Audio By Carbonatix

As the summer travel approaches, save yourself by being aware of bad gas. The last thing you need is for your car to require an expensive repair during vacation. But water and other contaminants can get into the fuel at gas stations. Here are the signs to look for. 

How to tell if the gas station has bad gas 

I’ve been through this with my beloved Jeep Renegade. I stopped for gas and noticed some unusual things happening at the pump. But I didn’t know the signs of bad gas at the time. 

After a little way down the road, my Jeep died but said it had a fourth of a tank of gas. It had full power and was trying to start, but needed a tow. 

Then the repair shop I took it to told me all sorts of stuff and flushing the fuel tank like it could be the starter or an engine problem. They quoted me $1,300 but I brought new gas in, and then my Renegade started right up. 

So, avoid this headache by recognizing the signs of bad gas. At the gas station, if the fuel pump seems to be pumping really slowly, immediately stop pumping. If it operates slowly and has a difficult time getting started, the fuel could be contaminated. 

Also, gas and diesel should have a strong smell. If that’s missing then something might be wrong. Fuel should look amber and clear. If it’s darker, lighter, or cloudier than normal, then avoid it. 

According to Fuel Logic, other signs of bad gas at a gas station include leaking around the nozzle or hose and the failure of the pump to automatically shut off.