasoline be to blame for this unwanted warning? This article will investigate the connection between bad gas and your check engine light, shining light on this frequently baffling vehicle issue.
Can Bad Gas Cause Check Engine Light To Come On?
Yes, faulty or tainted fuel can cause your vehicle’s check engine light to illuminate. Poor-quality or contaminated fuel can cause engine problems and set off the check engine light in a variety of ways. Some of the most common reasons are:
1. Fuel QualityÂ
Low-quality gasoline may contain contaminants, inferior additives, or an excessive amount of ethanol, which might interfere with the combustion process in your engine. To maintain appropriate combustion and emissions, the engine control unit (ECU) continuously analyzes several sensors. Inadequate fuel quality might result in inefficient combustion and higher emissions, prompting the check engine light.
2. Fuel Contaminants
Contaminants in the fuel, such as dirt, debris, or rust particles, can infiltrate the fuel system. These particles have the potential to block the fuel filter or harm the fuel injectors, which are in charge of supplying the exact amount of fuel to the engine. When fuel delivery is disrupted, it can lead to inappropriate engine operation and the check engine light to illuminate.
3. Knock And Pre-Ignition
A gasoline’s octane rating evaluates its resistance to knocking and pre-ignition. Knocking is the unpleasant rattling or pinging sound produced when the engine’s air-fuel combination detonates prematurely. If you use fuel with a lower octane level than your engine requires, you may experience knocking, engine damage, and the check engine light may illuminate.
4. Issues With Oxygen Sensors
Oxygen sensors are critical in measuring the amount of oxygen in exhaust gases. They assist the ECU in optimizing the air-fuel mixture for combustion and emissions. Contaminated fuel can accumulate on the oxygen sensor, resulting in incorrect readings. When the ECU receives inaccurate data from the oxygen sensor, the check engine light may illuminate to signal a problem with the air-fuel mixture and emissions control.
5. Catalytic Converter Damage
Your vehicle’s emissions system relies on the catalytic converter. It lowers harmful emissions by transforming contaminants in exhaust gases into less dangerous compounds. Poor-quality fuel can contribute to the buildup of deposits on the catalytic converter, resulting in damage or decreased efficiency. Due to increased emissions or poor exhaust gas treatment, a damaged or inefficient catalytic converter might cause the check engine light to illuminate.
How Does Bad Gas Affect The Check Engine Light?
A poor gas can cause a car’s check engine light to illuminate by:
1. Making The Engine Work Harder To Perform
As previously stated, if the gas is too poor to allow the engine to breathe, the check engine light will illuminate.
On regular ground, does the engine require excellent gas to function? If the engine isn’t getting enough gas, the automobile will struggle, resulting in a check engine light.
2. It May Have An Impact On The Fuel Pump
A contaminated fuel might harm the fuel pump. It may cause the fuel pump to fail suddenly, preventing enough fuel from being pumped into the engine. When this happens, the check engine light may illuminate.
We all know that check engine lights are one of the symptoms of a faulty fuel pump, so if the wrong gas damages the fuel pump, it can cause it to throw a code, causing the check engine light to illuminate.
3. It May Have An Impact On The Fuel Filter
If the gas is contaminated with dirt and debris, it might damage the fuel filter. It can block the fuel filter, preventing it from properly filtering the fuel.
When this happens, dirt and debris from the incorrect gasoline can make their way into the fuel pump, potentially damaging it.
When the gasoline filter becomes blocked as a result of faulty gas, the check engine light will undoubtedly illuminate.
4. It May Have An Impact On The Fuel Injectors
A poor gas can harm the fuel injectors. It can either clog the injectors, preventing them from injecting the necessary amount of fuel into the engine. When this occurs, a check engine light will illuminate on the dashboard.
5. Car Is Difficult To Start
If you have bad fuel, it may be difficult to start your car. The automobile will not start properly because the gas is contaminated. If this continues, it may generate a code, causing the check engine light to illuminate.
6. Rough Idle
In an automobile, bad gas causes the engine to strain to perform, which can lead to a choppy idle. A rough idle car can set off a code, causing the check engine light to illuminate.
For example, if you use 89 octane gas in a super that requires 93 octane, the engine may struggle, resulting in harsh idling. This will cause a code to be generated informing you that something is incorrect and needs to be rectified.
7. Stalling
When you have poor gas in your tank, your automobile may jolt and stall. What do you suppose will happen if you drink contaminated water? It will undoubtedly have an effect on your physical system. When your automobile begins to jerk and stall, it can set off a code that causes the check engine light to illuminate.
How To Remove Bad Gas From Your Car?
If you’re certain it’s just bad gas and not waterlogged or old gas, you can siphon it out of your tank and replace it. You can also take your automobile to a mechanic and have him drain the petrol tank.
While poor fuel can degrade your vehicle’s performance, it is not the primary cause of the check engine light. This dashboard detective usually indicates more specific problems with your vehicle’s systems. When the check engine light illuminates, it is a signal to you to address the underlying issue as soon as possible. Remember that diagnosing and correcting the problem will help your car perform smoothly and effectively.
Thanks for reading. I hope you find it helpful.
