At first glance, the price of A-95 at various gas stations can fluctuate by almost a hryvnia per liter. But is it really the same product, and is it really gasoline? A study conducted by the Institute of Consumer Expertise (ICE) showed that in almost every second case, an attempt to save on fuel leads to direct deception of the driver. With high probability, a mixture resembling something between gasoline and moonshine will end up in the tank.
The testing method was simple. ICE specialists took 6 samples of A-95 from the expensive price range and the same number from the budget range, then sent them to an independent laboratory for analysis. Samples were collected at stations in Kyiv and its surroundings. The results are as follows: all samples from the high price category met the standards, while among the cheap ones only 3 were acceptable, and the remaining three clearly contained alcohol and did not comply with any GOST. Simply put, motorists were just being fooled.
Since such cases deserve attention, it is worth examining them in more detail, especially since they reflect a nationwide trend. There is every reason to believe that in the regions the quality of fuel is even worse than in the capital. The main sign of the presence of alcohol in gasoline is an excess of ethanol content. By this indicator, the capital's gas stations under the brand "MS Oil Card" and a number of others failed the test. In one case, the fuel offered to customers consisted of ethanol by a third (30.4% with an allowable 5%).
An even more shocking case was recorded at the "Viking" gas station in Boryspil. Local A-95 consisted almost a third of benzene, which is six times higher than the national standard. This became an absolute anti-record in the entire history of ICE checks on the Ukrainian market. Such a concentration of benzene causes serious damage to both the environment and the car itself. Not evaporating completely, benzene destroys the oil film in the engine, accelerating cylinder wear. In addition, inhaling vapors of such a mixture can lead to poisoning.
It has been said many times that alcohol additives in gasoline are harmful to the car. In short, alcohol actively absorbs moisture from storage tanks and the fuel system. As a result, a mixture of gasoline with water-alcohol inclusions forms in the engine. Such a substance burns worse and increases consumption. In addition, ethanol releases half as much heat during combustion due to its low carbon content, and it requires less air to burn, causing the electronics to over-saturate the mixture. The result is an overconsumption of fuel by 15-20%. The savings are very dubious. Is it worth tormenting the engine with a cheap surrogate and enriching unscrupulous sellers?
The most unpleasant thing in this whole situation is the attitude of gas stations selling such mixtures towards their customers. They lure with low prices but hide the true composition of the fuel and its origin. By buying such a product, you show the "moonshiner" that you are ready to put up with deception. After all, no one has ever managed to save money on low-quality fuel.
