Having the check engine light illuminate on your dashboard is worrisome especially if the lights comes on in the middle of no where. Whenever this warning light comes on, it means there’s something wrong with your engine that needs your attention. Fixing the problem will get the light off your dashboard.
However, the question is, does having a bad cause equals a check engine light? Can bad gas cause check engine light to come on?
Yes, a bad gas can cause the check engine light to come on if the gas causes the engine to struggle to perform, the ECU may throw a code causing the check engine light to come on.
Can Bad Gas Cause Check Engine Light to Come On?
Yes, having a bad gas can cause check engine light to come on if the gas cause the engine struggle to perform.
Normally, the engine needs a good fuel to function properly, if the engine is not getting the required gas recommended for the engine, it may cause the car or the engine to struggle to perform, this is when you start experiencing a reduced engine power, therefore this can trigger the warning light.
For example, if the recommended type of gas needed for your car is premium gas and you decide to use regular gas in your supercar, it may cause the engine to struggle to perform, hence, the warning light.
Super car manufacturers recommends using a premium gas of 91 octane and above, it is then that you will see some users buying regular gas for the engine, what do you expect to happen?
The engine would struggle to perform, hence throw a code that would cause the check engine warning light to come on true. Imagine using a bad gas in a Ferrari? it will definitely cause the check engine light to come on.
How Can Bad Gas Cause Check Engine Light?
A bad gas can cause check engine light to come on in a car by :
1. Causing the Engine to Struggle to Preform
As reiterated above, a bad gas can cause the check engine light to come on if the gas is too bad to allow the engine to breathe.
On the normal ground, the engine needs good gas to function? If the engine is not getting a good gas, it will cause the car to struggle, hence a check engine light.
2. It Can Affect the Fuel Pump
A bad gas can affect the fuel pump. It may cause the fuel pump to fail suddenly hence preventing it from pumping enough fuel to the engine. When this happens, it can cause the check engine light to come on.
Of course, we all know that check engine lights is one of the signs of a bad fuel pump so if the wrong gas damages the fuel pump, it can cause it to throw a code that will cause the check engine light to come on.
3. It May affect the Fuel Filter
If the gas is too bad and filled with dirt and debris, it can affect the fuel filter. It can clog the fuel filter, preventing it from filtering the fuel the way it should.
When this happens, dirt and debris from the wrong fuel can make it’s way into the fuel pump which can as well spoil the pump.
When the fuel filter is clogged up as a result to bad gas, it will definitely cause a check engine light to come on.
4. It can Affect the Fuel Injectors
Having a bad gas may affect the fuel injectors. It can either clog the injectors preventing it from pumping the required quantity of fuel needed in the engine. When this happens, a check engine light will come on on the dashboard.
5. Difficulty Starting the Car
You may find it difficult starting your car if you have a bad fuel. Because the gas is bad, the car will not start as it should. When this continue to happen, it might throw a code that will cause the check engine light to come on.
6. Rough Idle
With a bad gas in a car, it will cause the engine to struggle to perform which can lead to rough idle. Having a car that is rough idling can trigger a code that will cause the check engine light to come on.
For example, if you use a 89 octane gas in a super that needs 93 octane to perform, the engine may struggle to perform, leading to rough idling. This will trigger a code to tell you that something is wrong that needs to be fixed.
7. Stalling
With a bad gas in your gas tank, the car may jerk and stall. It’s like drinking a bad water, what do you think will happen? It will obviously affect your body system. When you car starts to jerk and stall, it can trigger a code that can cause the check engine light to come on.
How to Get Rid of Bad Gas in your Car
You can siphon the gas out of your tank and pump new gas if you’re sure that it’s just a bad gas not a waterlogged or old gas. You can also take the car to a professional and have him drain your gas tank.
Final Thoughts
Having a bad gas in the gas tank will obviously cause the check engine light to come on if the car struggles to perform. However, you can easily solve this problem by draining your gas tank and refilling it with a good or premium gas.
