Five Signs That Your Car Is Running Low on Gas (and How to Fix it)

Even if you visit the same fueling station regularly, it’s possible to get bad gas in your vehicle. That’s why it’s important to know the symptoms of bad gas in your car and understand the steps to repair the situation. 

We will address all symptoms in this guide. We also provide tips and tricks to help you avoid bad gas. 

Bad Gas In Your Car

The most common symptom of bad gas in your car’s fuel tank is engine performance issues together with a check engine light on your dashboard.

The main symptoms of bad gas in a car’s fuel tank include:

Below is a list that explains the symptoms most commonly associated with bad gas in cars:

1. Verify Engine Light

When there’s a fault with the car engine, you will likely see a dashboard light alerting you to the trouble. You should consider that your gas may be bad if the Check Engine Light goes on.

However, this light alone won’t tell you what’s wrong. You want to use a professional code scanner to gain a better idea about what’s going on. 

2. Acceleration issues

Normal conditions should see the car respond immediately when you press the accelerator. If there’s any hesitation when it’s time to move, there could be an issue, including the possibility of bad gas. 

Bad gas can cause more problems as you accelerate faster. It’s also possible that the car stops accelerating at all when the conditions are terrible. 

There’s also the chance that you are experiencing erratic changes in speed one way or the other. You can have your foot off of the accelerator pedal and notice that the RPM’s change on their own. These erratic changes all indicate a fuel issue, whether it’s bad gas or failure of a vital component. 

3. Stalling Engine

You might want to check the quality of your fuel if you drive well but the engine stalls. If bad fuel is in the system, combustion can’t occur as it should. 

High-quality fuel and the right amount of air are essential for an engine to function properly. The motor may stop if it is not supplied with enough gas. 

Reported: Car Stalls At Idle: Why Does a Car Die while Idling?

4. Engine Doesn’t Start

In the worst-case scenario, the engine won’t start at all. It can occur after the engine has stopped or while you're trying to get it started. 

The engine may not start if water, condensation or other contaminants are present in the fuel. There are many possible reasons your car might not start. That’s why you have to look at all of the symptoms as a whole to figure out what’s going on. 

5. Fuel filter damaged

In the fuel system, there’s a filter that keeps debris, contaminants and dirt out of the engine. Every gas tank has some sediment. This sediment can build up and cause catastrophic effects. 

You might need to change your fuel filter sooner than you think. That’s why it’s important to keep an eye on the health of the filter and change it at regular intervals. 

How to get rid of bad gas in your car

1. Dry gasoline is best

Dry gasoline would be the first solution, but it’s not guaranteed. If there’s a minimal amount of water or condensation in the tank, the dry gas might get you back up and running. 

The alcohol-based additive is used to clean the tank after it was contaminated. For more information, refer to the label.

2. Siphon off Gas

If the dry gas doesn’t solve your problem, you know the only solution is to drain the tank. You have three options, siphoning being one of the most straightforward.

You can empty the tank by using a siphoning tube. You should not empty the tank unless you know how to. You must also ensure that you dispose of the gas properly and in a suitable container.

3. Drop Gas Tank

You will need to empty your gas tank if all else fails. It is a difficult task, so it may be better to hire a professional. 

It is essential that you have something to store all the gas removed from the tank. You also need to dispose of it properly to ensure it doesn’t get dumped unethically. 

4. Top Fuel

You can refill the tank once the dry gasoline is in place. We recommend using a high-octane fuel, even if you don’t normally. It doesn't matter which car model you have, it is important to do this.

To ensure that the engine can start again, you want it to get the most gas possible. The only way to counteract what’s been done is to pump through some good gas.

5. Make sure to use a drain plug (Older vehicles)

Most vehicles don’t have a drain plug, such as what’s used to perform an oil change. Some older vehicles do have drain plugs.

Drain the gas tank in a pan if your car has a drain-plug. You will need a container that can hold the entire tank. You won’t be able to stop the flow once it begins. 

Bad Gas: How to Avoid It

1. Don’t Leave Fuel Sit in Tank

If you don’t drive your vehicle a lot, you need to consider the gas that’s in the tank. The fuel must be considered just as important as the battery.

If your vehicle will be in storage for three months or more, it’s best to drain the tank. There are some fuel stabilizers you could use, but they aren’t guaranteed to work long-term. 

2. Visit Top-Tier Stations

A top-tier gas station offers fuel that’s held to a higher standard. There are plenty of top-tier gas stations available in the country and you don’t always need to pay more for this level of quality.

Costco, in fact is one of many gas stations promising top-quality fuel. A membership can be used to get discount gas at these stations. 

RELATED : Which Gas Stations Provide the Highest Quality Gas? (Top 5 Best)

3. You can use additives

There are all kinds of fuel additives available, so it’s important to know what you are getting if you want to put something in your tank. Gas treatment and fuel injection cleaners all have a specific purpose, but won’t help to keep the fuel fresh.

You should instead use a fuel stabilizer. If you aren’t driving often, the fuel stabilizer helps to maintain the quality by absorbing some of the water and slowing down oxidation. 

FAQs about bad gas