8 August 2026

Owners of Chinese cars such as Haval, Chery, Geely, Changan, Exeed, Omoda, and Jetour have begun to take their vehicles to service centers en masse due to engine and fuel system failures, which are designed to run on high-quality Euro-5 gasoline, Mash reports. According to the channel, the reason is that these Chinese cars are not designed to run on Euro-2 gasoline, which Russian authorities  have approved for production amid the fuel crisis caused by drone strikes on Russian refineries. The sulfur content of Euro-2 gasoline, previously banned in Russia, can be 50 times higher than that of Euro-5.

Russians who use Euro-2 fuel in their modern Chinese cars have experienced widespread failure of injectors, as well as high-pressure fuel pumps and spark plugs. This leads to engine sensors displaying errors, loss of power, poor starting, and increased fuel consumption. However, due to ignorance, people continue to “feed” their cars with low-quality fuel, ultimately “damaging their cars even more.” According to Mash, the number of service calls has recently jumped from 1-2 per week to 7-10. Repairs cost around 15,000 rubles. In some cases, this requires complete replacement of expensive components.

On August 5, the Russian government announced that it had authorized the production and import of Euro-2 gasoline, which contained up to 500 mg of sulfur per kilogram of fuel and was banned in 2013. The permit, which will be valid until July 1, 2027, is aimed at “ensuring a stable supply of motor fuel to the domestic market and preventing potential shortages.”

This gasoline does not have any standards for aromatic hydrocarbon content, including benzene. Furthermore, the use of monomethylaniline (MMA), an octane-boosting additive banned in most countries due to its high toxicity and cancer risks, is permitted. According to experts, the sulfur found in Euro-2 gasoline damages the cylinder-piston assembly, fuel injection systems, engine oil, spark plugs, valves, injectors, and catalytic converter.

https://ru.themoscowtimes.com/2026/08/08/kitaiskie-mashini-rossiyan-stali-massovo-lomatsya-posle-zapravki-nekachestvennim-benzinom-iz-za-defitsita-topliva-a202993