Car owners have the right to claim compensation if an engine or fuel system malfunction occurred due to low-quality gasoline. This was reminded by representatives of the Public Chamber of the Russian Federation, emphasizing that the fuel seller is obliged to reimburse repair costs if their fault is proven.
Today, the main standard in Russia remains Euro-5 ecological class fuel. However, from July 2, 2026, to December 31, 2026, oil refineries were allowed to produce gasoline and diesel fuel meeting Euro-3 requirements. This decision was made to stabilize the situation in the domestic fuel market.
Auto lawyer Sergey Radko explains that this will require an independent examination. After detecting a malfunction, it is advisable to stop operating the car, keep the fuel in the tank, and invite gas station representatives to record the circumstances. Specialists must examine gasoline samples and establish a causal link between fuel quality and car damage.
According to the lawyer, such cases rarely end in favor of car owners precisely because of the difficulty of proof. One of the few illustrative cases was a situation where groundwater entered a gas station's tank, after which cars began to stall almost immediately after refueling.
The Public Chamber also stated that compensation can be claimed when purchasing fuel from private sellers. However, in practice, this is much more difficult. Auto lawyer Ilya Afanasyev notes that without a cash receipt or other proof of purchase, it is almost impossible to prove the fact of fuel acquisition.
According to him, when refueling at official gas stations and having documents, the car owner has the right to demand full reimbursement of engine or fuel system repair costs in accordance with consumer protection legislation. Unlike OSAGO payments, in this case, damages can be compensated without taking into account wear and tear of parts.
The government is also considering extending the permission to produce and circulate Euro-2 and Euro-4 standard fuels until July 2027. Meanwhile, Federation Council Chairwoman Valentina Matvienko called the situation in the fuel market difficult and urged for systemic solutions.
To learn about the dangers of switching from Euro-2 to Euro-5 fuel for the engine, read the article on motoram.ru
Read more articles:
- Xiaomi abandoned primary aluminum: new alloy for electric vehicles consists of 100% recycled metal
- Why new cars have become less affordable: analysts found an unexpected reason for rising costs
- Volkswagen has a new problem: thieves are massively stealing radars from the radiator grille