Most Americans recall the sky-high gas prices from two years ago. At that time, it was not uncommon to see the lowest-octane (i.e. 87) formula selling for over $4.00 per gallon. Even though prices have since declined significantly, experts suggest they may be moving sharply upward in the near future. If they do, millions of people may be motivated to seek lower-priced fuel.

A lot of drivers are unaware that cheap gas can cause major automotive problems. It happens in two ways. First, low-priced fuel generally contains lower quality detergents. Second, such fuel sometimes fails to meet posted octane ratings. In this article, I’ll explain how both circumstances can eventually clog your fuel injection system and damage your engine. The following discussion should prompt you to be wary of service stations offering low-priced gasoline.

Combustion Chamber Deposits And Clogged Fuel Injectors

All automotive fuels contain detergents and additives, both of which are included for different reasons. Some of the additives can gradually accumulate on the valve stems. When this happens, the stems can begin to stick, causing engine performance issues. Other additives are included to prevent the valve stems from sticking, but these additives can cause other problems, including buildup within the combustion chambers. In higher quality fuels, yet another additive is included to help keep the combustion chambers free of deposits.

Detergents are included to keep your fuel injectors clean of varnish deposits. These deposits would otherwise build as the result of heat soak. Gasoline contains olefins, a waxy type of hydrocarbon. During operation, the heat surrounding the injectors rises. When you turn your engine off, the heat causes the fuel remaining inside the injectors to vaporize. The olefins are left behind to harden inside the nozzles, where they eventually cause a blockage. This prevents your engine from receiving the fuel it needs to perform efficiently.

In order for gasoline to be sold cheaply, the producers must cut corners to lower costs. This means the amount of high-quality additives and detergents is reduced. In some case, the high-quality materials are swapped for cheaper, lower-quality materials. This opens the door to combustion chamber deposits and clogged fuel injectors. This in turn leads to impaired engine performance.

When Cheap Fuel Leads To Detonation

Detonation is also known as spark knock. This happens when the air-fuel mix detonates inside the combustion chamber as the result of excess heat or compression. It can cause the head gasket to fail, and lead to severe damage to the piston inside the affected cylinder. Given enough time, it can cause expensive damage to the entire engine.

While detonation can be traced to a number of possible catalysts, one of them is insufficient octane in gasoline. All vehicles have a minimum octane rating to prevent spark knock. If the octane in fuel is less than the required rating for a given vehicle (usually 87), it will be unable to sufficiently control heat. This raises the likelihood of excess heat in the combustion chamber, leading to detonation.

With cheap gas, the octane rating listed on the pump is sometimes unmet. This leaves your car’s engine vulnerable to damage caused by detonation.

Dirt, Debris, And Other Contaminants

Fuel can occasionally be contaminated by dirt, debris, and water. It happens rarely, but can cause your engine to misfire and sputter. Gas stations maintain strict protocols regarding their filtering process, but contaminants may still reach the fuel. If they end up in your fuel tank, they will eventually make their way into your engine.

While all fuels – low-cost and high-quality – are susceptible to contaminants, there is concern that it occurs more often with cheap gas. This is yet another reason to be wary of such options, regardless of the lower price per gallon. If you choose to use cheap fuel in your vehicle, realize that you may be exposing your engine to expensive problems down the road.

The leading provider of Wichita Kansas Chevrolet, Wichita Kansas Honda and many other Kansas cars, trucks, and SUVs. Conklin Cars can be found online at: ConklinCars.com.